MAORI CHIEF AND GREYHOUND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14566, 31 December 1910, Page 2 (Supplement)

MAORI CHIEF AND GREYHOUND.

PRESENT TO A WELL-KNOWN | ACTRESS. ! A Maori chief. Tuakina- Rangiowma, wafl seen at the West London Police Court, when he answered a summons for detaining a brindled greyhound, valued at £15, 1 the property of Leslie Hamer, an actor, living at Clarendon-street. Victoria.. The dog was given to Mr. Hamer by a. very well-known actress. Mr. Hamer made the acquaintance of the Maori chief at ]«ottincdoa-ii this summer, and it was on his leaving lioi-tingdean to come to, London to fulfil a theatrical engagement, said his solicitor, that, at the suggestion, of the chief, he left the dog; in his can;.

The chief brought, the dot; to London, and later to Redciiffe Gardens, but when Mr. Hamer asked for it he refused to j;ive it up., on the ground that Mr. Hamer owed him money. When Mr. Hamer called, at Redciiffe Gardens the chief sent, out word' that he could not see him, as he was "busy entertaining royalty." Mr. Hamer said he made the acquaintance of the chief on the lawn at the White Horse Hotel, Rottingdean. He admitted that the defendant lent him money, buS denied emphatically that he left the dog with him as security; in fact, the money; was advanced, with the exception of £I*/ after lie had left the dog in his care. The chief's solicitor, producing a letter : Here is a letter you wrote to him it i* headed the Criterion Theatre, and I suggest you used that address to make the chief believe that you were acting there. .Mr. Hamer : Certainly not. I had acted there. He knew exactly what my plans were. I often use the theatre as an address, and, as a- matter of fact, you will see I also have my private address in' the letter. He was going to send me money, and I gave both addresses as places where he could send it.

The chief then stated he had been seven : years in England, and he was in the habit of entertaining the royal chiefs v ho some-, times came over from New Zealand. Ml'., Hamer met aim at Rottingdean, and asked for the loan of £5. He. toul him he could, not let him. have the money, but he ad-». vanced hint 20s, and after the dog hadv been left in his charge he decided to sen® hi-.u £4 10s, but he quite considered tkw he could hold the dog as security. -J.■ The magistrate said there was cleaicfs no legal lien on the dog, and he ordered the defendant to deliver it up, and to p#« J 23s costs. •• ' t As everybody concerned in the caso.*®*:|;: leaving the court the chief looked actor and muttered something, at , Mr. Hamer called out, "Do yob 1 see me outside, chief V His solicitor |j interposed, and drew;, hisclienAH^JW. . .£