MAORI ADMITS THEFTS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 190, 12 August 1931, Page 6

MAORI ADMITS THEFTS.

Cases Heard in Ashburton Court. (Special to the “ Star.”) ASHBURTON, August 12. Four charges of breaking, entering and theft were preferred against a Maori, James Wesley, aged twenty-one, who appeared before Mr R. Clark, J.P., and Mr G. Kelly, J.P., at the Ashburton Court this morning. Evidence was given by Arthur Read, farmer, of Eiffelton, who stated that on different occasions he had returned to the house which he used when working on his Tinwald farm and found it broken into. The articles stolen consisted of apples, pears, cigars and chocolates, valued at about five shillings. It was not the value of the missing goods that troubled him, but the repeated breaking in and the damage to the property. Constable J. E. R. Myers read a statement made by accused, who admitted the offences. Accused, who pleaded guilty and was committed to the next sitting of the Supreme Court at Christchurch for sentence, did not ar/c for bail. Remanded. A boy aged sixteen, who was charged in the Children's Court with breaking and entering, was remanded to appear before a magistrate on August 28. On a charge of being drank in a railway carriage and travelling between Orari and Ashburton without having previously paid the proper fare, Albert Joseph Bell was remanded to appear on August 14.