THE MATING OF MAORI MATU

NZ Truth, Issue 1151, 22 December 1927, Page 6

THE MATING OF MAORI MATU

• . " - • Why the Law Reached Out and Picked Him Up On Sydney Boat

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Gisbbrne Representative.) 6 A DAPPER young Maori just out of his 'teens ; a feeble-minded old woman, who m the allotted span of three score years and ten had amassed a bank roll of about £1000, a hasty registry office marriage, the withdrawal of the woman's fortune from the bankthat is episode one. ©

A "LOVE" romance that did not last; another lady, this time, younger; a tour of New Zealand from Gisborne to Chri3tchurch, from Christ - church to Auckland; the arrest of "Mr. Martell" en route to Sydney with a good deal of the old lady's bank roll, not quite accounted for. That is episode two, as the police presume them. And the thrilling conclusion of this story of love and adventure is apparently not yet. But if the police are to be believed, this is a drama of real life. ■ * Fn the appearance of the name Matu Rangi, a Maori, aged 21 years, on the charge-sheet alongside an allegation that he had ! failed to make proper and adequate provision for the maintenance of his wife, there was nothing to indicate that the somewhat commonplace charge concealed possibly a j remarkably intriguing story.

Matu is quite an attractive young fellow, and he stood m the dock, welldressed and groomed. If his counsel, Lawyer Robinson, had not applied for bail, following the police application for a week's remand and an intimation that there might be another charge, the narration of the story's preface might have been de^ layed. But on the question of bail, Detective McLeod had something to say. He .wanted it to be substantial, and suggested £1000, divided up m the usual way. Matu, he informed the justices who adorned the bench, became intimate with a somewhat feeble-minded lady, 70 years, of age. On November 2 last, she had drawn £960 from the bank and paid it over to Matu, who, m turn, replaced it m the bank — m his own name. The following day the yotith and the septuagenarian attended at the regis-

y-. ; ; ' try office and were united m the bonds of holy matrimony. Shortly afterwards, the detective continued, the young husband deserted the connubial fold. He picked up with a young lady and together they went to Christchurch, and then to Auckland, but the Queen City was destined to be the end of their travels m the meantime. Under the name of Mr. and Mrs. Martell, the young couple had booked for Sydney, and were actually on board the Ulimaroa when the long arm of the law reached out and took charge of "Mr. Martell." Of the £960 given to the young man, only about £300 remained. Following this survey of the position there was a little skirmish on the matter of bail, Lawyer Robinson maintaining that there was nothing to suggest that his client intended to "clear out," while Detective McLeod reckoned there was everything m his past actions to suggest that very thing. Anyhow, the bench regarded it as a serious matter, granted the adjournment for a week, and stipulated that Matu had to find £1000 if he wanted his liberty m the interim.