FINED ONE HUNDRED POUNDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9153, 7 September 1888, Page 5

FINED ONE HUNDRED POUNDS.

[BY TELEGRAPH.PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Timaru, Thursday. At the Resident Magistrate's Court to-day a man named Patrick O'Connor, a young labourer, married, who leases a few acres of land about 20 miles from Timaru, in a rather out-of-the-way place, was charged with being in possession of a number of utensils and apparatus suited, or intended for the process, of distillation. A party of police made a descent on the defendant's premises at daylight on the morning of the 30th ultimo, and caught defendant (who had been alarmed by the arrival of the driver of the vehicle at the house) in the act of hiding sundry articles in a creek. A number of tubs, including a rough vat with a false bottom, suited for a mash tub, a thermometer, hydrometer, and a quantity of crushed oats were found on the place, most of them in a small shed, which, with the utensils, was smeared with grain, refuse, and smelt very strongly of spirits. The technical defence was offered, that the word "utensils" must be read strictly, and by the light of previous terms, which would limit its meaning to a still head or worm, neither of which were found. Mr. Brewer, Collector of Customs at Oamaru. called as an expert, had, however,, sworn that the vat with a false bottom could be used for no other purposes than brewing or distillation, and on this evidence, and the whole circumstances, the Crown asked for a conviction. The Resident Magistrate convicted, and fined defendant £100, or in default twelve months'imprisonment. Mr. Hay, for the defendant, gave notice that he would take proceedings to upset the conviction.