DAMAGES AWARDED

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 236, 6 May 1933, Page 5

DAMAGES AWARDED

Assauk on Maori Farmer MAKIRIKIRI PAH CASE j i Palmerston North, May 5. J The hearing of the claim for £4OO j general damages and £45 12s (3d spe- j cial damages from J. Hape, farmer, of j Dannevirke, and seven other Maori defendants, by James Walker, lab- I ourev, for alleged assault and battery, j was concluded in the Supreme Court J before Mr. Justice Reed this afternoon. ! The defendants in the action were j John Hape, farmer and contractor, Allan Peeti, Tae Nikora, Dick Tat ere, ] Uenare Puke, Rudolph Isaac. Jury j Pine, and Wi Tangaroa, all luemhers j of the Makirikiri pa, near Dannevirke. J Henare Puke, one of the defendants, : said he had been the first to strike Walker. He had used his fists and his feet, but he had been so busy doing his'"bit" that he did not notice which other members of the party had struck plaintiff. There had been no prearranged plan to assault Walker if he refused to leave the district when requested to do so. 1 Tane Nikora, another defendant, : .aid he had not seen anyone kick j Walker, or Hape strike Walker with a batten. Allan Peeti said he was the first (o strike Walker. The others had then joined in. He did not see anyone ki,k Walker. The jury awarded plaintiff £33 12s ' 6d special damages, and £3O general ! damages.