COMMTTTAL OF A NATIVE FOR RAISING FALSE REPORTS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XV, Issue 1424, 1 May 1860, Page 5

COMMTTTAL OF A NATIVE FOR RAISING FALSE REPORTS.

A report had been in circulation a few days previously to the above meeting, that several old and faithful allies had attended a meeting ,of natives in the Hutt at midnight, and had arrived at '^resolution to put.an cud to the peaceful relations exising between them and the settlers fur twenty years past. It was uithout the slightest foundation, and the origin of the report having been traced to a Tahitian resilient amongst the natives, they brought him into town for trial before the Magistrates, which took place on the lllh Apr 1. Tue examination excited great iuterest,and the Court was crowded by persona of both races : — In legal verbiage, Ma:.itii, the Tahtiun alluded to, was charged with " falsely and scandalously pretending to William Williams and David Hughey that Hontana te Puni, with other aboriginal natives, had conspired to levy war against her Majesty and hsr liege paopla, and had procured arms and ammunition in furtherance of that object — such false reports being calculated to leal to a breach of the peace, and to cause discord and slander to grow up between ths Queen and her people." Master Joe first attempted the mvi me recordo style of defence ; but finding that would not avail hiru, stoutly denied that he had communicated to either Williams or Hugh sy the information they swore he had done. The natives seemed thunderstruck at the intentions said to have besn imputed to them, and were most anxious that the charge should be thoroughly sifted, Manihera (of Ngahuranga) saying in open Court, that if tha accusation could be proved against E. Puni, he should be sent to prison. Tae evidence*, was, however, such as to free E. Puni and the Mjuvics from the slightest taint of suspicion, and the culprit was bound over himself in £ LOO, and two sureties in £50 each ; but bail not being forthcoming he was sent to prison. The law know 3 no difference between the natives and the settlers, and the latter must beware lest they also are found inventing similar reports. We are not sorry that an example should first have been made of one who is to all intents a Maori; there will be the less excuse for stern justice being dealt to any settler who shall be found similarly guilty.