TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 145, 19 June 1894, Page 5

TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS.

ONE MAORI DISCHARGED.

When the Supreme Court resumed at ten o'clock this morning, Mr Tole called rebutting evidence for the prosecution. Statements relative to the fracas near Mercer were made by Sergeant Mucky, \V. Robinson, and Constables Tapp, Finnerty, Lowry, Russell and Caseells. Mr Earle, for the defence, contended that as the arrest of Parta and Kapene had not been shown in the evidence to have been justifiable, those Maoris who had only taken part in the obstruction of the police as they were arresting those two natives, were entitled to their discbarge. His Honor upheld this contention, holding that the charge of obstructing and assaulting the police could only apply to the natives who actually obstructed . the arrest of Kerei Kaihau and bis wife. The evidence did not show that the arrests of Pana and Kapene were justifiable. ■ He did not think there was any evidence against the accussd Tiriwa. The jury thereupon found Tiriwa, a young man, " not guilty," and he was discharged. Mr Earle then proceeded to address tho jury at coma length for the defence.

After the luncheon adjournment, Mr Earle continued his address to the jury. In the course of his remarks he asserted that unnecessary violence was used on the part of the police.

Mr Tole followed, and was addressing the jury for the prosecution as we went to press.