AN ILLICIT STILL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18891, 13 December 1924, Page 12

AN ILLICIT STILL.

POLICE RAID IN SOUTHLAND.

TWO MEN EACH FINED £100.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. "J INVEECAEGILL. Friday.

For many years there have been rumours of the operation of illicit stills in Hokonui and adjacent districts in Southland, and on Friday of last week a party consisting of Mr. H. Ruffel. collector of customs, Detective-Sergeant Carroll and Constables Coopar and Beadle set out from Invercargill for Winton. They were joined by Constable Kerso, of Winton, and left "the train at Gap Road. After walking for some distance thoy were picked up by motor-cars. They journeyed for some distance toward Spring Hills, and on arrival there lost no time in making their presence known at a farm where it was suspected a still was being operated. Two men alleged to be concerned in its operation were arrested. What was considered to bo a still was located on the hillside in the bush with certain appliances built in beneath the level of the ground surface. A quantity of liquor, approximately 50 gallons, was found; and this, along with the complete apparatus, which was dismantled, was transferred into a conveyance and sent to Invercar;:ill. Tho worm and other parts of the appliance bore evidence of having been made by someone possessing a knowledge of metal working. No grain was found on the premises, but a quantity of sugar was discovered Tho two men, Alexander Macßae, a well-known farmer, and Chisholm, an athlete, appeared in tho Police Court today. Each was fined £100. and given six months in which to piy.