NAPIER April I.

North Otago Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2157, 2 April 1879, Page 2

NAPIER April I.

The conspiracy case against Donnelly and Price, for endearoring to defraud Rerata Kawepo, a Maori chief, by agree* ing to run up the prices of the racehorses Otupai and Tawara to fictitious rallies, was brought to a sudden conclusion today, before half the witness.es for the defence were examined. Mr Stuart, the R.M., stated that in his opinion a case had been made out for the jury, on which Mr Cornford, the solicitor for Donnelly, said he should not go on any further with the case. Both the defendant* were then committed for trial at next Supreme Court sittings. Mr Rees made application that the trial should be held in Wellington, in

consequenoe of the Napier sittings not being held till J tine, and also because, in his opinion, anj oase between Maoris and Europeans could not get a fair trial in Napier. Mr Coraford said it was a most extraordinary doctrine for Mr Rees to lay down. He strongly opposed the trial being at Wellington, in consequence of a rumor of the expense to hi* client. The magistrate took Mr Cornford's view, and refused Mr Rees application. A further conspiracy case against Mr Sutton, M.H.R., Kinross, and Geo. Buckland Wonxan, is postponed till Thursday next, the 9th inst. A little girl was knocked down by a railway engine this afternoon, and receited a nasiy cut in the head. She was picked up quite unconscious. It is not certain whether nhe will recover.