GUMDIGGING WITHOUT A LICENSE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 127, 29 May 1914, Page 2

GUMDIGGING WITHOUT A LICENSE.

Twenty live Austrian* nppe.ircl before Mr. liuriress. S.M.. at M-rciirj- Uay, on Tue-diiy last, on the eharjre of for kauri <;um without a licusc. i:i 1 breach of tin' Kauri Cum Industry Art. j HM)S. Mr. Hall-Jones, who appeared on behalf of the Crown Solicitor, slat-'.l thai 1 fourteen of the accused had 'been din-1 covered by Constables ilrown and 'J'aylor j at Starvation Camp. Gumtown. on March .'iOth la*t. None of them had licences, j and the <rum found in their possession, amounting f> about half a ton. was eonu.scatcd 'by the constables. (in the :srd of April Constable Taylor proceeded t/> Kauri Forest, an<l seized .'lewt of <rum found in the possession of eleven Au.strians who were without license*. After hearing the evi<ienee for the prosecution accused divided to plead fruilty. Counsel for aceusert arid need evidence in mitigation of penalty. Accused I wer<- fir~t olTender=. They had delayed I obtaining licenses until a ranper should appear to i-sue. them, and immediately itffr the seizure of the jum had taken out licenses. In view of the extenuating circumtiinces. and of the fact that the costs , ere exceptionally heavy, his Worship; ,lid not feel disposed to inflict a. heavypenalty, and lined each "f the accused 7/ and costs tl 12/10.