RUA’S TRIAL

Southland Times, Issue 17789, 19 July 1916, Page 5

RUA’S TRIAL

(Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, July IS, Another phase of the trial of Rua was entered upon at the Supreme Court this morning, when the Crown Prosecutor called rebutting evidence in reply to the development which occurred in the course of Mr Lundon’s cross - examination. The trial has been in progress for 34 days, and it will probably last for another week. ' Several police witnessed are to be called, also the Magistrate (Mr R. W. Dyer) who imposed sentence upon the prisoner.

At to-day's hearing a witness enlarged upon the meting of “patua, patua,'’ as alleged to have been used by the. prisoner on tlie occasion of bis arrest. “Patua” meant “to kill,” "to strike a mortal blow with a weapon.” It was an active verb, with little Or no modification. Unlike the English language the Maori language had a large variety of verbs to indicate and express each different variety of action. The word "patua” meant to strike a mortal blow,” “a killing blow.” The Maori idea of killing a pig was to strike it a heavy blow on the,head with at) axe. That was exactly the meaning of "patua,” which was an instruction to “use your weapons to kill," just as an Englishman had said: "Give them the price,” or "Up Guards and at them." If a man wished to ask that he be killed, he would say “patua hau,” which is the passive verb. That is essentially what Rua tells us he said. To Rangrtira, who had been exposed to the painful indignity of being frog-marshed. It would come quite natural to say “ ’patua hau, yes certainly!”