MAORI WEDDING PARTY

Otago Witness, Issue 3442, 2 March 1920, Page 53

MAORI WEDDING PARTY

DISGRACEFUL SCENES. WANGANUI, February 23. William J. Williams, the licensee of th® Aramoho Hotel, pleaded guilty to a charge of selling to a Native for consumption off the premises 24 bottles of whisky. Inspector Hendry stated that a .wedding took place at Banana,, an up-river native settlement. Three Natives were sent to towD to purchase liquor, which was bought from defendant, who at first refused '• to sell it, but did so, when informed that tho liquor was for a'wedding. He was unaware that it Was destined for. an up-river settlement. A conviction was entered, the question _of penalty being postponed for the production of the license. A deplorabli condition of affairs was revealed by Inspector Hendry during the case. He said'the police were informed when the liquor entered the Native up-river settlements. Deplorable drunkenness took women, and even ohildren drinking liquor. The convent sisters and priests working among the Natives found their work very much retarded by the debauchery which followed the arrival of liquor in the native settlements, and in the interests of the Natives liquor should bo prevented from going to the settlements. The better class of Natives deplored this excessive drinking, which is having a far-reaching effect on the morals of m. 4 Natives.