TRIAL OF THE PATEA PLOUGHMEN

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 210, 12 July 1879, Page 2

TRIAL OF THE PATEA PLOUGHMEN

The Patea Mail contains a detailed report of the trial of Telki and ten other Maoris arrested while ploughing tlio land of Mr. Finlayson, near Normanby. The cases were heard on Saturday evening, As already mentioned, they were charged with (1), assembling in such numbers as would be likely ta cause a riot: (2), forcible entry; (3), malicious injury to property. The prisoners were marched into the room under a guard of Patea Rifle Volunteers, and they hau made themselves very comfortable by squatting on the floor. On Mr. Finlayson being examined lie was subjected to a rather clrse cross-examination by one of the natives, the following conversation taking place:— ' . Tula Tuki: Who does the land belong * to?— Mr. Finlayson : The land belongs to John Finlayson, my brother, Who gave the land to John Finlayson? —My brother holds the Crown grant, for it.

Who sold you the land?— The land was

purchased from a man named Allen. Whom did Allen buy it from ?—Allen obtained it'from a man named Moellor. Whom didMoeller buy it from?—He brought it from some of the Wanganui Native Contingent, to whom it was granted by Government for their services, Tuki: Who gave the land to the Government 1 The Court declined to let the discussion go any further, as the action was not a question of title. The Bench then committed the prisoners to take their trial it the next sitting Supreme Court, to be held at- Wellington. Te Iki: lam very glad we are to be sent to Wellington, as wo will have a in ride in the stoamer. Another native here broke in by saying that they (tho natives) had the best of it yet—the scales were on their side. They would reserve what they had to say until they went to the man who held the scales.