Auckland Supreme Court.

Thames Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 8609, 13 March 1897, Page 2

Auckland Supreme Court.

(Press Association.)

Auckland, March 12.

At the Supreme Court to-day, Roland Langton, a young man about 24 years of age, was indicted that he did, on February 6th, near Dargaville, inflict grevious bodily harm to Charles Nilio.—Mr Tole appeared for the prosecution, and Mr Cotter for the defence, the accused pleading not guilty. Mr Tole, in his opening address, said the injured mau, Niho, was a Kanaka, living at Tamawahine near Dargaville. He was a gumdigger, and had been in the habit of selling his gum aud buying his stores at the store of the accused's father, Peter Langton, at Avoca. He became indebted to Mr Langton, and the latter asked him once or twice for the money. On February 6th Niho rode to Langton's store, and when he arrived there the father hud a conversation with Niho about the account, and pulled him off the horse. Niho had had some drink iv him; he had had five beers, but he was not drunk. The last beer he had was at eleven o'clock in the morning, and when the assault took place it was five o'clock. The accused was a few yards away when the father pulled Nino off , the horse, and he camo up with his right hand under his left armpit, holding what seemed to be a billhook, and struck Niho twice with it—once on the head and once on the hand—causing painful wounds, from which the blood flowed profusely. The wounds were afterwards bandaged by a brother of the prisoner, and Niho then returned home.—The evidence is now being heard.

Auckland, Maich 13. Arthur 0. Field, who admitted fourteen thefts of money of the Kauri Timber Co., totalling £554 19s, was senieaced to twelve months on each of the five indictments, the aeatc a ;&s to run concurrently. (