SHEEPSTEALING.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 15276, 26 July 1920, Page 6

SHEEPSTEALING.

I At the Magistrate's Court to-day, be- . fore Mr'-J.'S. Barton, S.M., the cases of j alleged sheep-stealing against Waca f e l llau and Hpmi Apanui were 'resumed. ' The charges related to the theft by Waca ■, ie llau of one sheep, valued at 30s, the j property of Burgess and Cooper, sheep- , farmers, and to the theft by Te Hau and i Hemi Apanui, jointly, .of two sheep valued at £3, also the property of BurI gess and Cooper, during the occupation !of a camp by accused, with other natives, jon tho property of the said Burgess and j Cooper. Mr Hei appeared for both accused. Tho evidence for the prosecution ; was taken on Friday. i Mr Hei stated that the defence was based on an alsolute denial of the offence alleged. 1 Waea Te Hau, one of the accused, j stated that he knew nothing whatever (about tho killing of the sheep, either that concerned in the charge against himself ' singly or in regard those- charged against both himself and Henri Apanui. The | latter also denied all knowledge of the (alleged thefts. — Rongo Kohi, foreman of j thc scrub-cutting gang, was also called by Mr Hei, and stated that lie knew .: nothing of the circumstances alleged; and ! did not recollect any irregularities in ! the .supply of meat. J. Accused elected to be dealt with sumimarily, and pleaded not guilty. j His Worship considered that the cvi- ) dence conclusively proved the guilt of ■the accused natives, and treating the two 'cases together, decided that tho greater guilt, rested upon Hemi Apanui. , Waea Te Hau was convicted and fined £10, in default one month's imprisonment, and was ordered' lo pay costs amounting to i?8 Bs 6d. and fo refund half the value of the three sheep stolen, £2 ss. Hemi •'Apanui was fined £20, in default "t.wo months' "imprisonnienf, with the sanuorder as to costs and half thc value of tho sheen.