MAORIS BEFORE JUDGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 16, 20 January 1926, Page 8

MAORIS BEFORE JUDGE.

m TWO SENT TO PRISON. 'WILES OF A DUSKY BEAUTY." "What am I to do to this voting native who succumbs to the wiles of the dusky beauty," asked his Honor, Mr. Justice Stringer, of Mr. Campbell, the Probation Officer, when Kareti Takarua, a Maori, stood before him in the Supreme Court this morning, to receive sentence on a charge of an offence against a girl. Prisoner had been comnntted from Port Awanui. "From the police report, there seems to be little doubt that the young man's inducement came from the girl, who, although very young, seems very precocious," continued his Honor. "She seems to be of remarkable intelligence,' added the Judge, referring to a letter written by the girl to prisoner. "Considering it is written in English, I consider it a most remarkable literary performance. It is a most poetic effusion." The Crown Prosecutor said that the girl had been very enamoured of the prisoner. His Honor granted Kereti probation for two years, and ordered him to pay £5 towards the cost of the prosecution, at the rate of 10/ a month. A Serious Case. "If prisoner was a white man. I should probably give him the fullest penalty allowed by law." said his Honor," referring to Paratene Hohepa, an'elderly Maori, who awaited sentence on a similar charge at Houhora. Mr. Allan Moody appeared .for prisoner, and referred to the laxity with which natives regarded theses offences. Prisoner, hesaid, had been brought before bis Maori village committee and fined £2."). This had been paid, and then the police heard of the matter and took action. Accused probably did not understand the action of the law after he had been dealt with by his own council. His Honor:" The worst feature is that this man had practically adopted the girl as his own. I must pass a substantial sentence. Prisoner is sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment, Theft From Person. Another young native, Papi Rangi, who pleaded guilty to a charge of theft from the person," and who had been committed from Otahuhu, asked his Honor, through an interpreter, to give him probation. " 'Urn," said the Judge. "You. might ask him if it is true that he was convicted for theft on three previous occasions." ... Rangi said it was. The facts were that prisoner deliberately snatched £17 from a man's hand and" then bolted, said his Honor. He was followed up closely and caught. "If you had been a man of good character. I might have granted ' you probation," said the Judge to prisoner. "As you have been convicted three times before, that is <|uite impossible." Rangi received six months' imprisonment. An order for the return of the £17 was made.