WESTERN MAORI SEAT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16987, 10 March 1923, Page 12

WESTERN MAORI SEAT.

PROGRESS OF EVIDENCE. (Per Press Association.) TAURAXGA, March U. Further evidence was given this | morning regarding a meeting at Mata- | pi hi at which Sir Maui Pomace was j said to have threatened to punish natives who did not vote for him. The : evidence was a denial that any such i threat was nuuh* j The greater portion of the morning i was taken up by evidence in rebuttal i of thie allegation that natives were ! t catcd to drink at Muir's mine during | Sir Maui Pomare’s meeting inert*, i George Muir, managing director of I Muir’s Goldmining Company. denied I that any whisky was served to natives j either in the house or outside, and any ‘ (statement to the contrary was absolute falsehood. Noble, mine manager, also testified that there was no drink whatever, and lie must have seen any if it had been served. Several witnesses also were examined as to the alleged occurrence and aaj verted that nothing of the kind took | place ; Mr Skerrett said that the petitioner | had not been able to see two girls wh«* I wi re alleged to have served the liquo- ! and the Beivh decided to summon them !to attend the Court. Subpoenas were ] issued and a motor-car despatched to ! Muir’s house at the mine, where the*, j were employed. tq bring them to ! Court | Evidence closed this afternoon and j the hearing was adjourned to the Sui preme Court at Auckland at 10 a.m. on Tuesday. j Several witnesses were examined as to tlir alleged drinking at Muir’s mine | on the day o. : Pomare’s meeting there. ! and two of Muir’s servants brought in 1 by the Court to give evidence stated that thev saw no liquor tbero nor any being served to Natives, nor were anv drunk on that occasion.