POLICE COURT.—Tuesday. [Before Thomas Beckham, Esq., R.M.]

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XX, Issue 2020, 6 January 1864, Page 3

POLICE COURT.— Tuesday. [Before Thomas Beckham, Esq., R.M.]

j MUBDBR OF MB. DROOMGOULD. "^ _ _ " . Tangatft Ware Iwitaia was, brought up on remand, *nd the examination oi tho'chargebrought against him, of wilfully murdering Mr. James Droomgould, at the Manku, was resumed. Mr. Fenton conducted the prosecution on behalf of the Crown. Mr. Pu'ckey acted as interpreter. Nini Kukutai, the informant, h*d been examined on the previous occasion. The next witnes called wa« — Tini Pakete, who, being examined by Mr. Fenton, deposed:; I am a native policeman. I live at Taupari. ' I vra.it one of Nini Kukutai's party at Onepoto. It was on the 10th of some month. T don't kno sv the month. I went there to look at the growth of the food. We saw some people there, Tangata Ware and others. Inhere were about-forfcy there— of ,' the tribes Ngatihana and NgatikahukuraThey belonged to the rebels. They were bearing arms and fighting against the authority of the Queen. There were nine of my own party. When we met at Onepoto, the other party addressed us. All of them spoke and said, "We have killed ft white man." The prisoner spoke. He spoke to our parby, saving that he and Tarawhati had killed a white man. We made no reply. The prisoner then said that he had shot him, that he had fired at him twice, and then caught him by the hair of the head, and struck him on the head with the stock of the gim — the lower part of it. This fractured the skull, and the brain came out, and the man died. Prisoner did not say anything about the white man having a horse with him. Two natives were present. Tarawhati was the name of the second. *He wat present during the conversation, and also spoke to our party in the presence of the prisoner. He said, that he had shot the white man ; then, after he had fired, the prisoner fired. That is all Tarawhati said. The prisoner's party had plunder with them belonging to white people. The} had three horses in their possession. We took the horses, and brought them to Taupari. We have since brought those same horses to Waiuku, and left them there in Constable's paddock. Major Speedy ordered them to be brought. I myself gave them into the possession of Constable and Major Speedy. Theie was one black horse and two red one*. The Pukekawa was deserted at thab time. Kangipokia is the name of the place where the ford is. The only way from Onepoto to the Mauku is by Eangipokia. There is a ford there well known and often used. Waata KukuUi, examined by Mr. Fenton, deposed : T live at Taupari. Am the chief of Ngatitipa tribe, and an assessor. Eemember sending a party, under Nini Kukntai, to Onepoto on the 10th of November, lam quite certain of .the date. [A letter was placed in witness's hands.] I -wrote tbat letter on the day after 1 despatched the party. It is dated the 11th. I saw the party returning to my place. They brought nothing back in their hancN but the news that they had seen the enemy. They also said they had some horses. They described the horses. AI, two o'clock iv the morning T sent 1 oft" another party, under Mohi. There were five besides Mohi. I also sent another party, under Rewi,- after this one. The party under Kewi met the other party returning. Mohis party brought three horses, a cow-bell, Si chain, and a horse-rope, and gave them to me. I took charge of them, and reported the circumstauce to the Qovernment. After a while, Major Speedy wrote, lequesting me to give up the hori-es to his charge. When I started for Auckland I had the horses brought over with me by some nativp police to Pntataka, where I met Major Speedy, and talked to him about the horses. The last witness and another policeman, named Paratene, called for the horses, and brought them to Wainku. I did not see the horses after my conversation with Alajoi Speedy. James Speedy, examined by Mr. Fenton, deposed : lam a resident magistrate, at Waiuku. On the 21st of December I met Waata Kukntai, at Pntataka. I saw tlnee horses. They were pointed out to me by natives. I had previously applied for them, 'J hey weie fetteiedat Pucataka, and were pointed out to me by some of Waata's people I recognised one of them as Di .Giles's horse. Dr. Giles's farm is at tho Mauku, near Patuinahoe. W.iata Knkutsi told dip that the horses which were fettered, weie the hoi3e<= takeu from natives, which I had applied for. Iho horses were within 100 yards at the time. I desireil that they should be taken to Constable's paddock, and left there. I said so to Waata Kukntai anil other natives who weie present. They were taken on. to Waiuku, and 1 saw them in Constable's paddock on the 22nd. Mr. Hill came last Siindpj week to me, at Waiuku, and claimed thejilly as his This was one of the red ones. The other red one was also delivered to Mr. Hill, for Dr. Giles. The black one is still at Waiuku. A bell and a bullotU chain were also brought to me. They have nevcv been claimed. Robert Hill, next called, deposed: lamavolunI teer at the Mauku. I lemembev on the 3id of November, at a quaiter to six m the morning, f heard some scattered shots iv the bush. Ten of iw pioceeded in the bnsb at ouce. There were about five shots. It was about twenty minutes before wo arrived on the spot. We were halted at the edge of the bush. Myself and my brother Henry went along the load leading towards Mr. Morey's faim. About fifteen yai els this side of Morey's, we saw a volunteer cap. On the side of the road we saw James DroomgOiild nearly dead, but still breathing. We passed on to the tracks, calling the attention of om connades to the body. We found the tracks of tlnee men with naked feet. The tracks, were about ten yards from uhe body. The tracks were quite fresh. They weie in the opening. After Droomgould 's death, horses were missed fioin the Maukn. I live «ifc the Manku myself. The horses that weie missing belonged to my brother and Dr. Giles. 1 have seen the hdrses since. Dioomgould was not armed. By the Beuch : About an hour after what I have related, I saw Dioomgould in the stockade. I cannot say the day the horses were missed. He examined by Mr. Fenton: It wa« the only death T knew of in the neighbourhood of the Manku. If there had been any other I should have heard of it. Mr, Fentou applied for a remand for the production of material witnesses. .Remanded until Monday next.

STEALING FROTI THE PEIISON. Samuel Lewis, private of the ISth Regiment, was charged by William. Davis, of the 2nd Waikato Volunteers, with stealing fioni liis peisou, in Highstieet, on Monday night last, seven £1 notes, one tobacco pouch, one knife, and one fig of tobacco — value, £7 81.8 1. William Davis sworn : I belong to the 2nd Waikato Volunteers, and am in the Land Transport Corps. I met the prisoner last night at the bottom of Shortlatid-stieet between 11 and 12 o'clock. 1 asked him if he could tell me wheie I could get a bed. He ssiid he wanted one, too, but had no money to pay foi one. I told him if he would show me where I could get a bed I would pay for his as well as my own. After walking about for some time, we sat dowu on two crates in High-street. I had seven £1 notes in my pocket, bimilar to those now produced. The tobacco pouch now produced was in my pocket, *nd the notes were rolled up in it. The knife produced is aUo my property. I had some silver and tobacco. All the things produced were taken from me. After missing them I informed constable O'Hara. I fell asleep on the crate, and wheu the constable awoke me I fonnd the things were gone. The prisoner, upon being asked if he had any questions to ask, said he never saw the witne&s before. Constable OHara deposed : I apprehended the prisoner this morning in Chancery-street, about half-past four, in consequence of information I received from the last witness; I brought him to the police guard-room and searched him, and found in his pockets the seven £1 Bank of New Zealand, notes, ss. 9di. in silver, a tobacco pouch, knife, and one fig of tobacco, which I now produce. The last witness identified the knife and pouch, and iv the presence of the prisoner stated that the notes were rolled up in the pouch. The prisoner said he had received the money from the captain of the company. The prisoner had no questions to put. The prisoner was charged in the usual manner, and stated that he he never saw the witness, good or bad, last night;, and therefore had no conversation with him at all. I was in liquor until about twelve o'clock. , He was committed to take his trial at the next criminal sessions, for larceny.

Cray Boibd.— The usual -weekly meeting of the City Board, was held yeserday, there being present Mr. Webster (in tho chair), Mr. Finlay, Mr. Darby, and 3^r. Ashton. The minutes of the "prevfmw meeting were read and confirmed. The accounts ■were signer), and on the motion of Mr. Ashton the Board adjourned until 4 o'clock to-morrow, (Thursday).

MuRrHT',3 RitM" Gold Minino Company.— The meeting of t,he above company, advertised to take place yesterday afternoon, at the office tif Mr. H. P. Stark, was adjourned until this afternoon, in comec^uenoe of the absenco of Mr. JUng, at Coromandtl. ,