TO-DAY’S PROCEEDINGS.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 967, 4 December 1882, Page 2

TO-DAY’S PROCEEDINGS.

The case for the plaintiff having closed on Saturday Mr Hamerton opened the case for the defendant. Before his doing so, however, Mr Williams asked the Courtif the natives might cross-question witnesses. His Worship replied that they could. Mr Hamerton in his add’ess stated that he would bring evidence to prove that the accusation brought forward by the natives was a pure fabrication for the purpose of extorting money ; that Miriaraa was a woman of the worst character and an habitual drunkard ; that on the day in question she was not going to see her friends at New Taranaki, for the pah had been deserted for a fortnight before the date of the alleged asault. In conclusion ho slated that his client would make a statement to the court. After the usual caution had been read over to the prisoner, he stated that on the Sunday afternoon in question, he left home in company with Ids brother between the hours of 2 and 3 to look for a stray beast. He asked Mr Sheahan if lie had seen the beast, but be bad not. From Mr Sbeaban’s he went to Mr Burke’s who showed him all his (Burke’s) cattle. It was about half-past 5 when he left Mr Burke’s. He proceeded at out a mile or a mile and a quarter down the lane, when lie came to a steep siding. As he was going round a sharp turn he saw.a Maori woman lying straight across the road with her face to the ground. He immediately stopped. Neither of them could get past the woman. He asked his brother for bis bunting whip. With difficulty he (witness) got his horse close to the woman. He bent over his horse and gave the woman two or three light taps on the shoulder with the whip, but that not having any effect he gave her two or three more when she turned up her head and swore at him. He told her to get out of the road but she didn’t take any notice. She managed to raise herself, however, to her knees by the help of witness’s horse’s bridle. Witness perceived she was drunk. She asked him for a pipe and tobacco, but witness told her he had neither pipe or tobacco. Miriama had hold of tho horse’s reins all this time. Witness telling the plaintiff that he couldn’t wait any longer spurred his horse which went on. Tho motion of the horse threw her against the bank, and she foil. He and his brother continued their journey, and when about 200 yards from whore they had left tho native, they heard a voice, and on looking round they perceived a Maori standing op the opposite side of tho gully who asked them to slop. They did so. The native camo round and said, “ What you do my mother.” Witness told tho native all that had occurred. No struggle took place about tho whip. They shortly afterwards proceeded to Mr Bhoahan’s to look through his cattle, when they suddenly came on a fence. They turned round, and wore coming back, when they were mot by a number of natives —about seven men and six boys. The natives caught bold of witness’s and his brother's horses reins. After about half an hour the natives seemed to place some confidence in them, and lot go of their bridles. Finally Mukaki asked them to go to his mother, ns she was drunk and could not walk. Mukaki placed one of the Maori boys on his (Mukaki’s) horse to escort them round to Miriama. As soon as they got down to the level ground, bo (Gowlaiul) told his brother lie was going to run away. They both . started off at a good smart gallop. They looked round and saw the native on horseback close behind them. When they reached the Whonuakiiro gate, opposite the hotel, bo opened it. By this time the Maori boy

had overtaken them, and slammed the gate. He (Gowland) opened it again, and his brother and he got on to the main road and proceeded along to Patea at a smart canter. They reached borne about 7 o’clock in the evening. His father asked liiin, when he got home, if be had discovered anything about the stray beast, and bo (witness) told him everything that had occurred in regard to the native woman. James Hansen, called, said lie was a carter, living in Kakarapiea. He had soon the native woman, Miriama, very drunk on several occasions. His Worship here remarked that the fact of Miriama being seen drunk occasionally was no reason why it should be assumed she was intoxicated on the date, in question. William Gadsby said ho was a laborer, residing at Whenuakura. He left home on the 26th ultimo, at a quarter past 3. There were no Maoris about when ho passed the gate at the pah. He returned about a quarter past 6, He did not see a single native on his journey. When he got near the top of the hill the accused and his brother came up at a racing pace. When they saw who witness was, they gained courage and stopped. JTust then witness saw a native on horseback behind them. The time that elapsed from when witness passed the gate to when Gowland and his brother overtook him might have been about five minutes. The statement by the native Hon Maka that Gowland was bailed up for half an hour in front of the .hotel is utterly untrue. After further evidence, the case waa dismissed.