A Costly Pig

Although Paratene Kamura, on the whole, was a truthful witness in the Native Land Court there was an incident related during the hearing of the Marangairoa 1 D. case that did not redound to his credit. One of Mokena Kohere's numerous activities was pig-rearing. He had a number of pigs running at Tutae-Whererei on Okahu or 1 D. 6. One day one of the large hogs was missing. It was ascertained that Paratene Kamura had killed the pig and carried the body to Haha, three miles away, where a number of men were working.

Mokena was furious that such an insult should have been committed in defiance of his mana, so without hesitation he, accompanied by an armed party, left for Haha. Fortunately warning had been given to the pork-eaters, who at once started scrub and bracken fires everywhere. The muru party, baffled with smoke, was obliged to abandon their mission and to return to their homes at Okahu. The matter was, however, inquired into later by a committee, which found Paratene Kamura and his accomplices guilty. They were fined heavily, being compelled to forfeit several horses to atone for their sin. The fine was out of all proportion to the offence of stealing one pig. The stolen pig was, however, not an ordinary pig, for it belonged to a great and powerful chief. Was not death the fate of anyone who killed a royal deer in England in ages past?