A MAORI CHIEF IN COURT.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2286, 5 March 1887, Page 2

A MAORI CHIEF IN COURT.

# Hote Thompson's Pride. At the R.M. Court, Cambridge, yesterday, before Capt. Jackson, R.M., H. Asher sued theNgatihana Chief Hote Thompson, son of the great Waharoa, the "King Maker," for £1(5, the amount of a judgment debt. Mr Dyer appeared for plaintiff, and Mr Masters acted as interpreter. The judment debtor deposed -I am an aboriginal native, and have several places of residence. I chiefly reside at Tamahere and Kihikihi. At present, I have not any money to pay the debt with, or any part of it. The natives have no money at the present time, and have not any prospects of being able to earn any, as there is no work to be done. I have an interest in the No. 4a block of land at Maungatautari, but it has not been subdivided yet. I gave an order to Mr James Mackay to stop the amount of the debt out of the purchase monejr when the land is sold. The order produced is the one I gave. 1 know this case has been pending a long time, about six year*. During that time I have not had that amount. Sometimes I have had 2s 6d or * ss, and during the last six years I may have had perhaps £5, but that I have spent in purchasing food. It does not take much money to keep me, as I work hard at potatoes. I cannot work with Europeans. Mr Dyer: Why cannot you work with Europeans ? Defendant: lam not going to slave for white people. I should pay my debts if I had the money, I am not strong enough to earn money. Mr Dyer : What is the matter with you. Defendant: lam feeble. Mr Dyer : He now says it is because he is , feeble, and not a minute ago lie said it was because he was a chief. Defendant: I thought there was no occasion to work. As soon as the land is sold to the pakeha lam willing to pay. I could do light work for Europeans, such as driving cattle or anything that had to be done on horseback. I have not any horses or cattle. I came here in a buggy belonging to another person. Mr Dyer : You have a horse that you ride. If sold that would pay a portion of the debt. Defendant: The horse would fetch nothing; it is almost a cat and not worth a shilling. That is the only horse I possess. I have not any cattle, pigs or potatoes. Mr Dyer: Will you agree to pay £1 per month ? Defendant: No ! If any land was sold I would pay right off as soon as I got my money. Mr Dyer asked the court to grant * provisional order for £1 per month, and if defendant found he could not pay that, let him apply to have it varied. Captain Jackson said the case had been running since 1879. The summons was a perfect curiosity ; it was so covered with adjournment stamps. He thought tha better way would be to strike the case out, and plaintiff could take out a fresh summons when he kuew that the debtor had the money. Mr Dyer : It is a thousand to one against my knowing when he has any, and very likely the land will not be sold through Mr Mackay, whom we have the order upon. The case was struck out. The defendant promised the R.M. to pay Mr Dyer as soon as he could obtain the" money.