MAORI IN TROUBLE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVIII, Issue 83, 20 March 1928, Page 7

MAORI IN TROUBLE.

ADMITS STEALING OVER £2OO. COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE. A charge that on or about March 2 last, at Paki Paki. he did steal £202 in money, the property of Tumoti Towhare. was preferred against Ram Hiirukuru at the Hastings Police Court this morning, when Messrs A. A. George and Foster Brook, J's.P., presided. The circumstances surrounding the theft, which was admitted bv the accused, were explained by Detective Fitzgibbon. It appears that Towhare resided at \\ ainiarania. and towards the' end of January he was returning home Hom a visit to Ratana. He was an old man and ailing, so stayed at Paki Paki on February 9, when he wa s paid £307 by Guy Field as rent due and in advance. Towhare foolishly did not bank the money, but kept it on his person. It consisted of four £5O notes, eight £11) notes, and the balance in singles. Not being in good health Towlinre asked to be attended to by the Maoris at Paki Paki -bile in possession of the money. The accused, who bailed from the Waikato, lived the life of a vagrant and was usually without money. He came to Paki Paki, and was treated as one of their own. After being there for a while he was noticed to have money to burn, and displayed notes in abundance. Later Towhare was moved to the Napier Hospital, where it was found that al] his money at idle time was merely £49. Suspicion was directed to the accused, who was interviewed bv the detective. At first the theft was denied, but later admitted. The accused had banked some of the money, spent some, and a portion was hidden beneath a house where he worked. The accused was committed to the Supreme Court. Wellington, for sentence.