MAORIS GAOLED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 144, 19 June 1940, Page 6

MAORIS GAOLED.

SEQUEL TO WHARF THEFT.

GOODS HIDDEN UNDER FLOOR.

(By Telegraph-—Own Correspondent.)

GISBORNE, this day

Many artielee of clothing, merchandise and foodstuffs, to a total value of £50, were etolen from the goods shed on the Hick* Bay wharf on April 24. There was a sequel to the theft in the Te Araroa Police Court when three Maori labourers were each sentenced to six months' imprisonment. Accused were John Jensen (18)), John Tawhara (19) •nd Tumoana Poutu (20), all of Hicks Bay, and they were charged on three count*. A fourth labourer, Wiki Haua (24), married, aleo of Hicks' Bay, was placed on probation for two years on a charge of receiving etolen property valued at £13 10/11.

The stolen property had been landed at Hick* Bay from a coastal vessel and was consigned to F. W. Hunt, of Wai•pii, Farmers' Company, of Te Araroa, •nd F. H. Walker, of Waihau Bay. Three parts of the clothing were recovered, but only a small portion of the merchandise and food remained. Some of-the stolen property was found buried under the floor of a back room of the house occupied by Haua.