A Peculiar Case.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 48, 1 October 1887, Page 2

A Peculiar Case.

Maori customs A remarkable civil case between Tareha Taroa, plaintiff, and Mihi Wiremtl, defendant (founded upon a breach of the ancient Maori law of tapu), came before the Auckland R.M. last week. Jha plaintiff claimed £lO 10s, being the value of two mares alleged to have been wrongfully taken possession of by the defendant. The litigation takes its rise from an infraction of the law of tapu. Some time last year the dead body of a Maori was found in the harbour at Waiheke, where parties reside, and the body being much eaten by fish, the natives “ tapued ” all the fish in the Hauraki Gulf. Tareha, the plaintiff, when on a visit to Auckland, partook of a schnapper said to be one of those prohibited, and a Maori Com mitcee adjudged her to hand over to the defendant (as the relative of the drowned man) two horses of the value of £lO 10s by way of fine. She did so, but took them back. Defendant recovered them again, and plaintiff now invokes the assistance of the law. An argument ensued between the counsel engaged. Mr Dufaur stated to the Bench that he had been supplied with ammunition sufficient to fight the case to an end, and its hearing would probably last a month, if not longer. The whole Maori Synod was prepared to come u > from the Maoris to give evidence, and if both sides were equally determined it was quite likoly that His Wor-hip would not live long enough to hear the end of the matter. He therefore suggested that it should be referred back to the Thames for settlement by arbitration amongst themselves. Mr Earl said he had sufficient for carrying on tho case at the present time, and he hoped to receive regular supplies throughout the hearing. He suggested that the mattei’ should be referred to the arbitration of some well-known native assessor. His Worship, in evident terror at the prospect of the opening of an interminable litigation, adjourned the case, in order that the learned counsel might in the interim arrange the terms of a reference to arbitration. Tho parties have as yet not arrived at the settlement of a basis for reference to arbitration.