ILLICIT WHISKY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16706, 25 July 1928, Page 11

ILLICIT WHISKY

THIRD EDITION.

SOUTHLAND STILLS OWNERS FINED £6OO (Per Press Association.) INVKJIUARGILL, this day. At the Fuliet: Court, Duncan Alexjunior Stuart was charged with being unlawfully in possession of a still at Otapiri Gorge, and . unlawfully making spirits. Accused pleaded guilty and was lined £450 on the first charge, and £SO on t he, second one. ,lannis Robertson, similarly charged in connection with a still tound at Awarua, ISav. was lined £SO on each charge. The ' Collector of Customs said the making of whisky was notorious in Southland for the' last 50 years. lie estimated the loss to the Government during the period at tens of thousands of pounds, lie stressed the fact that liquor was being made wholesale, and even offered for sale in Dunedin. Doth the accused were relatives of the Mackaes who were fitted four years ago for running it still at Springhills. On the night previous to Stuart's arrest. 20 gallons had been sold at ITedgebope at £2 a. gallon. MORE MOONSHINE ANOTHER STILL DISCOVERED RAID AT OTAPIRI GORGE Within :t week the apparently thriving, if not reputable industry of whisky distilling in Southland, litis been 'dealt two serious blows. Following on the raid at Awarua Bay? police activities turned in another direction —to the hush country around Otapiri Gorge. There had been speculation current its to the existence of a still here, but none had previously been brought to light, although the unit lire of the country would make a strong appeal to the 1 ‘ moonslii ll cr J ’ as a site for his manufactory.

Ai( n part of the road some distance from the nearest of the scattered houses in the Otapiri Gorge, 62 miles north of Invercargill, tltc police entered the fringe of the virgin bush. For over a mile they penetrated the dense growth of trees and scrub. Ihr search had proceeded for about two hours when, quite close to a. small mountain stream they came upon a lull which had been erected in a clearing. In this building was a fully-equipped whisky still. The plant was complete in every part and ranged about, it was ft number of barrels and casks. There was a large boiler and a copper worm 18ft. long connected with a large copper still head. A small water race had been constructed at tint stream and a plentiful supply of water was laid on through iron pipes. No liquor was found at the still, but there were indications that a quantity of whisky had been removed recently. , . „ No arrests have been made, but, as in the previous case, a prosecution will follow.