FORCIBLE ENTRY.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 187, 15 August 1901, Page 2

FORCIBLE ENTRY.

A WARNING TO MAORIS.

By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, last night. Ton Maoris of Tauranga district were brought up at the Supreme Court on charges of forcible entry at Motiti Island, Bay of Plenty. When asked to plead Riki Pohuc said: —“ I admit that I committed a technical breach of the law. Our lawyer will explain the matter to tho Court. This was taken as pleading guilty, and tho other Natives also pleaded guilty to a technical breach of the law. Mr Martin, in addressing the Court in mitigation of the sontcncc, explained tho history of tho land transactions between the Maori owners of Motiti Island and tho present European occupants. His Honor said the prisoners had brought themselves within reach of the law, and might bo sentenced to a long term of imprisonment. Ho would not sond them to prison, but they had put tho country to a heavy expense. Their counsel had stated that thoy had acted under legal advice. If tho advice was that they should go in a largo body it was very bad advice. If they wanted to assert their rights it would have been quite sufficient for one of them to have gone. Sentence would be that they be fined £5 each, which would just barely cover the cost the country had been put to. The fines must bo paid within ono month, and if not paid by that time the prisoners would be brought before the Court to bo dealt with.

lIIS HONOR’S CHARGE,

(Special to Times.) Auckland, last night.

In his address to the Grand Jury, His Honor made the following remarks in regard to tho land case dealt with to-day : A charge against a number of Maoris of forcible entry upon land in the occupation of the prosecutor appeared very clear. The prosecutor and his predecessors had been for some thirty years or more in occupation of land called Motiti A and B, form ng one block, and not divided by any fence. Some Maoris on the Oth of May demanded possession of tho manager, which was refused, ho advising them to consult a lawyer, saying also if thoy went on the land he would order them off. They replied they would not go. Next day some twelve Maoris took possession, commenced cutting down trees, and when ordered off individually refused to go. They pitched a camp and drove the cattlo from tho water. His Honor said that law \yas clear that although no one was assaulted and no violence was threatened, yet if persons took possession in sufficient numbers to deter tho rightful owners from turning them away, it was enough to constitute forcible entry. That would appear to be precisely this case. It was quite immaterial whether the person in possession of the land had a good title to it, or whether the Maori had a better title. If they had the law was open to them. They must not take it into their own hands.