BREACH OF LIQUOR LAWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19175, 14 November 1925, Page 11

BREACH OF LIQUOR LAWS.

PROSECUTION AT OPOTIKI.

SUCCESSFUL POLICE RUSE

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] OPOTIKI, Friday.

A garage proprietor, Charles Hambly, was charged in the Police Court to-day with supplying liquor to a native for consumption off licensed premises in the Maori Council district of Matatua, .selling liquor at Opotiki without a license, and supplying liquor to a prohibited person. Constable Heaslip gave evidence that he met the Maori, Dan Taukamo, on November 6 at 11.30 a.m., and asked the Maori if he would get two bottles of whisky from Hambly. Taukamo agreed and was handed £2 marked J.H. He saw the Maori again at 12 o'clock, when lie said he had offered Hambly £1 each for two bottles, but he refused to get than. Witness then suggested the Maori approaching accused again and offering £2 for ono bottle. He next saw the Maori at 2.45 p.m., when he produced a bottle bought by Hambly, who had accepted the £2.

When questioned by witness and a sergeant, added the constable, defendant first denied having bought any whisky, but on being shown the bottle later admitted having bought it to be sent to a .pakeha at V/amiana. He also said he had credited the Maori's account for repairs to a car with the change, £1 6s. One marked note was found in cash in a till in the Opotiki Hotel, where the whisky was bought. The magistrate dismissed the charge of knowing the Maori to be a prohibited •hvsou. On the charge of supplying liquor off licensed premises he imposed a line of £lO, with costs, £3 7s 3d, and on the charge of seli.ng liquor without a license a fine of costs.