A BREEZE IN THE SUPREME COURT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8063, 26 September 1887, Page 5

A BREEZE IN THE SUPREME COURT.

At the Supreme Court on Saturday, an application was mr.de' «y Mr. Dufuar for the postponement of the' trial of tho remaining natives charged with perjury till next session, His Honour Mr. Justice Ward, in refusing the application, referred to the false statements which had been made, especially referring to the affidavit mado iu regard to the topographical map of thocounrty. Not only that, but an affidavit was produced made by Hoera which contained two deliberate falsehoods, and with regard to these falsehoods no explanation or apology had been made up to the present. Mr. o'Meagher said that His Honour had made a remark in respect of the topographical map and the affidavit of Hoera, which he considered reflected on him as a member of the bar. At the time he made that statement he was acting under instructions re* ceived through an interpreter, and fully believed then that his statement would be borne out. He had not at that time seen the country himself, and he considered it a pity, and unfair to him, that His Honor should class his statements with the alleged fal-e statements in the affidavit of Hoera.

His Honor said he could only class this action as a gross attempt to deceive and mislead the Court.

Mr. O'Meagher: Not on my part, your Honor.

His Honor : You were certainly concerned in it, and up to the present time I have received no explanation or apology with regard to those falsehoods.

Mr. O'Meagher: I was the innocent instrument, and was only acting on instructions.

His Honor : Well, as an innocent instrument you could have made an explanation or excuse, and I have received none up to the present moment. The matter then dropped. The following are the two clauses in Hoera's affidavit, referred to by His Honor : —6. That Hata Paka, Tukukino, Tiniwai, aud Karauria Paka, all resident at Komata aforesaid, and others can testify to the fact that, on the night immediately preceding the morning on which the alleged assault was committed, the two women, Tita and Maraiti, where not present in the Wharepuni or king's house, wherein certain witnesses for tho defence on behalf of the said Charles Henry Wight, stated in their evidence during the said trial, that the said Tita and Maraiti had witnessed cardplayiug, and had been present in the Wharepuni aforesaid. 7. That Koroneho, who was sworn to by certain witnesses for tho defence on the said trial, as being in the Maori potato field in my company on the morning of the 30th day of April last, prior to tho assault, can depose that he, the said Koroneho, was not in the said field on that morning, and I verily believe he was not anywhere in the neigh* bourhood at the time of, or immediately before or after, the alleged assault. These statements were distinctly contradicted by Koroneho and Maraiti in their evidence.