WELLINGTON.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3373, 14 October 1879, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

Last night,

At the Police Court seven Maories were charged with riot and forcible entry on land at Gisborne. Mr Bees defended, and stated that another Maori woman, included in the committal, was unable to appear owing to ill-health, but would appear for sentence if the others were found guilty.

In the case if Karaitana, who had alio been committed, the Crown proaecutor entered a nolle jprosequi. Mr Bees thought the natives should be tried by their own countrymen, but Hit Honor replied he could not go into that matter now. It was stated that one of the natives committed had been passed over in the arraignment, and it was arranged that he should stand out of the trial, the counsel for the defence undertaking that he should appear if called upon. The Crown prosecutor, in the opening of the case, contended that possession wu prime jacie eyidence of title; but, even if it were proved that Messrs Bond and Allen had no legal title, the charge would still lie, provided that it were shown that the prisoners assembled in numbers and used force. He said that the question of ownership did not come into question at all. If they entered upon land to the number of 15 with intent to assert this disputed ri^ht to the land in a forcible msnasr they were guilty of riot and fori cible entry; also, it was not necessary that all of them should have been actually concerned in the assault; the fact 01 their being present and abetting the assault was sufficient. Messrs Bond and Allan, the proprietors of the land, gare eridenc* as to the nature of the offence, and said that the natives came on the land and threw the sheep over the fence. The ease is Btiil proceeding.

The Jurj found a tnw bill againifc David Salaicn fur larceny. The Crown prosecutor intimatfd h*

would not at this sitting of the Supreme Court prefer another charge of embezzlement against Morton Quinn.