DISTRICT NEWS

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 57, 16 July 1915, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS

TUAKAU MAOKI DISTURBANCES. EXEMPLARY PENALTY. The disturbance caused at Tuakau on Saturday night last, as reported in our isiiue of Monrlay last, engaged the attention tf Mr F. V. Frazer, S.M., at the Pukekohe Magistrate's Court yesterday. Here Matua, a Maori, waa charged with having assaulted Constable Taylor in the execution of his duty and also with having aided and ahett d in the commission of an cflenc, namely, in supplying intoxicating liquor (a bottle ef liter) to ratives for consumption iff licensed premises. Arising out of tba same set of circumstance', another Maori, named Ueor?e Kirkwood, who did not appear, was charged with having assaulted John Madill, whilst the latter was scting in support of Constable TsyK'r. The ajrvices of an interpreter were engaged fur the esse. Sergeant Cowan, who pioaccutrd, explained that the occurrence was somewhat similar tJ o h.n cases recently before the Court, namely, Maoris making their presence unweluomely prominent in Tuakau oo Saturday nights. Constable Taylor, stationed at Tuakau, deposed that on Saturday last, about 3 p.m., he saw the defendant Matua by the side door of the Tuakau Hou! speaking to some white men Later a white man came out of the hotel and went to the; back cf the premises, followed by the defendant. The defendant, with another Maori, crossed the road and witness went to bim and saw a bottle of beer in his pocket, which he said a white man had given him. Witness told him to accompany him to the police stition, and when near the station gate defendant tried to get away and struck him. de got the defendant inside the gate and by that time a yelling mob of Maoris was outside. He had to get assistance and a man, named Madill, who helped him, was struck in the face by a Maori, who he later identified as the defeudant Kirkwood. During tte disturbance part of the fence of the police station was torn down, Kirkwaod taking part in that action. When in. the police station the defendant kicked bim on the head with hi* boot. Kirkwood was subsequently arrested and both defendants were hte< allowed out on bail. The defendant Matua pleaded that he wail drenk at the time and remembered nothing. Addressing Ma'ua, the Magistrate said that pesaults on tte police were always regarded seriously whether committ:d by white men or Maoris, and as a warning to the other natives be would have to be imprisoned for one month with hard labour. llii Worship also issued a Maori prohibition order against Matua, explaining that such contiou.d in force fcr all time, or until cancelled by a Magistrate. A conviction and discharge was recorded in regard to the minor charge.

ABked for information abcut Kirkwood, Constable Taylor stated that he was a young Maori, about 25 yeari of age, who was not addicted to drink but had been carried away by excitement.—The Magistrate said that aft e r Constable Taylor's statement he would not sent Kirkwocd to prison, but would fine him £5 and costs £1 16 6d, and he would further have to pay £1 the cost of the damage to the fence. In another case concerning drinking among Maoris, a native named David Morgan was charged with having on June 24th been concerned in dupplving liquor, namely a bottle of schnapps, to Maoris fo: corsumption off licensed premises. The accused pleaded not guilty, claiming that he found the bottle on the road.

Constable Taylor depos d that shortly after ten o'clock cn the night in question he noticed several Maoris in a cart ready to leave Tuakau for the Waikato river. Witness spoke to the defendant and asked him what he had r got in his pocket, ar.d fat the same time his coat and seeing the bottle there he took it away. Toe defendant stated that l.e had found the bottle in the mud opposite the hotel, but the bottle (produced) had no mud on it. The defendant was a heavy drinker. He had previously noticed the defendant in the company of some white men. The defendant, giving evidence, adhered to the story that he had found the schnapps. He denied that he had got it from a white man.

The 'Magistrate imposed a fine of £1 and costß £2 2s 6d, warning the defendant that on another conviction he would issue a Maori prohibition order against nim. Failing payment within seven days defendant was ordered a week's imprisonment.—The defendant said he would go home and consider whether be would pay or take the imprisonment. The Magistrate remarked that it was an old and stale practice for a bottle to be dropped for the person who had paid for it, and the Maoris would have to find a better trick than that to be up to deceive him.

;Dr Cheesman lei'l Tuakau last Saturday to take up duties as one of tbe military officers at the Featherston Camp. Prior to bis departure with the Reinforcement Draft he will be given a public Band-off in Tuakau. Several new subscribers have beeo secured for the telephone, and the numbeis on the Exchange lilt now teach a good figure. Messrs Smeed Bros, recently had tbe misfortune to loss their 4-year-old big bay draught entire horse, a winner of many prizes. The animal succumbed to an attack of gripes. Following on the recent successful auction sale the ladies of Tuakau are showing great enthusiasm over their Knitting Hee, and are devot-

ing one afternoon a week to the commendable occupation of makingnice thingß for our "boys" at the rfont. Their assemblies take place in the Town Hall. A correspondent writes:—From the effluvia which pervades the air in the vicinity of the post office I am cocstrained to think that somebody's septic tank ifl not giving aatistaction. I wonder if my nasal organs are the only ones which have picked up the scent. "It certainly aint' violeti." What docs the Sanitary Inspector of the Town #oard think of tbe matter?

WAIPIPI. Thanks to recent warm rain and occasional spells ot sunshine the paddocks show a fairly rapid growth of grass. Dairy matters tor the coming season have been ot an unsettled nature for several weeks paßt, and a s;ries of meetings have teen held ti discuss the position At the first meeting, which Mr Pacey, general maiager of the New Zealand Dairy Association, attended. Mr Ashworth, of Kohe Kohe, maintained that the Kohe Kohe suppliers were paying a proportionate cost of the Wsipipi creamery by having carted their cieam at their own cost to Waipipi for five years pas', th?rebv benefiting the Waipipi cre&mery in quantity and bonus. It was thai deJded to keep the creamery open for another season, t ; :e Waipipi 6upplien to puy th:ee-sixuenths of a penny tutterfat towards the Kofce Kohe carting. Subsequently exception was taken to the latter sr.*argem r nt and snother meiting was held, when a resolution was carried in favour of ths creamery being closed and cream carted to the Waiuku futocry. No. 3 meeting was held last week, Mr Pacev again being present, as also Messrs A. M. Barriball and C. Motion, local directors of tfce Company. The resolution favourirg the closing of ths creamery was confirmed and it was agreed that the suppliers should pay for the carting of the cream to Waiuku. Endeavours are now being made for the carting of the cream to be carrisd out by the suppliers themselves tur a week ench m turn.

Three more cf our "boys" in this district have anwsreed to the call of the Flag. They are Messrs F. McDonald, L. Walsh and H. Renall.

On the 2nd inßt. a social and dance was held in the school, the proceeds being in aid of tha Hospital Ship a2d Wounded Soldiers' Fund. It was in every way a success, there being a very large gathering present, the only fault being the confined space of the room. Th2 building was nicely decorated with national flags kindly lent by Messrs Keid and Wright. Music was supplied by Messrs Hewitt ard Chiplin. The M.C.'s were Messrs A. Wright and W. Gieeson. A bountiful supper was provided by the ladies. On behalf of the committee, the secretary, Mr Wright, thanked all those present for their support to so worthy an object, and announced that the amount subscribed frcm all sources would b3 a little over £l2,