A MAORI MERE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16288, 22 January 1915, Page 7

A MAORI MERE

PRESENT TO CAPTAIN HALSEY. DISPUTED OWNERSHIP. (Peb United Phess Associatioh.) AUCKLAND, January 21. Mr Cntteu, S.M., gave judgment at the Magistrate's Court in a case heard before Christmas, in which Henare Kaihau (Mr l'\ G. Massey) sued Mere Paora (Mr E. C. Blomfield) for the possession of a block of greenstone of an estimated value of £100, also for £25 damages for alleged wrongful detention of the same. Interest centred in this case because the defendant presented the greenstone to Captain Halsey, of H.M.S. New Zealand, when it was claimed by Henare Kaihau. It was left in charge of the Mayor of Auckland 'pending settlement of th,e dispute. Mr Cutten said theat the claim was for the possession of a block of greenstone weighing 1751b arid apparently greatly prized. The plaintiff and defendant were both Maoris of high rank. The mere had been in the possession of tho defendant and her father for a great many years. It had been presented to another Maori chief and ultimately returned at the time of the visit of H.M.S. New Zealand to Auckland. Mere Paora presented the block of greenstone to. Captain Halsey. 'The plaintiff then claimed the greenstone, and notice was given to Captain Halsey. It was then arranged to leave the greenstone in the possession of the Mayor of Auckland. Mt Cutten added : " I think it may be taken that no Maori of the rank of the defendant wojild have risked a reflection upon the trood name of the Maori race by presenting any article which did not belong to her. At most, therelore, the presentation must have been made under misapprehension. In the circumstances it is very unfortunate that Captain Halsey was brought into the matter. One would have thought it more in accord with the traditions of. the Maori race that a Maori of high rank would acquiesce in the presentation, even if a mistake had been made, rather than that a reflection should be cast upon the whole Native race. It would, too, have accorded well with Maori sentiment that the greenstone should be with the battleship New Zealand while she was doing her duty in the present war. However, if Kaihau considered he had legar Tights he was no doubt entitled to take steps to enforce his rights." *

His Worship then reviewed the evidence at some length. It was clear, the judgment proceeded, that the plaintiffs account of the matter was unsatisfactory. He had left the stone in the hands of other 'people for 23 years without making any claim for its possession. Although he said he left it in Paora's possession merely for safe keeping, he did not claim it on Paora's death. Further, it was to be noted that if the plaintiff's story was true Paora Tuhauere was guilty of extremelydishonourable conduct, in that a stone which he held in trust for Henare Kaihau he gave to his young daughter. Whatever faults the Native character might have, it was extremely difficult to believe that Maoris of the rank of these men would act in a way that would be dishonourable in the eyes ,of their own people. Mr Cutten concluded: "I am satisfied that the history of the stone given by the defendant is the true one, and that at the time of the presentation to Captain Halsey the stone was the defendant's property." Judgment was given for "the defendant with costs.

Mr Blomfield remarked that the stone would now be sent on to Captain Halsey.