272 ADVENTURE IN NEW ZEALAND. Ckap. XI. 
I extract from the rejiort of the law proceedings in the 
Wellington newspaper : — 
" Mr. Brewer, on its being understood that all the 
" causes standing on the roll had been disposed oft", 
" renewed his application (which had been adjourned) 
" for a bench warrant to arrest Rangihaeata, in order 
" that he might be brought before his Honour and 
" held to bail for the ensuing session. The offence of 
" which the chief had been guilty was that of violently 
" and illegally taking possession of and demolishing 
" certain buildings in the Porirua district, and it was 
" known that proceedings had been previously instituted 
" against him, and an indictment drawn up by the 
" Crown Prosecutor and served upon the refractory 
" chief. His Honour the Judge considered the whole 
" subject of a very grave and difficult nature, and he 
" requested that some of the Counsel at the Bar would 
" take up the case for the native. Most of the Counsel 
" present stated objections to their pleading the case 
" for the native ; but Dr. Evans kindly proffered his aid 
" in so far as his legal knowledge might enable him to 
" assist his Honour as to the proper steps to pursue. 
"A lengthened discussion followed, during which the 
'* blue book was more than once referred to. It ap- 
" peared that Rangihaeata had not signed the agree- 
" ment made with the confederate chiefs ; but it was 
" argued by Mr. Brewer, that the proclamation of the 
** 21st of May 1840 clearly made Rangihaeata a 
" British subject, and amenable as such to British 
" laws. Dr. Evans was of opinion that the onus lay 
" upon the party applying for a bench warrant to 
" shew that Rangihaeata had ceded possession, by 
" signing the treaty entered into by the confederate 
" chiefs. He also suggested that Rangihaeata was 
" now in the hands of Lands Claims Commissioners, 
