The Maori Haka Troupe.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 265, 26 February 1889, Page 3

The Maori Haka Troupe.

Melbourne, February 12. The Maori Haka Troupe, which for some time might have been eeen nightly promenading through the Exhibition, uttering hideous noises, and afterwards giving performances of their native war dance in a tent □ear the Switchback railway, appeared at the District Court this morning as complainants, through their ch ef Kuru, in a wages case against their Manager, a man named Horace Delamain. Mr Daly, who appeared on behalf of the Maoris, said that the members of the troupe were engaged in New Zealand, by Mr Richard Reeves, M. H.R., to proceed to Melbourne for the purpose of giving performances in connection with the Exhibition, Some time after their arrival in Melbourne, and after giving a number of performances, he handed them over to Mr Delamain, whom they now sued for £4l, being the amount of two weeks wages. C. K. Brown, the interpreter, who accompanied the troupe from New Zealand, being placed in the witness box, stated that he and the troupe were engaged in New Zealand by Mr Reeves. There were eighteen all told. Some time after their arrival in Melbourne Mr Reeves said to thorn one day, “ Look here, boys, I cannot pay your wages any longer. lam going to hand you over to this gentleman (indicating Mr Delamain). Ho will be your master from this out,” An agreement was thjn entered into by which Delamain undertook to pav Browne and the chief the sum of £2l 10s weekly ) these had in turn to make arrangements with the other members of the troupe. For a week all went well, and they received their wages. Then followed a week’s trip to Adelaide, and in that city their wages were also paid. They returned to Melbourne on the 14th of January, and Mr Delamain took them to live in an empty house at the top of Swancton-street, where for some time he Supplied them with food. A week and more having passed and no wages being forthcoming, they applied to a solicitor, Sinoe the summons was issued Delamain had refused to supply them with food. They had given no performances sinoe their return, but had been waiting for Delamain to make arrangements for sending them to Ballarat. Witness had wished to send the men back to New Zealand, as he had in his possession their return tickets purchased by Mr Beeves in Adelaide. Delamain, however, threatened to have them arrested for breach of agreement, if they attempted to leave. The Maori chief Kuru, a fine handsome-lodking man, was placed in the witness-box, and gave corroborative evidence of that given by the interpreter. Mr Stephens, on behalf of defendant, urged that Delamain onlv acted as agent for the principals, Messrs Reeves and Bracken, who had engaged the troupe in New Zealand, and entered into an agreement with the members of the troupe. The latter had been engaged in theatrical performances, and the agreement was signed by each individual member. It was, therefore, absurd that these two men should come forward on behalf of all the troupe. He was to pay all the expenses and receive two thirds of the profits. He had seen the agreement drawn in New Zealand, and no other agreement has sines been entered into, The Bench gave a verdict for the amount claimed £4l, being wages for two weeks. Mr Stephens gave notice of appeal.