WHEN WHISKY WORKED

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 618, 21 March 1929, Page 16

WHEN WHISKY WORKED

MAORI’S MERRY MELEE VIOLENCE AT ARREST (From Our Own Correspondent) PUKEKOHE, Wednesday. “I don’t remember much, I was drunk. I was drinking whisky all day.” This was how Charles Nepia accounted for liis disorderly conduct in King Street, Pukekohe, last Saturday evening. Still bearing marks of his spirited encounter with a constable and several civilians, Nepia stood in the dock of the Pukekohe Court to-day to answer seven charges, namely, disorderly behaviour while drunk in a public place, assaulting a civilian, resisting arrest, wilfully damaging a police helmet and uniform, also a civilian’s clothes, and breaking a plate-glass window. While in a fish shop Nepia had an altercation with a Hindu, related Sergeant J. T. Cowan. The proprietor endeavoured to make peace, but the irate native landed a blow on the res-taurant-keeper’s face. A melee ensued on the footpath, and a constable endeavoured to place Nepia under arrest. With the assistance of several civilians the unruly native was overpowered and the handcuffs fastened on his wrists. The onslaught continued. The Maori hurled himself at the policeman, but missed him and careered through a showcase window. When he was safely under lock and key it was ascertained that he had received several wounds from the glass. This cost £1 Is in medical expenses. The bill against Nepia totalled £24 Is 6d. The sergeant gave Nepia the credit of usually being one of the quietest Maoris in the district. Mr. Levien considered that Nepia was not responsible for his actions. On tho charge of being drunk and disorderly he was fined £l. For resisting arrest he was placed on probation for two years and ordered to take out a prohibition order. He was also ordered to pay £24 Is 6d damages.