CHARGE AGAINST PATETERE NATIVES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 2963, 11 July 1891, Page 2

CHARGE AGAINST PATETERE NATIVES.

At tho li.M- Court, Hamilton, on Thursday. before Captain Jackson, R.M., two aboriginal natives, named Mihinui and Ngawliakahora, his wife, were charged on the inhumation of Mr F. D. Rich, with destroying a bridge, on the 10th Juno, value £5, the property of the New Zealand Thames Valloy Land Company.—Mr Hay appeared for tho prosecution, and Mr O'Neill for the defendants, who pleaded not guilty. Mr Quick acted as interpreter. —Mr F. D. Kieh, manager and attornoy for the Company in Now Zealand, said that tho bridge spanned the Waiomou creek, and one end rested on Hangatanuka No. 4a, and the other eud on WhaitiKurunui No. 4a, and that the laud belonged to the Company, which ho proved by titles.—Evidence was also given, shewing that the natives had been warned not to persist in their threats to destroy the bridge, and also that the land belonged to the Company and not to them. Evidence was given proving the destruction of the bridge.—The case for the prosecution having closed, Mr O'Neill submitted that the information should be dismissed—(l) As tho information was bad, it not briDR sworn by informant nor by any one authorised by him to do so ; (2) that the information purported to be laid under section f>2 of the Malicious Injuries to Property Act, whereas it was laid under section i)l of that Act; (3) that tho existence of the Company had not been shown ; and (4) that the map put in was not authenticated. —The female accused (Ngawhalcabora) was called and gave evidence that she had not sold her interest in the Whaiti-Kurunni block, and sho had not destroyed the bridge as an insult to the law, but merely to assert her claim to the land and to lot Mr Rich know that the land was hers. —The R.M. reservoil his judgment until next Court day. _____