COMPENSATION COURT.-Friday. [Before T .Beckham, Esq., Commissioner.] The Court sat at eleven o'clock. KARAIPA PATENE MAHU.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIV, Issue 3404, 13 June 1868, Page 5

COMPENSATION COURT.-Friday. [Before T .Beckham, Esq., Commissioner.] The Court sat at eleven o'clock. KARAIPA PATENE MAHU.

Claim, £21 18s., for goods alleged to have been lost through the war. Mr. Boardman appeared on behalf of the Government. Mr. Brown interpreted the evidence. Karaipa Patene Mahu deposed that during the war he resided at Putatalta. He was obliged to leave in consequence of the word of the Governor. Before the war he was living at Waihekuta, about three miles distant from Putataka. Whtn he left he diJ uot remove his property — he was afraid to do so on account of the soldiers. He took no property with him at all ; and, after leaving, he never saw any of it again — it was taken away by the soldiers. Some of the natives saw the soldiers take away the steelyard and fishing net. There was no fighting at the time, but they left their things in consequence of the word of the Governor. Witness belonged to the Ngatirako tribe. Only two of his tribe went into rebellion. The others, among them being himself, always remained loyal, and went into no fights. The time was September when he lost these things. The corn and potatoes had come up, and were destroyed by the soldiers, They out all tbe corn down with axes.

HOBTK TtEA. Claim, £31 ss. 6d., for * cow, pigs, goats, and other property lost during the war. Claimant deposed that during the war he waa living at Maraitai, but left for Putataka in consequence of the Governor's word, leaving all his pro« perty at the settlement. He left his goods became he was afraid. His pigs were killed by the soldieri. They were running on the farm, and not kept in styei. They were tame pies, and witness had always fed them. He himself saw fifty-ninekilled by soldiers. Some were caught by dogs ; others were shot *nd killed in other ways. They were nofeall killed at the same time. Witness could have killed them himself, but he did not like to kill his own pigs. The cow was also killed by the soldiers, but he did not see it killed. Had always said the cow was killed by the pakehas, and had not said that it was lost. He had six head of cattle on the farm at the time lie left, but the soldiers were afraid to klil the others ; the officers would not let them. Afterwards recovered the other five head and sold them. H»d twenty goats, and lost them all ; ten were young ones worth about ten shillings each. Some of the old ones were worth £1 15s. Had stated before that they were only worth 155., but that referred to smaller ones. Had also lost four boxes — one was very large, and cost £2—2 — ten paddles, and other things which the soldiers took. None of these things were on his farm when he returned. He belonged to the Ngatahinga tribe. Many of that tribe went to the war and joined the the rebels. None of this property belonged to the tribe, but all to himself and to his wife ; and no other person in the hapu had any Bhare in it.

WETBNB KAWANA. Claim, £20, for » horse alleged to have been taken by the English. Wetene Kawana deposed that when the war broke out he was living at Taupiri, and had a horse at the time. Te Ropiha took it to Tuakau to work a machine. Te Eopiba never returned tbe borse ;it was taken from him by the soldiers. Witness saw the horse taken. Mr. Boardman said that witness on the last examination had distinctly stated that he did not see the horse taken. Which statement was the Court to believe ? Evidence continued : Ropiha might have joined in the war. Believed he had. Mr.fßoardman read over the evidence given by olaimant on a former occasion, which was of a wholly contradictory character to that given yesterday. Mr. Boardman said he could believe neither statement, and asked the Court not to allow any Award at all. Witness asked when he was going to get any compensation. He should soon die coining backwards and forwards. Hoete Rea was questioned by the Court, and gave some evidenoe confirmatory of the claimant's statement. Mr. Boardman said that there were two reasons why this claim should be struck out. One was that the horse was lent to a rebel native, by whom it had been lost, and upon whom Wetene would have a claim. In the second place, hit evidence was altogether contradictory, and not the slightest faith could be put in it.

TOTTTEA. MIRU. Claim, £38 10s., for losses sustained through the war. Claimant deposed that when the war broke out he was living at Pakau on the Waikato river, and near Port Waikato. He was obliged to leive after the battle of Koheroa, on account of the w>rd of the Governor. He took oanoes away, but be left pigs and other property, 8 pig", 4 goats, 4 canoes, 7 houses, Maori raupo whares which belonged to bis old men and his own women. They belonged to his hapu : only one belonged to himself : it was a large one, and was worth £4. Claimant wanted £84 14s. for the whole of the property he had lost. The canoes were worth £10 each. [When claimant w«s examined before, he in evidence stated that the four canoes were worth £15 altogether.] They were on the beach near the pa, and were broken up by order of the Government. They were worth £10 for the lot ; three were worth £3 each, and one worth £1. The books he lost were worth £3 ; the prayer books did not belong to the minister, but Dr. Maunsell and other ministers had taken them to his whare. They were paid for j claimant had paid money for them to several minister!. These books all belonged to the hapu, and not to himself personally. Only tiro of his tribe went to join the King.