TRESPASS ALLEGED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23058, 8 June 1938, Page 18

TRESPASS ALLEGED

MAORIS' CLAIM FAILS "NO MERIT IN CASE" [from our own correspondent] HAMILTON, Tuesday A claim for £SO damages for alleged trespass was heard before Mr. S. L. Paterson, S.M., in the Hamilton Magistrate's Court to-day. The plaintiffs were Hikakino to Kata and eight other Maoris, the owners of\ several blocks of land at Tauwhare, for whom Mr. E. McGregor appoared, and the defendant was K. E. W. Lawrence, farmer, Tauwhare (Mr. Q. G. Briggs). Evidence was given by three witnesses, Maori part-owners of the land, that defendant passed through their property, damaging their grass and fences. The defendant said that the road leading to his property, had been fenced off, and that with the consent of soveral of the owners he had used the route through Maori land. Ho denied that any damage had been done. The magistrate, Mr. S. L. laterson, said ho considered there was no merit in plaintiffs' claim. The defendant had done no damage to the property, and he seemed to have been on good terms with the owners, except Piha, who had shown ill-feeling and malice toward him. Judgment was given for defendant in equity and good conscience.