Waipiro Rehearing.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 433, 25 March 1890, Page 2

Waipiro Rehearing.

The rehearing of the Waipiro case, which it will be remembered was interrupted by the conflict between Judges Wilson and Barton, wm yesterday morning resumed before Chief Judge Seth Smith, Judge Wilson and , the Assessor, Pepene Eketone (o’! Waikato), it having been arranged between the parties that the two former should continue the rehearing. The Chief Juige said it would not, he hoped, be necessary to go through all the evidence. Again, as he previously suggested the best plan would be to call the witnesses and read their evidence over to tham. If the parties would assent to this a great saving of tims would be effsated. There appeared to bo no objection to this course, but Mr Gannon suggested that perhaps the Assessor would like to hear the evidence in Maori. The Chief Judge said the Assessor understood English as well as himself. The Assessor (speaking in very good English) said that be would take his notes in Maori, but as the evidence would necessarily be translated to the Maori witnesses be could rake his notes from that, supplementing them where necessary from the minute book. Mr Gannon explained that when he mentioned the matter he was unaware that the Assessor understood the English language. The first witness—Eru Potaka—was then called, but did not answer to his name. Par&tene Ngata said that the witness was one of his side, and be was quite willing the notes of bis evidence should be read, and as each side had taken copious notes any omissions in the official record could easily be corrected. The Chief Judge, after consulting with Judge Wilson, said that as the evidence of Eru Potaka was merely to establish a prima jacit case that witness need not appear, but as regards all the other witnesses, it would be necessary to have them there in person. He then proceeded to read the evidence—Era subsequently coming into Court. The rehearing is now fairly under way, and a comparatively early settlement of the long pending litigation in connection with the block may be confidently looked for. Judge Wilson anticipates that the case will take six weeks or two months, but this time ought to be shortened by the evidence that has already been taken. J