WORKING A SWINDLE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 76, 16 August 1912, Page 7

WORKING A SWINDLE.

.. MAORI IMPERSONATORS. PLEAD GUILTY: COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE. Auckland, August 9. An interesting prosecution was heard before Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M., at the Police Court this afternoon, and concluded to-night. Noka Hukanui, an elderly Maori, was charged that he counselled and procured • his son Moumou to impersonte Paopao Patena, another native, with intent to defraud the Waikato Maniapoto District Land Board of the sura of £ 9 Is 7d. His son MoiiifioU' Was charged with fraudulently obtaining the sum named. The native Paopao was one of the beneficiaries in connection with a piece of land known as the Wliakatakataka black. Hukanui was cognisant of this fact, and hit upon the expedient of persuading his'SOn Moumou to impersonate Patena. . We.accordingly took Moumou, 'who. was n<k ; a vfery willing party to the ■scheme,'t6'the office of the Land' Board. Here .he. introduced Moumou as Paopao •^a^eri.yJbut 1 the .imposition did not deceive ,t'heel<srk at the office, and the two natives'' Went away to subsequently re.fyrVwßh {CtajHj, named Frederick Applely.irti' /■' also deposed that Moumou Paopao Patena, one of the bcne'fjpiftjics , pn,' connection with the ,)^aj^atalff,-(;aka,block. . ■ There still some doubt as to whe-.jther-'Pfttoßfi hjid; .attained his majority, iO-ndi QBC.e- STorfi'the natives left emptyi "SjOtne days later, however, .tJiey .'ietutnfednwith.. a birth certificate, ■which put;JSeydrid doubt any dispute arising in that 'connection. The sum of £9 Is 73 ' handed' over and the signa- ' tnrd- P&tena" attached and 'Vouched by M6lftrlou. I'lie 'fi-si Eventually discovered, i'aha b'elng set on foot, the refunded by Hukanui. •accused admitted the • cliargfsi accordingly committed (iourt for sentence. Bail ( instance—in one per•sonai <,s£io6, and one surety of ;ijC'3». jli'lj-M-'l >;> : i-Fsedegith'.-ApjjJe.vard, alleged to have • twnf <;an-. aecomplfte of the.two accused natives, was charged with abetting them. He pleaded not-guilty, and was committed forifcfi&D r-f '