TO BE SENTENCED.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 63, Issue 41, 27 November 1942, Page 2

TO BE SENTENCED.

FRACAS AT FORESTRY CAMP. SIX* MAORIS BEFORE COURT. (P.A.) ROTORUA, Nov. 26. Evidence called by the police was to the effect that religious frenzy, occasioned by the preachings of a Maori who claimed that he was God, was at the bottom of a serious fracas at Waiotapu on October 28, in which seven Maoris, the police, and military provosts were involved. As a result of a pitched battle, one Maori died, another received a fractured skull, a police constable (G. W. Kilgour) suffered a fractured skull, and several other police and Maoris were severely injured. Six accused appeared in the Rotorua Magistrate’s Court yesterday charged with causing actual bodily harm, assault, and resisting and obstructing the police. They were: Rehu Reihana, aged 19; Mickey Reihana, 18; Ray Reihana, 36; Tim Reihana, 31; Ken Reihana, 25, brothers of Taupo; and Henry October, aged 29, also of Taupo. Witnesses testified that the dead Maori, Rahu * Reihana, killed in the fracas, set himself up as God and declared that he had power to destroy any person who tried to resist or arrest him. Family differences had arisen over Rahu’s threats and claims. The result was that the police were called to eject some troublesome members from a forestry hut they were illegally occupying.

Constable Kilgour, said the witnesses, tried to reason with the Maoris but was savagely attacked and battered about the head with a baton. Two companions were also attacked. A second police party arrived, with instructions to use violence as a last resort. The Maoris resisted violently with wooden batons. In the fight Rahu Reihana received a fractured skull and died. Ken Reihana received a fractured skull and had since recovered. A voluntary statement taken while the accused were in custody from Ray Reihana, as spokesman, for t)ie party, stated that all had made up their minds to plead guilty. They regretted the whole affair. They explained that at the time all had been seized with a feeling that they themselves could not understand. This had caused them to do it. They knew they had done wrong. All the accused pleaded guilty and were committed to the Auckland Supreme Court for sentence.