OWNERSHIP OF HORSE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20392, 22 October 1929, Page 14

OWNERSHIP OF HORSE.

MAORI CHARGED WITH THEFT INVOLVED TRANSACTIONS. ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR TRIAL [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] PAPAKURA. Monday. A native from Taupaki, Scotty Wera, appeared before Messrs. J. Beams and John McColl, J.P.'s, in tho Papakura Police Court to-day charged with the theft of a mare, valued at £6, tho property of another native, Harry Nepia, of Pukelcohe. Evidence was given that Nepia becamo possessed of tho animal when it was a foal running with its mother and that he was asked by Wera for the use of it when it was about a year old. Ho agreed to lend it and sent it to Wera. Wera used it in the Takanini and Papakura districts and it was broken to harness. Later Nepia heard that Wera had sold tho animal. Ho went and asked him for it back again. Nepia said Wera promised to get it back again, but had not done so, nor had ho paid nim for the animal. It was now on a farm at Clevedon. He valued it at £6. Evidence as to buying the mare, with a buggy and harness, from Wera on April 20 last year, at £3 10s cash for tho lot, was given by a farmer on the Wairoa Road, Papakura. The farmer said ho had .since sold tho animal to the owner of a farm at Clevedon. Wera told him that tho horse was bred by a European somewhere up the lino and that ho got it from this man. Constable Rush ton, of Henderson, said Wera explained to him that ho had sold tho liorso for £3. Nepia had asked him for sorno money. Ho had not given him any, but had bought him a new hub for his bicycle. Nepia had then seemed quite satisfied. 1 The defence was that Wera bought the animal from Nepia. Wera said ho paid Nepia 10s cash for it. He gave him this at Takanini before taking the animal. Keiki Tauariki and Piri Wera wero present at tho time.

To Sergeant Cowan, accused said he bought (lie new hub for Nepia's bicycle, which lie himself had been using, because Nepia was a relative of his.

Keiki Tauariki and Piri Wera both said they saw accused hand tho money to Nepia. This took place after accused had received tho foal from Nepia. Accused, who pleaded not guilty, was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. It was stated that tho charge was one of horse-stealing and therefore could not bo dealt with in tho lower Court.