GEESE DISAPPEAR

Taranaki Daily News, 23 February 1935, Page 11

GEESE DISAPPEAR

MAORIS ACCUSED OF THE THEFT. SUCCESSFUL SLANDER CHARGE. By Telegraph—Press Association. Blenheim, Feb. 22. George Michael Harris, of Kenepuru Head, Pelorus Sound, owned 250 geese, but coincident with the arrival in the vicinity bf a party of four Maori brothers who had a scrub-cutting contract their number began tb dwindle steadily until a muster revealed that altogether 140 had disappeared. In his annoyance Harris, while attending a tennis party at the residence of W. Ashton, ia neighboui-, remarked publicly that someone had stolen his geese and accused the McDonald brothers, the Maoris in question, of stealing 75 bf them. As a sequel the McDonald brothers proceeded in the Picton court for damages for alleged slatider. . Amusement was caused when one bf the plaintiffs in evidence naively iemarked that goose flesh was not a solid enough food for men engaged in bushwhacking, while Harris asserted that one bf the McDonalds h».d complained to ■him bn ohfe occasion that his geese were -“a bit tough.” - The magistrate, Mr. T. E. Maunsell, held that theft had not been proved by Harris and awarded the plaintiffs £lO damages and costs.