TRIAL OF TITOKOWARU.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6249, 26 November 1881, Page 5

TRIAL OF TITOKOWARU.

[BY TELEGRAPU —PRESS ASSOCIATION I .] New Plyjioutu, Friday. Titokowaru was brought up at the Police Court this morning, and charged by Thomas Lloyd, hotelkecper at Manaia, with having, on the 12th October, used threatening words to the effect that he would burn down the hotel, and murder the women and children, and that he would set fire to Manaia; also with saying, at Fort Roileston, Parihaka, "Do you think my people would run away from such a lot of men as you have brought here ? Have the Europeans forgotten Turuturumokai and To Ngutu-o-te-Manu ? A day will yet come," or words to that effect. Mr. Staudish appeared for the prosecution, and asked to have Titokowaru bound over to keep the peace. The prisoner, on hearing the charges interpreted, admitted having used the language alleged. Mr. Staudish, who prosecuted, asked however, to have the evidence taken, to prevent any misconception. This was done, when Thomas Lloyd, hotel keeper at Manaia, deposed to the prisoner, who lived about three miles from there, having been at the hotel in October last, and said something to another man. On being told what had been said, he called Tito out, and ask him why he had tlireatened to burn the house down and kill the women. He replied it was all gammon. He had only said so to frighten the people. He said there was no fear, and if anything took place, he would let me know. I had heard of prisoner using similar threats to Mr. Cockburn, and had seen it in the papers that lie had used threatening language at Parihaka. I have reas; o to fear by these threats that the prisoner will carry them out. I desire that prisoner be bound over. It would bo safer for the place. A. \V. Bridge, manager of the Bank of New Zealand at Manaia, gave corroborative evidence. He did not think the prisoner spoke in joke, nor was he intoxicated. He spoke in broken English. The exact words were : "I will burn this whare, and kill the women and children." Henry Cockburn gave corroborative evidence. Titokowaru was sober. He threatened to burn Manaia down. Sub-Inspector Northcrort, A.C., deposed to the prisoner since he was arrested s; ying ; " Do you think ray people will runaway? Do you put these children as our gti.rd to take charge of us ? Have those white people forgotten Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu and Moturoa ? This is your da}'. My day is coming. Do you suppose the white people are a noble race ?" When Titokowaru spoke of these places, I understood him to refer to the natives beiiv"; victorious at those places. When called on to show cause why he should not be bound over, T?cokov/aru said : " I know nothing about it." He was ordered to find two sureties in £500 each to keep the peace for 12 months, and to be detained in gaol till they were found.

[by telegraph.—own correspondent.] PaxGAP.KHU', Friday. Titokowaru's case attracted very little attention to-day in New Plymouth. I think more interest was felt in a travelling corn curer and wart extractor, who has won his way to the hearts of those "very old Bettlers" who are naturally associated with New Plymouth. i T ou will have a full report from another source, so I will only give a few comments. Titokowaru admitted the truth of the statement in Lloyd's information, but the Bench ordered a plea of "Not guilty "to be entered. This struck me as unnecessary. When Lloyd was asked, "Are you afraid the prisoner will carry out his threats," he replied, "Well, I was." Avoiding the use of the present. Mr. Northcroft surprised me. He quoted Titokowaru's taunts at length, in Maori, and then said he was not enougli of a linguist to put it into English. He also refused to admit that he believed the taunts to amount to a threat. On the whole, one may say that it is no bad thing for Titokowaru that he is safe in gaol I for a bit, but the Government have certainly I Rot him incarcerated on a plea that would I have been held flimsy in the case cf any 1 °wluuiry man.