Fighting at Awanui

Northland Age, Volume IX, Issue 56, 23 April 1940, Page 1

Fighting at Awanui

Sequel to Race Meeting Two Maoi'is, William Monowai Brown and Manu Manuel appeared before the Kaitaia Magistrate’s Court yesterday on charges of fighting, both pleading guilty. The statement made by the police i was to the effect that both prisoners had attended the Waipapakauri race : meeting on Saturday and had been ! seen in the Hotel in an argumentative mood by Constable Griffiths. Later i they were found fighting in the road. | “A good deal of blood had been \ lost and it can only be described as a disgraceful scene,” said Sergeant i Simister. “The Maoris seem to have no sense of responsibility concerning : this crime of fighting in public places j and we want to put it down.” I Brown and Manuel were convicted and each fined £2. j “I look upon this as a serious mat- ! ter and you both must know of the sad event which took place up north recently through a similar fight,” said Mr. J. T. B. Taaffe who presided over the Court. Asked if time would be allowed to pay, Mr. Taaffe retorted : “You chaps have time enough and apparently money enough to get the beer to make you lose your heads and enter into disgraceful scenes of this sort. Don’t you think it’s time you started to set a better example to younger men?” The fact that the prisoners had been held in custody since Saturday was taken into account when the fine was imposed.