5/- Worth Of Goods Costs Maoris £5

Northern Advocate, 14 November 1941, Page 2

5/- Worth Of Goods Costs Maoris £5

[Special to “Northern Advocate”] KAITAIA, This Day. Considerable trouble had been experienced in the Ahipara Hill area, and it was difficult for the police to obtain sufficient evidence to bring cases before the court, said Sergeant W. H. Simister in presenting facts concerning charges of theft faced by John Marsh and Sonny Snowden in the Kaitaia Police Court on Thursday. In July the house of Nicholas Covich had been entered and goods taken to the value of 5/5. There were other offenders, but the two men brought before the court were considered to be the ringleaders. Both accused were 17-y ear-old Maoris. The magistrate (Mr. Raymond Ferner) commented that both had been in trouble before. They might have been charged with an indictable offence and sent to the Supreme Court. However, he was reluctant to send them to gaol. In convicting Marsh and Snowden, who both pleaded guilty, and fining them each £5, Mr. Ferner gave a warning that if they committed stealing or mischief of any kind in the future it would go hard with them in the court. Each was also ordered to pay 10/- costs.