RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2161, 7 December 1875, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT

THIS DATT.

(Before W. Fraser, Esq., E.MV

Assaulting a Judge.

At the conclusion of ;the District Licensing^ Court Eapanaj a Maori was charged with assaulting Judge Munro at Shortland to-day.

Mr Wilkinson acted aa interpreter.

The circumstances of the case as detailed by theTortoe^weretthiit^is day Judge Munro gave judgment in a case adrerse to Eapana. So much noise was made that the Judge adjourned the Court, when he was assaulted by prisoner in the manner complained of. " Henry -Alfred Munro being sworn said": —I gave'judgment in a case to-day in which the prisoner was concerned. After Siring the judgment I adjourned the C«urt. Nearly the whole of the natives left the Court. I and my clerk were the last to go out. Eapana, when we were near the door, came in raging like a madman, and was very violent in his language. I attempted to pass him, but each time he pushed me back. . He did not strike me. I had only two alternatives, either to send fora policeman or to knock him down. I preferred sending for a police* man.

Prisoner said he was very " dark " at the time, owing to the loss of his land.

Austin, Clerk to Judge Munro, also deposed to the same circumstances, and that the prisoner was fearfully excited. Eapana said the reason why he acted in this way was that he. might get into trouble. He was satisfied to get into trouble on account of the land he had lost, which was his, and the reason why he acted as he did was because he was very " dark," and he was satisfied to be taken away in the same way as his land had been. ■

His Worship told the prisoner (through Mr Wilkinson) that the Native Land Court and the Judge were appointed to decide these matters quietly, and that the quiet Maori should get as much justice as the turbulent and blustering Maori. Men like Sapana ought to set an example. He knew Sapana was a good man at the bottom, though excitable and blustering, otherwise he would send him to prison without the option of a fine. He fined him £10, or a month's imprisonment. Pr^onerrefused to pay,,and. Lwas taken away, but the money was subsequently paid.