MAORI FUNDS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 51, Issue 3125, 29 May 1942, Page 3

MAORI FUNDS

PICTURESQUE TRIAL

CLAIM HEARD IN COURT

DEATH OF PERENI TE WHITI

What was probably the most picturesque trial that has ever taken place in the Supreme Court at New Plymouth, and certainly one of the longest, is recalled by the death recently of Pereni Te Whiti, daughter of the old Maori prophet.

Proceedings had been instituted against her <by Maori elders calling upon her to account for certain moneys alleged to have ibeen held Iby her in trust for the Te Whiti people. The action .brought to light much Maori history connected with the Parihaka natives which would probably never have been published but for the trial and the many picturesque touches given to the proceedings arising out of the appearance in the court of Pareni herself and. many of the Maori elders made the trial a famous one in local litigation.

The allegation was that Pereni had received a sum of money left by her father in trust for the Te Whiti Maoris and that she had not accounted for the money, and the defence to the action was that the money had been left to Pereni by her husband, Taare Waitara, on his death.

The case was heard bef ore Mr Justice Reed, and occuiped seven sitting days and as many nights. It commenced on March 17, 1926, and concluded on March 24. At the time judgment was reserved, but it was subsequently given against Pereni, declaring that there had been a trust and calling upon her to account for the moneys. White Feather of Raukura

The plaintiffs were Noho Mairangi Te Whiti, brother of Pereni, Wiremu Kupe Mazer and W’iremu, Daymond farmers, members of the Raukura, who acted for and on behalf of all the members of the Raukura, the nahie given to the followers of Te Whiti. They were represented at the trial by Mr D. Smith, now Mr Justice Smith, who had with him Mr R. H. Quilliam. The defendant was represented by Mr A. A. Bennett. The sum of money involved was said to be over £4OOO.

The story of the Raukura and its emblem of the white feather, signifying glory to 'God and peace among men, was unfolded in an interesting manner at the hearing of the action, and the white feather figured prominently, especially among the Maori women present. The majority of the witnesses to the action who came from many parts of the North Island and included the late Sir Maui Po-

mare, were Natives and the necessity for hearing them in their own language, many of them being elder Maoris who could, not appreciate the English language for the purposes of a court trial, involved the engagement of an interpreter and the evidence took a much longer time to hear.

A great deal of picturesque language and poetic ifagery was used by the Natives in their evidence, but it was when Pereni herself appeared as a witness that the most interesting espects of the case were seen. An attempt to ascertain her age could get no further than her statement that at the time of the Parihaka raid in 1881 she ’ was “quite big.” She said she had no knowledge of any fund held by her husband as had been alleged by the plaintiffs.

After his death she looked after the affairs of the Raukura and paid the accounts. She knew the money was his and she had the key of his safe before he died. He said to her: “Be strong in carrying out what I had in mind to look after the people.” Incidents Re-enacted At one stage the actual money which had been placed in the bank was brought to Parihaka to show the people. It was placed on the marae and. in the court Pereni showed how this was done by spreading out her handkerchief to represent a mat and then placing a small bundle on it to represent the money. Tito then rose and said that as the money had been placed on the iparae it was as food and he would distribute it to the people. At this Pereni became very angry and came and sat upon the money.

At the trial she suited her actions to the story of the happenings and squatted on the floor of the court covering her handkerchief and the bundle with her skirts.

The money was subsequently uplifted and placed by Pereni -in the safe in which her husband had always kept his money.

Following the judgment of the court an application was made by counsel for rereni for a new trial on the ground of the discovery of new and material evidence which, it was submitted, would affect the judgment of the court. The application was refused. and it is probable that the magnitude of the trial had something to do with the court’s refusal to authorise its rehearing.