A MAORI MAIDEN'S ESCAPADE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4716, 11 May 1894, Page 3

A MAORI MAIDEN'S ESCAPADE.

On Wednesday afternoon Chiof Detective Campbell arrested a young v Maori woman named Martha Tahinui on a charge of forgery, and enquiries which have been made regarding the dusky damsel and her doings, since she has been in custody, have been productive of somewhat remarkable results, Martha Tahinui is agirl apparently just out of her teens, of propossessing appearance, and hails, according to her own account, from Ksiapni, It is assorted she his posod litre as a daughter of Wi Parata, the well known Waikanae chief and member ol (hi! Uousu of Representatives, and lias been shying at tho Metropolitan Hotel. M'dcswonh"Street, the licensee of which she informed that it was the express wish of bar father that she should be quartered thorn. Her literary accomplishments are exceptional, and include,,as fur as can bo at present ascertained, tile passing of a cheque for i's in the name of Wi Parata, which the lady tendertil personally to the Union Steam Ship Co. yesterday iifteri oon in payment for a saloon passage to Lytlelton, receiving the balanro in cisli, and two very neatlyworded orders fi-r goods, which wete | preset) ed to Messrs Muriay nnu Ouf-ey, and Warnock and Adkin, well known drapery filing in town. Tlie order which was given to Murray and O-tsey was for i!3los worth of goods, which the firm delivered in the belief that the girl was really a daughter of Wi Parata, whose signature appeared on the order. Tho 9econd order, duly stamped and written in a fine round hand, purported to havo come from no less a person than Sir Robert Stout, and authorised tho girl to receive £l2 worth of articles. As some suspicion was raised as to the genuineness of tho order, the goods were not delivered, and about 3 p.m. yesterday Miss Tahinui was apprehended in respect of the cheque which she gave to the Union Steam Ship Company. She appeared before Mr Martin, S M., at the Magistrate's Court this morning, and was remanded until next Wednesday, on the application of Inspector Pender, bail being fixed in two suretiesof .£2O each, and her own recognisance of a similar sum. Mr J, W, Poyutou appeared on her behnlf.-Posl.