FEMININE FINERY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19511, 9 June 1933, Page 6

FEMININE FINERY

MAORI YOUTH’S CRAZE. “GIRL” TRAPEZE ARTIST. By Telegraph—Press Association AUCKLAND, June 8. The amazing case of a young Maori man who has posed as a girl for so long that now, even when dressed in masculine attire, he still has a distinctly feminine appearance, was before the Pukekohe Court to-day. The man’s correct name is Te Ahurangi Matene, but he is widely known as “Rosie,” his female Maori name being Rosanna Laihae. He is 19 years old, and on April 28th appeared before the Court for wearing female clothing. He undertook to refrain from doing this in future, and was discharged on payment of four shillings costs. The charge against him to-day was that, on various dates in February, he obtained credit to the extent of £6/14/9 by falsely representing himself to be a woman.

Evidence was given by Sybil Robertson that durii g February accused called at a drapery shop in the main street of Pukekohe conducted by witness and her sister, and selected various articles of female attire, including an evening dress. He also chose scents and face powder. Witness served him, but had no idea that he was a man. The account came to £6/14/9. Accused said certain rents were due to him from Native lands, and on receipt of this money he would pay the account. Witness said that had she known he w r as not a girl she would not have let him have the goods.

To Mr Foster (who appeared for accused), witness said she believed that rent money was coming to accused, and that she would be paid. “Accused belongs to a good Maori family in Hawke’s Bay,” said Mr Foster. “At nine years of age he joined a circus, and from that time until six or eight months ago he appeared as an acrobat and trapeze artist, but always as a girl. He was thus brought up as a girl. He was encouraged to dress as a girl; he was called by a girl's name, and he mingled freely with girls. All his mannerisms are now feminine.” There was definite evidence, continued counsel, that accused was in receipt of a very considerable income from rent, and at present an amount exceeding £l7O was due to him. He had the fullest intention of paying Misses Robertson, and had purchased the goods in the ordinary course of what was at that time his normal life. Thomas Bell, who has employed accused with other Maoris on his farm at Pukekohe Hill during the past few months, said accused was an excellent worker. Witness was prepared to continue employing him, and would guarantee payment of the account. Mr Foster submitted that as accused had no intention of not paying the account, the charge of obtaining credit by fraud could not stand. Messrs Lawrie and Armstrong, J.P.'s, who presided, agreed, and the case was dismissed.