OPUNAKE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 7297, 14 February 1887, Page 3

OPUNAKE.

[fkom our own correspondent.] RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT. Friday, February 4.— Before C. B. Rawson, Esq., R..M. STEALING FRUIT. Tamati, an aborigiual native, was brought np on a warrant on a charge of stealing apples, to the value of £2, from another native, named Koki, at Opua. Prisoner pleaded guilty to the charge. Constable Toomey asked His Worship to defer sentence until anothor caso had been j heard, which was agreed to. Tho prisoner was then charged on tho information of the police with stealing a quantity of apples from tho furm o£ Charles' Humphries, on the Nainu Road, on tho 4th January. He pleaded not guilty. Charles Humphries, jun., deposed that he lived with his father on Narau Road. Apples grew there. He saw them two days before New Year, and he missed them on the Tuesday after. Ho was looking after the apples. Tho trees yielded ten sacks laßt year, but not so much this year. The value would be nearly £15 i£ left to maturity. He knew the accused, and saw him up the Nanni Road about a week before they were stolen. No one had pormissioD to take the apples, and we were watching in case of theft. — By prisoner: I saw you up the road, but did not see you take tbe apples. W. J. Moore, permanent milUia, gave evidence of purchasing from prisoner 52 lbs. apples for 4s, similar to that produced, but smaller, about the first week in January. The same kind of apples are grown on both sides of the town. Jas. Harrison deposed going with Constable Toocey to the lockup as interpreter. Asked prisoner if he remembered selling apples to laßt witness, who was present at the time. He did remember. Asked where he got the apples. At first bo declined to tell, but afterwards stated he got them at Oaonui. He declined to go to show the trees he got them off. He knew nothing of Humphries' apples. Wiremu Kingi knew the prisoner we.il. He had no land here, nor was he of this tribe. He was well acquainted with the district. There were no apple trees at the Oaonui. If there were he would kuow of them. By prisoner : From Te Nan uto Arawata Road there are no applee, an i none at Oaonui. Euro corroborated the last witness. The R.M., in giving judgment, stated the evidence was not sufficiently clear as to the identity of the apples, and though he had little donbt the prisoner did get them on Humphries' land, yet the statement as to land at Oaonui was only made after question by the police, and was therefore haidly admissible. Information dismissed. Prisoner was then asked if he had anj Tthing to say on the former charge. He said he knew the apples belonged to other natives, and not to him, but he took them, and if Wi Kingi's people liked to punish him they could. Sentenced to 14 days' hard labour in New Plymouth gaol.

The Macgregor called in with a small parcel of goods. Some cheese which waß intended for her was not able to be shipped. If regular visits are paid by this steamer it will not be long before she will receive very considerable patronage.