TAUPO FISHING RIGHTS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 7 January 1926, Page 5

TAUPO FISHING RIGHTS.

TROUBLE WITH THE NATIVES. RANGER FINED FOR ASSAULT. An unusual case was heard in the Police Court at Taupo, before two justices of the peace, when James Kennedy, a ranger employed by the New Zealand Tourist Department, was charged with assaulting a .Maori, Tupa/ra Maniapoto. Evidence lor the plaintiff was given that Kennedy had threatened some Maori boys. \\ hen Maniapoto came upon the scene Kennedy, with no provocation, brutally assaulted him, eventually knocking him down and supplementing his lists with his boots. A pakeha onlooker interfered, but Kennedy persisted in his aggressive attitude, until finally the Maori hurriedly left the scene It was stated that the local police had warned the natives not to retaliate upon Kennedy, who for some time had been causing annoyance among native fishermen by to compel them to buy licenses. Until the fishing rights of the lake had been settled at a conference to be held in the near future the Maoris were being allowed to iisli without licenses, although this fact was not definitely admitted by the Tourist Department. The department had indicated to its rangers that the Maoris were to be left alone, hut Kennedy had been oyer zealous, the ill-feeling that had existed since Kennedy’s coming to Taupo six weeks ago culminating in the prosecution. Kennedy was <oevicted and fined oOs with costs. John Rameka, a Taupo Maori, one of the offended natives, was charged with assaulting Kennedy on a date after the incident. Rameka, who was admittedly under the influence of liquor at the time of the offence, was admonished by the Bench and, warned against a renewal of hostilities.