MAORIS INJURED IN FIGHT

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22136, 5 July 1937, Page 10

MAORIS INJURED IN FIGHT

ONE LOSES TWO FINGERS

(I'RI3S ASSOCIATION 11LEOBAM.) DUNEDIN, July 4. Two Maori brothers who fought over the removal of bedding and clothing from the home of one of them by his housekeeper are in the Oamaru hospital, both with serious injuries. One has a broken arm and the other has had two fingers amputated.

Eli Porete and his housekeeper had an altercation, it is alleged, and the woman left the house and went to his brother's. Later she went back again, and, finding no one at home, she took a quantity of bedding and clothing to Fuller Porete's house. Eli Porete returned from Dunedin on Friday night and found the articles missing. It is alleged that he then armed himself with a hedge slasher and went to his brother's house, where he roused the occupants by smashing the windows. Fuller Pcrete attempted to pacify him. the allegation continues, but a heated argument developed, followed by blows being struck. It is said that Fuller secured a double-barrelled shotgun and that a shot was fired without any injury being caused. In the fight which followed both slasher and shotgun were broken. When Eli was taken to hospital he had a deep gash on the head, a cut on the forehead, and a broken arm. Fuller also has a severe cut on the head, and a cut on one foot and two of his fingers were so badly slashed as to require their amputation.