MAORI OBSTRUCTION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 144, 18 June 1894, Page 4

MAORI OBSTRUCTION.

THE OPUATIA DISPUTE.

NATIVES BEFORE THE COURT.

THE DEFENCE.

The Supreme Conrt resumed at ten o clock this morning, when the charge of assaulting aad obstructing the police, at Mercer, on the 9th of March, preferred against nine Maoria of the Lower Waikato, in connection with the Opoatia survey dispute, was proceeded with before Hia Honor Mr Justice ConoDy and a jury of twelve. The evidence of the accused men a»d women for the defence was proceeded with. Ibaka Tarawhati, one of the accused men, was put in the witness-box and gave his statement regarding the encounter between the police and Kerei Kaihaus native followers on the banks of the Waikato near Mercer on tbej occasion of the police expedition to arrest KereL Ibaka denied Ithat he bad assaulted the police. The police, he said, seized him by the throat and the arrae, the consequence of which was that he " cried out like a pig." The people all wanted to be arrested, and (bat was why they rose when Kerei Kaihan was arrested. Ibaka said that a disturbance arose during the arrests on account of his being struck by the police. He denied that be attempted to bite Sergeant Macky. " Wonld I bite him and then be fired upon?" he asked. Ruihana, another of the natives in the dock, was the next witness. He gave evidence in his defence, stating that be did notassauls the police. "I feared their guns, and I feared their sticks: why should I touch the police?" he asked. He saw somelblood on the head of a man called Rangi, after the scrimmage was over. Hedid not throw Constable Hobson to the ground. Kapua, another of the prisoners,^ a young man, deposed that ho did not strike any of the police. He did not drag any of them by "the legs. In accordance with Tawhiao's instructions witness wanted to be arrested as well as the others. He did not take off his coat in the scrimmage with the police. He would swear that, because he had no coat on. (Laughter.) Witness was arrested in mistake for the man Pana, for whom the police had a warrant. He did not seize Sergeant Gamble by the legs. He did not seize Constable Hobson and drag him to the river. _____^___