THE TRIAL OF RUA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16265, 26 June 1916, Page 3

THE TRIAL OF RUA.

SECOND NATIVE WITNESS.

MAORIS AND' THE WAR.

The jury in the Rua trial gladly acquiesced in a suggestion made by His Honor Mr. Justice Chapman in the Auckland Supreme Court on Saturday morning to tha effect that, they might like to be free for the afternoon. The testimony of the second of the many Maori witnesses was practically concluded, and in the course of it he strongly repudiated the assertion that Rua had either been guilty of using seditious language, or that he had in any way hindered recruiting.

Rua pleaded not guilty at the opening of the trial to charges of using seditious language, and of counselling and procuring a number of natives to kill members of the New Zealand police force with intent to resist his lawful arrest. The Hon. J. A. Tole, K.C., prosecuted for the Crown, and Mr. J. R. Lundon defended the accused.

Te Iwi, an old Maori, examined - by Mr. Lundon, said Rua had not to his know* ledge made the statement that he had 1400 men, and that none of them should go to the war. "It is a lie," the witness said emphatically. Many men had already gone, and many more were in camp at Takapuna. There were less than fifty now eligible. He had never heard llua or any of his followers express sympathy with the Germans. He had always heard the -i-aoris express the wish that the allies would win the war. He heard Rua say that he had already paid a substantial sum for his offences, and did not see why he should be taken again. Rua "spoke in Maori, but made use of some English expressions which witness did not understand. There was no talk about the King or the Kaiser. Rua expressed the wish that one of the big Government officials should come and hear his case. If he was convicted, then he was willing to go to prison. Witness went on to say that Sergeant Cummings said to Rua on one occasion: "If you do not go quietly I shall Have to arrest you." Rua put out his hands, and said* "Do it," but he was not arrested then.

Toko. Rua, witness stated, was the "only native he saw with a gun on the day of the trouble at Maungapohatu. He did not see any liquor. Mr. Tole objected to what he described as " telegraphing" between the witness and an interpreter sitting by the side of Mr. Lundon. , ®' s Honor: I have not observed anything, but so long as we have an interpreter for the Court I do not see why the man complained of should be sitting there. Mr. Tole: He is right facing the witness, and his eyes are never off the latter. Mr. Lundon : Mr. Tole is not justified m what he says. The interpreter was only_ talking to me. • Mr. Tole is merely suspicious.

His Honor: In any case, this is the third, complaint of the kind-1 have received.

The witness was still under crossexamination when the Court adjourned until this morning.