LIQUOR IN MAORI KIANGAS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12544, 11 April 1904, Page 3

LIQUOR IN MAORI KIANGAS.

Obk Tc Awamutu correspondent writes:— The hearing of the informations laid by the King Country police against John Hetet (To Kuiri). Fred Mace, O. Solomon (Otorohanga), and J. P. Gaffey and Mrs. Gaffey and others (Taumamni), under the Maori Councils Act, 1900, and Amendment Act, 1903 for introducing intoxicating liquor into a Maori kianga, or village, commenced before Mr. H. W. Northcroft, S.M., at- To Awamutu, on TuesdayThe Otorohanga cases were taken first. Constable Fraser, stationed at Otorohanga, in his evidence, stated that on searching defendants' premises lie found some whisky in » jar. He was told by defendant that the liquor belonged to two parties, who had purchased it from a firm of Auckland wine merchants for private use. Otorohanga had beeu surveyed into township sections, and handed over to the Maori Council to administer. A Village Committee, consisting of natives, had been appointed. George Thomas Wilkinson, president of the Maori Land Council, gave evidence as to the jurisdiction of the Maniapoto Council, which includes Otorohanga. A Village Committee had bee* appointed for Otorohanga and the locality, having jurisdiction over the Maori Iriangas. He would not call the Otorohanga township a mam kianga It wight be a village district, but he would wrt call it a Maori kianga. He would call it native land or a township. A Maori kianga, in his opinion, was a place where Maoris lived and congregated together. .John Ormsby, chairman of the \ illage Committee, of Otorohanga, said he could not give an expression of opinion as to Otorohanga being a Maori kianga, owing to the place being now so mixed up. The police then applied to the Bench to amend the informations, inserting the word village instead of kianga, and this was allowed. Mr. FrankJin fm the defence, held that the information should be dismissed, on the following KU nda:-il) There was no proof of introduction of the liquor; (2) that Otorohanga was not , Maori village within the terms of the Act; (3) the Act was intended for the introduction to the natives, and was not intended to prevent a private person having liquor in his house for private use. . Ihe magistrate said the liquor found on defendantVnremisos was sufficient evidence of the fiq norS introduced into the village. He hid to decide what was the .intention of the Legislature. Though the council might impose- a fine, that did nor. prevent a man being brought before a magistrate The Aot gave the committee power to deal with the EuroDeans, but the statute prevails. He woulJ I\vb the matter careful consideration. Judgment was deferred until the remaining case* were s»II hoard. A telegram received from our Te Awamutu correspondent last night states that the hearing of all the charger, was completed yeaterday. Tho magistrate reserved In, decision till the 27th inst.