THE NGARUAWAHIA PUNT CASE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2774, 24 April 1890, Page 2

THE NGARUAWAHIA PUNT CASE.

The charge against Paul Aubrey, for I maliciously cutting adrift the Ngaruawahia ferry, and for chopping holes in the two boats, wjs heard before Messrs Kathborne and Lindsay, .LP's., on Monday last,conturtng the whiite day. Mr \V. M. Hay appeared for the prosecution, and stated his case briefly, to the effect that Paul Aubrey, having a m.itive cat the punt rope, and damaged the boats, so that the p.int. sank in the Wuikato River. Mr J, 13. Somerset, clerk to the Raglan County Council, gavo evidence to the elfect that a committee of the Council, had under a misapprehension, accepted Aubrey's tender for the ferry service. Aubrey was informed of the mistake, and an endeavour was made to compromise the matter with him* but he refused to accept the offer, and Mr G. Kellow received the appointment. Mr G. Kellow deposed that on the occasion of the punt being handed over to him, I\.ul had said "I'll go for Kellow," and he had rejoined "Paul don't go for me but for the Council." He has frequently since interfered with the ferry, demanding fares from passengers, stating that the ferry was his. John Bruoinfield deposed that the accused early in January, had told him that he had a dispute on with the Kaglan Council, and amongst other statements said that if he did not get the ferry he would destroy it, or words to this effect. Andrew Alpin, who had been left in charge of the pnnt by Kellow, deposed that on the night of 25th March, he left the punt in safety, and on going down on the following morning he found the lock gone off the chain, and the punt was away.—Alexander Rollo gave evidence as to the finding of the point on the 2(ith March, some distpnce down the river. One of the boats was sunk, and one was floating. On examination he found several auger holes had been partly bored through one of the boats, lie also noticed other large cuts, evidently made with an axe, and lie felt satisfied that the axe produced was the implement used, as the gaps on the face of it exactly corresponded with the marks on the wood. —Coustable White gave evidence to the tindiug of the axe produced at the accused's house, atld in company with Constable Murray he had examined the holes cut in the side of the punt with the axe, and they found the gaps in the axe fitted the marks iu the cut timbers of Lhe boats. —Constable Murray corroborated the evidence given by Constable White, and said that he had examined the face of the axe with a strong magnifying glass, and had found a a small spot of copper about 1J inches from the heel of the axe ; that he also saw what he tuok to be tar on the face of the axe. The timber of the boats were tarred and that there was a copper nail in the large piece of timber cut through with some sharp instrument. He had no doubt the cuts in the sides of the boats had been made with the axe produced. The accused cross-examined the witnesses at great length but failed to shake the credibility of the witnesses, or to elicit any evidence favourable to his case.—On the case being resumed on Tuesday it was expected that the accused would give evidence and call witnesses for the defence, instead of which, however, he said he had considered the matter, and would reserve his defence for the Supreme Court. —Accused was then committed for trial, bail being allowed, himself in £100 and two sureties of £50 each, Messrs E. Fitzpatrick and Karaka T»rawhiti being the bondsmen.