RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT. REWIA V. HASTLE.

Waikato Times, Volume 491, Issue VIII, 13 July 1875, Page 3

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT. REWIA Y. HA STLE.

* This was a claim for £10, value of a dog said to have been destroyed by defendant. Major Mair, R.M., and H.JGoodfellow, Esq., JVP., presided. r put in a set-off which was not allowed. AftVr hearing evidence, the R. M. gave judgment for jlaintiff for £5 and costs. Tke defendant intimated his desire to appeal to a higher Court, to which the^ R. M. demurred. It is customary and I think prdper for J. P's to sit on the Bench where cases are b|ing adjudicated upon in thobr district. In such cases it is considered at least o»re courtesy for th# R.M. to consult the J. P. berore giving judgment In the case above referred \o, Major Mair neither by word nor sign recognised the presence of Mr Goodfellow .during the whole sitting of the Court. There is a prevailing feeling that a native invariably gets the best of any action a*gainst a Eurojijpan in our Courts. I suppose they are the best lawyers. It is, however, a noted f^,ct that wherever a native brings an action againsfc aix Europ3an, the defendand will be found imploring the J- P's. to come and sit on the Bench and assist the R. M. to adjudicate in the case. I understand there is a paid native interpreter in the A.C. Surely he might attend and officiate in such cases as $he atjpve, instead of throwing the duty on the R.IM& * At the conclusion 6f the business of the Court, Mr. Kay said he %2&ed leave to draw the attention of the Court to l|ie utter contempt with which the natives treat our laws. Capt. Northcroft had informed them (the natives), that appropriating settlers' cattle or Worses which they find on their land is a political pffence, for which they are not amenahle in our law>£!ourts, and that his instructions from the Gov^rnrnent are in no case to interfere with what the jhatives do across the confiscated boundary; > (It dcjes appear that the natives have been acting on this for the last t \elve months.) Mr Kay informed the Court that the tribe to which <he plaintiff a-nd his witnesses in the case just heard belonged, h#.d at the present moment unlawful possession of foim head of cattle belonging to Mr Martin^ and three hor.ses belonging to Mr Corboy. *! Major Maim said that he would forward Mr Kays remarks gto the Government, and remarked that if the natures did not desist appropriating settlers' propertynthe settlers would needs adopt the give and take system. Mr K-iy. thanked the Court and retired. • v <