WHISKY STILL IN BOSH

Evening Star, Issue 21715, 9 May 1934, Page 6

WHISKY STILL IN BOSH

CHARGES AGAINST FARMER AND SDN [Pcs United Press Association.] INVERCARGILL, May 8. What, according to the Crown Prosecutor, was probably the first case of its kind to come before a common jury was heard before Mr Justice Kennedy in the Supreme Court to-day, when William Allan Alexander MTLje and his son, William Robertson M‘Rae, both of Dunsdale, farmers, were charged with being concerned in unlawfully making spirits. The accused pleaded not guilty. Hugh Sherwood Cordery, collector pi Customs and inspector of distilleries lor Southland, gave evidence that in hebruary last he visited the locality of the accused’s property accompanied by Sergeant Abel and Constable Ncsbit, and found the illicit still in question. He said that Constable Murphy found a three-gallon keg containing an ounce oi two of liquor, which, on being tasted, gave the characteristic test of “ Hokonui ” whisky. . ... Witness referred to a further visit to the farm, and related that the members of the party obtained the loan of a horse which, when given its head, led them into the bush. Witness mounted the horse, which took them to an old tent in the bush, roughly half a mile from the still. Sergeant Abel then took a seat on the mare, and it walked to an abandoned site 20yds away, which did not appear to have been used during the past two years or so. There was a very marked resemblance between that still and the new one. After leaving the old still the mare, with Sergeant Abel riding her, went straight to a tree by the new still and stopped there. Senior-sergeant Jackson stated in evidence that M‘Rae, sen., said that he knew nothing of the still and would give £2O if one were- found on his property. After further evidence on behalf of the Crown had been heard the hearing was adjourned until to-morrow.