FEUD AMONGST MAORIS.
DIFFERENCE OVER RANK.
SUGGESTION IN ASSAULT CASE.
"I would like to state to the Court that this haß just been a matter of ill* feeling and there is a sort of feud between the different parties. This boy is of high rank and the other party pretend they are of high rank, and consequently there is always trouble." This statement was made in _ the Supreme Court this morning by Violet Newdick, a Maori woman, when giving evidence relative to incidents associated with the case in which Rangi Huka a young Maori, had pleaded guilty al Te Puke to a charge of assault witl ntent to commit rape.
It was stated by Mr. J. D. Davys for iccused that the offence had occurred when accused's parents were absent at a tangi, and the girl involved in the case was a quarter-caste Indian. Mr. Justice Blair, before whom Huka appeared for sentence, referred to the Probation Officer's report, which suggested that something similar had occurred prior to the case under review. Mr. Davys said the native girls said to be involved in that case had written saying that no such thing had happened. Difficulty had been experienced to prevent the whole native settlement coming to the Court over the matter.
His Honor: I would like to get to the bottom of this. If this is the first offence instead of the second, it .makes a big difference.
He thought, in view of the unsolicited letters that Mr. Davys had in his rttssion, that further inquiries should made concerning the reference to a previous offence. Information in regard to the matter made a material difference, and he did not desire to do an injustice to accused. Sentence was accordingly deferred for a fortnight, in order to receive a further report from the Proba|tioi]M)ffiMr at Te Poke. Ijfuka was
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Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 257, 30 October 1928, Page 19
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308FEUD AMONGST MAORIS. Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 257, 30 October 1928, Page 19
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