ALLEGED DUMMYISM.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2472, 4 March 1893, Page 3

ALLEGED DUMMYISM.

The case against R. 0. Hendy was resumed at New Plymouth on Wednesday. A. Trimble gave evidence as to Hendy’s signature on a lease. Some of the forms circulated by the Land Department were wrong, and other forms were substituted. The wrong form would lead a person to believe that he could hold 2640 acres of land. Chas O’Hara Smith, Auditor of Land Revenue, deposed that he had reported to the Government on the charges against Hendy, but he declined to state what was the report, as ft was a oon(identai communication to his superior officer. He was actuated by no vindictive feeling against the defendant in laying four charges ; he was only carrying out his instructions to stop dnmmyism at all hazards. This concluded tie evidence. Mr Samuel, for the defendant urged that the information could not be laid under the Land Act, 1892, unless within a year of the committal of the olfence, also that the defendant had been misled by the wrong declaration forms issued by the Land Department as to amount of laud an applicant could hold. The R.M. held that a prima fade pasa had been made opt defendant, and uomimtitai imp tp take h'ts trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court. Bail was allowed, defendant himself in £250 and a surety iu £250. Joseph Frederick Pease, of Hawera, was charged with making false declaration iu respect of Section 9, Block 5, Hawera. The defendant set forth in his declaration of 17th April, 1891, that he not the owner of land more than allowed by the Act, whereas iu truth and fact he held land exceeding that amount. Davidson, storekeeper at Hawera, deposed that ho took the declaration of defendant < mentioned in the information. The evidence was finished on Thursday and > ll( j f , raei) ; reserved, °