TELEPHONE WIRE CUT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16975, 5 March 1926, Page 2

TELEPHONE WIRE CUT.

TWO MAORIS CONVICTED.

NORTHERN TEACHER'S ACTION.

Following the hearing in November of fin information laid by Hugh Goldsbury, : master of thei Te Hoio native school, against Rongo Tupcno and Paewhenua, for cutting telephone wires at 'Moongawahine in June, the case came before Mr. R. W. Talc, S.M., at Whatigarei, for his .decision. * A frank admission had been made by'; the Maoris at a previous hearing that' the wires had hceii cut dow«, but they, said this had been done in the course \ of repair work. Plaintiff mantained that the line vvas disconnected in bad faith. \ Knha Porowini stated that in November the line was erected at his own expense. Plaintiff's predecessor had. been permitted to use'the connection out ; of courtesy. Witness said he considered the Maori defendants' had a right to cut their own telephone whether for ro-i pairs or to disconnect it. They no longer desired to have it connected. .

The Magistrate said he must uphold the prestige of the teacher else there would be a tendency to disregard his authority. At the former hearing ho; bad adjourned,the case and advised the MaoHs to reinstate the line. This hadnow been done and His Worship merely, convicted defendants, ordering each to; pay 31s costs..