SUPREME COURT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16610, 6 December 1919, Page 3

SUPREME COURT.

GISBORNE SESSIONS. Per Press Association. GISBORNE, Deo. 6. In the Supreme Court Pora Aporahama, convicted of theft, was ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. Frank Edwards, for theft of bicycles, was sentenced to IS months’ imprisonment and declared a habitual criminal. The court is occupied in hearing a claim for £SOOO damages made by several Natives against David Cameron, J, R. Murphy, and D. Hair for trespass by draining Rcpongaoao Lake, thus affecting Maori col fisheries. The case is being hoard by a mixed jury of Natives and Europeans. When the case was resumed this morning, counsel for defendants complained that some of the Maori members the jury had been conversing with Natives interested, who had endeavoured to influence them after the court had taken evidence on the subject of the alleged interference. His Honour Mr. Justice Chapman stated that ho would adjourn the trial til! Monday. His present opinion was that the statements of witnr- ses called by Mr. Barnard, counsel for defendants', had not been answered, and ho would probably be impelled to discharge jury without any reflection being made on any individual juror.