A WHISKY PIRATE.

Waipa Post, Volume XX, Issue 1180, 10 December 1921, Page 6

A WHISKY PIRATE.

ASSAULT TO ASSUAGE THIRST

A full-blooded native named Wai Wai Pirihia Avas charged before Mr Justice Stringer and a common jury at Hamilton on Wednesday en a charge of stealing two blankets, a towel, singlet and cardigan jacket, the property of Arthur Lee, at Te Awarautu, on October 15th. Mr Gillies', for the Crown, said that some time after 6 o'clock on the day in question two natives, one o£ whom was accused, engaged iii conversation with Lee, who was standing with his swag on one of the streets in Te Awamutu, when the second native, Tawaroa, struck Lee a violent blow and secured his swag, placing in on prisoner's 1 horse and, jumping on after it, the two men rode away. It seemed rather extraordinary, said counsel, that two men should commit such an offence for the few paltry articles, but the motive became apparent when it was mentioned that the swag was believed to contain a bottle of whisky, and it was the liquor the natives were after.

Arthur Lee, laborer, Kihikihi, said he was talking to a man named John Anderson, when a native whom he did not know came along and asked him for a match. Witness gave him one ; the native then asking whose the swag was. Witnesis replied that it was his, and as he was istooping to pick it up the Maori struck him a severe blow under the left eye, knocking him unconscious. Constable P. Doyle said he questioned the two Maoris at their home at Te Rahu regarding the robbery. Tararoa admitted that be was in Te Awamutu on the day in question, and that he knocked Lee clown and took his swag. He did this at Pirihia's instigation, of whom, he said, he was afraid. Pirihia said it was Tararoa who suggested knocking Lee down and stealing his swag, stating that there was a bottle of whisky in the

swag. Prisoner gave evidence stating that early that day Tararoa borrowed his boots, shirt and coat to go to work. Later on he met him in Te Awamutu, when, as they passed Lee and another man on the footpath, Tararoa remarkled that the swag on the footpath contained a bottle of whisky. Tararoa then went and knocked Lee down and seized his swag. Witness told him to drop it, but Tararoa said if he (witness) would not let him get on the horse, he would not give him his boots back. He then let him up and they galloped away. When Constable Doyle called, Tararoa denied the assault ;;nd robbery, but late- admitted it. A verdict of not guilty was returned after a short retirement. In discharging prisoner, His Honor told him the jury had taken a lenient view of his case, and His Honor warned him to go away and leave dirnk alone in future, otherwise he might get into trouble again. Tararoa Puawai, who pleaded guilty to assault and robbery, was sentenced to three months' imprisonment. '

Constable Doyle described prisoner as a violent man when in drink, though the other man appeared to be the master mind.

Hydraulic brakes on both front and rear wheels are among the recent developments for motor vehicles.

Blackbirds are getting in early on small fruits this season, their first choice in local gardens being red currants, excepting in the few cases that people try to grow delectable strawberries (says the Wyndham Herald). They are thinning the bunches of currants which are far from ripe. It has become impossible on account of the imported birds to grow small fruit to maturity excepting under neting or other covering.

Theatre prices are slowly but very steadily soaring (writes a London correspondent). Seventeen shillings for a stall is becoming a frequent price in London. "What the playgoer regards even more anxiously is the tendency to charge still more on Saturday nights. Certain music halls have done this for some time and now one or two of the music halls are imitating them. A successful play is quickly seized upon as the excuse for raising prices. Prices have gone up all round at the Winter Garden Theatre, which has just reopened.'?There are extra charges at the London Pavilion just now for the "Chauve-Sour-is," and on Saturday nights an additional number of 17s stalls was sold. Three shillings is charged for standing room at the Playhouse,