FIRST SHOT AT RUA'S PA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16499, 27 March 1917, Page 4

FIRST SHOT AT RUA'S PA

NATIVE'S STORY IN QUESTION. x • ; . . PERJURY CHARGE • 'fCOMMENCED.' [BY TELEGRAM.— CORRESPONDENT.] HAMILTON. Monday. •Another .witness at the trial 'of Rua was brought", before Mr. Justice Hosking in | the Supremo Court to-day charged with! ■:, perjury. : The accused was Tutara Kauika, % who was, charged that he committed per- :;: jury ■■;■ by swearing that I he; saw the v first , shot fired at Maungapohatu- from a re- 1 volver ; by a man on a black horse; that the ; said 'j man had a ■ baton, ' a .-. revolver and a rifle and that the man who fired the shot was Constable Skinner. ■ Mr. Lundon appeared for the accused, who pleaded not guilty. ■<_■' •" " . '" .■-.'■ . : After outlining*the evidence'the 1 * Crown intended to call, Mr. Selwyn Mays said that if the accused had sworn what was true, the whole of the -police evidence and that of ": Cobbledick,' the Government ranger, amounted -to a - huge conspiracy. Mr.; Mays added that the evidence would show that the police had not fired the first shot, but that; it was fired from a spot ; where ; there were no-police officers. Senior-Sergeant Cassells produced notes .taken': by him of the evidence given by the accused'at''._ the ■ trial ! of ■ Rua. The accused had sworn to the following statements:—"l . saw the ' first shot • fired by » man on horseback. ' I know the man. It was Skinner. He had a revolver, aiso a rifle on his back. There were other people about him when he fired the first shot. .: He aimed at tho spot where Rua was- struggling. He aimed-at. Rua." Witness stated that he had given his carbine to Skinner and the latter then handed witness his revolver, pouch and belt. During his cross-examination of witness by Mr. Lundon, His" Honor remarked:-' I fail to see what all this is leading to. The question is, Did Skinner fire the first shot?, ■ Mr. Lundon: We' are endeavoumg to prove that someone fired a shot from the bank and that it was impossible for j the natives to have done so. The prisoner believes that Skinner fired the first 'shot. I ■ His Honor: But his is a connected j story. Several such incidents occurred during the afternoon. During his cross-examination of Constable Skinner, Mr. Lundon used the Words "put-up story," to which His Honor took exception, stating that he would not allow counsel to use insulting : remarks, nor would he .have the public j time wasted by tho introduction of irrelevant' matters. * ' The further hearing -was adjourned until to-morrow., '.; '■• ''.■;'*