LIQUOR IN WAIHI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14208, 3 November 1909, Page 5

LIQUOR IN WAIHI.

SERIES OF PROSECUTIONS.

CHARGES AGAINST MINERS

DISMISSED.

[BY telegraph.—own CORRESPONDENT. ]

Waihi, Tuesday. On the information of the Collector' of Customs, the Great Northern Brewery Company, Limited, was charged before Mr. F. J. Burgess, S.M., at the Police Court to-day with .sending a consignment of liquor into Waihi without sufficient labelling. Mr. EMcVcagh, of Auckland, who appeared for the defendant company, submitted that the breach was a slip or oversight on the part of the company's employees, and that there was no attempt upon the company's part to smuggle in beer to a no-license district. A fine of 20s with costs was imposed. Tiie adjourned cases against the Waipa "Brewery Company were again called. They covered 10 informations laid by the Collector of Customs for various alleged breaches of the Beer Duty Act, 1908, including noncompliance regarding the branding on the outside of both, ends of a keg the. name of the brewer by whom ~ such beer was brewed, tho place where it was brewed, and the number of Imperial gallons, non-fixing upon tho plug or stopper of the taphole a stamp denoting the amount of duty payable, in such a way that tho said stamp would bo destroyed upon tho withdrawal of the liquor, or upon tho insertion of a faucet or other instrument for that purpose. Mr. McVeagh,. who appeared for tho defendant company, pleaded guilty to two of the chargesthose of brandingand held that no attempt had been made to defeat the provision of the Act. the breach 'being duo to want of proper supervision. A, fine of 20s with costs was imposed in these cases. The third case, regarding the affixing of the stamp on the taphole on the head of the cask, was then taken. Mr. McVeagh submitted that there was no provision made by the Legislature regarding tho matter of having the tap-hole at tho end .of tho cask, and held that the section of the Act was capable of construction into, two meanings, and that the defendants were entitled to that construction which relieved them of responsibility under tho Act. It was impossible for beer ,to bo drawn through the tap-hole without destroying the stamp. His Worship reserved his decision. On the information of the police, Michael Marrinan (secretary of tho Miners' Union at Karangahake), J. McGregor (chairman), and T. Hanley >(a member) were charged with selling liquor and keeping liquor for sale at t>e social at Karangahake on September 18. The informations were laid under section 146 of the Licensing 'Act, 1903, and covered two charges in each case,. the first for keeping liquor for sale, and tho second for seilinor. The evidence was taken last Court day, and judgment was reserved. This morning His Worship gavo his decision, which was in favour of defendants, the information being dismissed.

An information charging Messrs. L. D. Nathan and Co., of Auckland, with sending a consignment of liquor into Waihi without sufficient labelling was dismissed. ?