BABY’S ARRIVAL

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 409, 18 July 1928, Page 12

BABY’S ARRIVAL

EXPENSIVE CELEBRATION MAORI GETS SIX BOTTLES OF WHISKY (From Our Own Correspondent.) TE KUITI, Wednesday. When a “little stranger" arrived in the home of James Wi, a young Maori who lives in the King Country, he obtained no less than six bottles of whisky to celebrate the joyous event. It proved costly. He appeared before Mr. F. H. Levien, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court at Te Kuiti, 3'esterday, charged with keeping liquor for sale and bringing liquor into a proclaimed area. Mr. W. Noble appeared for accused, who pleaded not guilty. According to the police, accused left Te Kuiti by train, and on his return got off at the small station at Te Kumi, where he was arrested and found to be in possession of six bottles of whisky. Accused made a statement that he obtained the liquor through another man at Hamilton. Inquiries did not verify his story, but it was ascertained fthat six bottles of whisky had been procured from a Te Awamutu hotel.

Defendant said he got three bottles at Hamilton and another three had been procured by another man at Te Awamutu. He had been paid some money owing him that day and had bought the whisky to celebrate the birth of a baby. He had not sold any of tho whisky. He left the train before it reached Te Kuiti in order to visit his uncle’s home at Te Kumi.

At this stage the Bench suggested that the police would be entitled to prefer a charge of aiding and abetting a person or persons unknown in procuring liquor. Counsel said he would plead guilty to such a charge. Decision was given on the two original charges, the third being withdrawn. Defendant was convicted on the first charge and fined £ls and costs 15s, and on the second was convicted and ordered to pay costs 10s,