CAROUSAL IN A PARK

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7446, 22 May 1911, Page 1

CAROUSAL IN A PARK

INVERCARGILL INCIDENT STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER .OF JUSTICE. The Hon. G. Fowlds, Acting-Minister of Justice, questioned by a "New- - Zealand Times" representative on Saturday about an alleged disgraceful carousal in the Park Reserve at. Invercargill on a rccetnt Saturday night and Sunday, said that from the reports ho had received ,ho was of opinion that, the published, accounts gave- an exaggerated description of what occurred. . "It appeared from,, these reports, stated the Minister, ;"that one individual purchased an 18-gallon keg of beer, and with some companions took it into the Show Grounds, and', being joined by eome ■other .persons, tie . .beer; was -consumed. The night being wot, some of the party remained all night in the shelter of some of the buildings’ on the ground. The place in question is outside the boundaries of the Borough of Invercargill proper, is fenced with a close-boarded fence, and is separated from the public street by a considerable space and - a belt of trees. There is no suggestion .that the residents of the vicinity or the general publics were either annoyed by or saw anything of what was going on. '. ■. “The 1 occurrence," added Mr Fowlds, "is very regrettable, and reflects discredit on those concerned in it, but'l'think it only fair to, the citizens, of Invercargill and the police to say that there was no disturbance, that the drinking took place in a secluded spot out of the town, nudi that so fax as can be gathered no. breach of the law took place.’’ ,