AN ILLICIT STILL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 11 August 1926, Page 9

AN ILLICIT STILL.

THE INVERCARGILL CHARGES

AN UNPROFITABLE VENT U RIEi.

(BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION.) INVERCARGILL, Aug. 10.

At the hearing, of charges resulting from the finding of an illicit, whisky still in the bush at Pukeinaori, Constable Moore gave evidence that from information received he spent -a few days investigating in Pukem-ao-ri bush. On June 22 lie- again visited the locality in -company with the Inspector of Police. In one of the gullies they discovered a tunnel through the dense growth. At the end there was a slab hut and a complete still. In the hut they found empty bottles, and -biscuit tins containing crushed malt. This evidence- was corroborated by Inspector Bird, who also stated that he later interviewed Allan William Leslie Dickson, who- gave- ai -statement concerning his implication in the matter. Dickson -admitted appro-aching William Gladstone Coulter in regard to the manufacture, of various portions o-f the still. He -supplied Coulter with a sketch of the appliances he-’wanted, Coulter agreed to make the parts, and defendant ultimately contrived to get them into the dense bush at Puke-m-aori, where he built a slab hut and camouflaged it by cutting down trees. There lie -assembled thp still and purchased malt at Tn a taper©. He made two -brews, but was not successful. a«d with the exception of a. little he kept in a bottle, he threw it away and did not make -any more, -and abandoned the still when he left Pukemaori. Constable- -Moore said he obtained a statement from defendant, m which lie stated that lie did the work in entire ignorance- of the fact that the contraption was part and parcel of a lyhi-sky still. Allan William Leslie- Dickson -said the defendant made the still for him from plans drawn by witness. Coulter wa-s not told what the appliances- were for, -and he did not- inquire. For defendant, Air. Stout contended that it was essential for the prosecution to- prove guilty knowledge on the p-airt of defendant, before he was convicted. Counsel said he would not ask the court to- dismiss the charges. On the evidence- submitted by the- -prosecution, defendant had nothing to hide and it was counsel’s intention to submit them to cross-examination. Defendant would produce invoices in re-.‘Y-eefc to the- material used in the manufacture of the appliance's- in question, and they would show definitely that tlreir contention that- an exorbitant price had been charged- • was not correct.

Coulter added that when the- articles, were completed, lie advised Dickson of the fact. At tli-ait time he- paid ,a visit to Eastern Bush for a- week or so, and when he -returned! the appliances were gone. It was not until .some time later that he heard from his brother, who worked at Pukemaori, that Dickson had taken! it. The magistrate reserved his decision.