MASTERTON NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1295, 25 November 1911, Page 14

MASTERTON NOTES.

MAYOR CLAIMS .£5Ol DAMAGES. (By Telecraph.—Special CorresDondenU Masterton, November .24.,, A writ, claiming iloOl damages, for alleged libel contained in a letter appearing in the correspondence columns, was to-day issued by Mr. J. M. Coradine, Mayor of Masterton, against the "Wairarapa Age" Newspaper Company. At the S.M. Court this morning, before! Mr. L. G. .Reid, Matthew Adams was charged—(l) That lie did keej. liquor fo-i sale within the No-License district cf Masterton; (2) that he did deliver at a place within the No-Licetiso district of Masterton a package containing liquor, such package not having distinctly written or printed on the outside thereof a statement, that it contained liquor; (3) that ho did deliver, at a place within tho No-License district of Mastertoh, liquor which the said Matthew Adams had reasonable grounds, to suspect was intended for sale. Sergeant Miller conducted the prosecution,? and Mr. M. Lavery appeared for accused, who pleaded not guilty. Constable Brown stated that on November 3. about midnight, he went out towards Waincawa Bridge with Constable Dumphy. He saw a person .coming along about ten or fifteen chains on the Masterton side of Waingawa Bridge. This person was on a bicycle, and when about thirty yards away from witness and Constable Dumphy, he suddenly turned round, and rode in the direction of Carter'ton, going up West Bush Road. The two constables . gave chase, and eventually caught tbi.' person, who was the defendant. They found a package of beer tied on the back of accused's bicycle. The latter gave witness five bottles of beerwhich wore in his pockets. Tho total number of bottles was thirteen. Accused did not Say where ho got tho beer, ho being too busy pleading to be allowed to get off that the question escaped witness's memory. The bottles of beer had no .labelson. Accused repeatedly pleaded to be" allowed to get off, and when asked what ho was going to no with the liquor, accused said "I want to try and make up what I havo lostinfines.;' Next day witness eaw accused, and tlae latter, in reply to a question, said, he got the liquor at Costin's. Ho had signed for it, and had the label in his pocket. Accused stated that he had not been asked if he had signed for the liquor. His. Worship said that he would dismiss the second and third charges. He had no doubt that the liquor had been obtained for the purposes of sale. Accused's conduct was not that of an innocent man. He would be fined .£lO and costs 75., in default one month's imprisonment.