WAIROA TWO-UP SCHOOL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19134, 1 October 1936, Page 4

WAIROA TWO-UP SCHOOL

RAID BY POLICE “SCHOLARS” FINED (Special to the Herald.) WAIROA, this day. A raid by the police on a North Clyde billiard saloon last .Saturday had its sequel in the Wairoa Police Court yesterday when 10 men were fined for offences in connection with the playing of two-up. Butler Thompson was charged that on September 26 he conducted his billiard saloon premises at North Clyde as a common gaining house. Sergeaift Clark stated that last Saturday he hud reason to believe that the accused’s billiard-room at North Clyde was being run a.s a two-up school, and therefore he visited it. He found a number of Maoris and a few pakehns there, and a game was in progress, ono man being in charge of the'"kips” and other appliances, while Butler Thompson was keeping the ring, with the others till round. He understood the game was being played night and day. Mr. F. H. .Tones, who pleaded guilty on behalf of accused, said that his client made no profit out ol the games ns billiards were not being played at the time. The games were not being played for a long period, but for a week’or two, no big money being, invested, merely shillings. Accused derived no profit, but was a player with the others. Counsel asked for leniency.

Sergeant Clark said the games had been going on for three months. Mr. E. L. Walton, S.M., fined the accused £lO, with costs. His Worship directed that the amount found on the table should be handed to the owners if applied for. The following were charged with being found on Butler Thompson’s premises, a common gaining house, on September 26: —Frederick Arthur Jteuton, Henry Thomas Doyle, Osborne Hura, Ray Watene, Rangi Chapman, Kru Edwards, William Smith, Koro Whatuira, and .Juri Hemi Koko. All pleaded guilty. Sergeant Clark stated that Whatuira was the man who held the kips, and all were local men, mostly on relief. A lino of £1 each was imposed, time being allowed in which to pay.