THE MAORI TRESPASSERS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1496, 7 October 1886, Page 3

THE MAORI TRESPASSERS.

Wkliikstok, Oct. 4. The charges agfiinsf. the Maori prisoners were heard at the Supreme Court this morning. There were two indictments, the firs', with two counts of forcible entry and riot, and the second for malioious injury to property. Mr W. L. Bees explained that he had come down to defend the prisoners, but Ta Whiti refused to hare anything done and consequently he had no option but to withdraw. ' Some difficulty was expressed in getting Te Whiti to answer the indiormeat, but finally bo pleaded guilty, and one after another Titokowaru and the others followed his example. All of them used pretty nearly the same words "Te Whiti is my lord and master, and he has said all'there is to say." Te Whiti made a brief statement before sentenoe was pronounced to the effect that he was the original owner of the'land and had merely put forth his hand to regain it, Alluding to the wording of the indictment he said he had not been turned off peaceably but with guns. In answer to the Judge, the Grown Prosecutor said he had no instructions from the Attorney-General as to proceeding with the second indictment The Judge then left the Benofrfor a time and on returning said he fell great difficulty in allotting the proper sentence. , They must hare known their acts were little short of levying war against the Crown. He felt bound to say that if a future charge of a similar nature were prored against them the Court would probably feel called upon to inflict a much heavier sentence. Te Whiti got three months, and was fined £100; the rest one month's imprisonment and were fined £2O on each count, the sentences to run concurrently.