LIQUOR TRAFFIC IN THE KING COUNTRY.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXI, Issue 285, 5 June 1909, Page 5

LIQUOR TRAFFIC IN THE KING COUNTRY.

SEVERAL WHOLESALE LICENSES GRANTED. [PRESS ASSOCIATION.] NE\Y PLYMOUTH, last night. Some little time ago, in defending a man at Waitara, charged with trafficing in liquor in a prohibited area | in the King Country, Mr Quilliam, of I New Plymouth, advanced the argument that certain portions of the King Country alleged to.' be native land, and as such in a prohibited area in regard to liquor traffic, were not native lands at all, having been made Crown lands by a later proclamation. The, Magistrate upheld the contention, and as a result the Taumarunui , Licensing Committee's annual meeting at Waitara to-day, dealt with 11 applications for wholesale licenses :n districts hitherto in the prohibited area. Of these one was from Raetihi, three from Ohakune, four fr,om Rangataua, and one at Waitara, one each from Mokau and Awakino (the two latter being for renewals of licenses issued just after, the magisterial decision). Counsel were present f ro\n New Plymouth, Hawera, Palmerston, and Raetihi." ; ! ' : Largely-signed memorials in opposition to the licenses, both Maori and Europeans, were handed in: < The hearing occupied till late, in the evening, and it was decided to grant four applications, as follows: T. P. Leonard, Raetihi; Joe Cody, Ohaktme; Loftus,Boyd, Rangataua; and H. M. Lund, Waitara. 'The two renewals mentioned' were also granted, also the usual hotel licenses in- other portions of the electorate.