A MAORI INSULT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 278, 21 December 1914, Page 6

A MAORI INSULT.

QUESTION OF IT? EFFECT

Whether or nut the terms "upoko kohua" (boiled head) and "taurekarcka" (slave, or nobody) bear any really special reproach when iL-ed to a Maori and consequently constitu'e highly provoking language amounting to insult—this was the point of a case before Mr. K. C. Cutten. 3.ML. yesterd-iy when a native named Maua Pateriki complaint that an old Maori named Rauhiri Puhata .had used these insulting words to him. and applied that Puhata be bound over to keep the peace.

The circum~ta.n<Tc! outlined in evidence were that Pateriki had been for many years on certain land in the Nort'icote district, and that a few months ago the old man Puhata. who rlaimed to he a chief of a northern tribe, came and set up his tent on part of the land which he claimed a≤ bis, for the reason that his aunt had lived, died and been buried there. Pateriki put n fence over part of this land, and as it blocked access to the

•■squatters tent the later pulled part of it down, and then the parties met and the old man called Pateriki "upoko kohua" and "taurekareka." Patoriki told the Court that ihc£*> words were a deadly insult to a Maori. "I supposed to kill this man for tae=e word?/' he said. "But I a young man, and he i= an old m.in. and i Chnngtrt I go to "the law." "

Puhata stated that he offered to make peac* after the qnarrel. in Maori faehion, but though he was willing to make peace and stay on the land, he did not intend to mike peace and go away.

Various opinions "ere given by expert** about the effect of these, particular Maori ephkh-ets on the Maori spirit, -ome statin? Uiar they were frequently usej in the native land court humorously and without offence, almo-t as a term of whimsical endearnvent.

His Worship, however, considered tlut in the present instance there was no e'ement of humour about the iis« fc or th-? word*, and that they were used in »uc!l manner ami circumstances as might have inflamed Pateriki'- anier to the point; nf -erious retaliation. lie a!«o considered that tbere was. ill the circumstances of the parties, a danger of a recurrence of the provocation, and lie ordered Puhata to pay £4 6/ costs and to enter into n bond of £10 to keep the peace for -ix months.

Pressed by Mr. GouJd. '-.ounjP.l for Puhata, to caution l'ateriki from annoying the old man, hi* Wor.-hip said he did not intend to enter inio ;i question of title to the land, but hU opinion wa = that, thoush Puhata was in possession (a point made by counsel), lie had come into possession by wrons and forcible means when he should have entered a Civil claim for the land. He had no right to come and "squat' , on land which was in the occupation of P;itnr!ki for a number of years and on which the latter .-f'l] lived.