RUA'S TRIAL.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 160, 15 July 1916, Page 3

RUA'S TRIAL.

THE THIRTIETH DAY

"A BAND OF MARTYRS."

AUCKLAND, July 13. The Rua t rl: " entered on the thirtieth day to-day. At the outset Judge Chapman said, "Well, gentlemen, I think so far as a trial m this country is concerned, I once had a similar ca.se which lasted 28 days, hut I do not know of a longer one. I can only once again express my sympathy with you. We are a band of and shouid remain such for the rest of our lives. (Smiles in the jury box.) The Crown Prosecutor: I hope we may share in the sympathy, your Honour. (Laughter.) His Honour (to the jury) : AH wo can say, gentlemen, is that the end is in sight, but we are not there yet. Counsel for the defence : I may say that 1 did my best to prevent the case from coming to Auckland. . His Honour : I do not know that it would have been any better for the country to have submitted the case to a company of dairy farmers. Ido not know what the cows would have thought! Mr Lundon : The cows are on strike until August. Rua continued his evidence, but owing to haemorrhage of the nose, an adjournment was necessary, and later, .Rua. again suffering from the same trouble, the case was adjourned unt.l to-morrow. During his evidence, the "'prophet*' told of events at Wai-iti on February 12th, the occasion of the alleged uttering of seditious language. He said he wanted the police to take the iniiative, and, quietly holding out h:s hands, told them to arrest him. He did not say anything in criticism of Mr Dyer, S.M. Later Rua took up h:s narrative at the point wheer t!ie Hon. Ngata (representative for the Eastern Ma'ir s) visited Maungapoliatu. The prisoner to'd Mr Ngata that rumours of his fortifications, of his cannons, and of hi.s machine guns were all lies. In connection with the 1911 and 1910 "sly goe" charges', he had already p-'id a line ef £IOB and served a r-cnt-once of three months in the Auckland gaol. Mr Ngata said "Stay where von are. Iw 11 carry 'your papers to We'lington to have a further seruting made, and whatever the result I will communicate wiih you.*" Mr Ngata wvnte tn him on March 13th, but the letter did ' not contain a reference to the fine of £IOB which he had paid.