ILLICIT WHISKY STILL

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19671, 13 December 1933, Page 12

ILLICIT WHISKY STILL

FARMER FINED £s<k». By Telegraph— Press Association GORE. December 12. James Quirk, farmer, of Ferndale. was charged in the Gore Court to-day with unlawfully distilling spirits, and being in possession of a still. He pleaded guilty and was fined the maximum penalty, £SOO. and given months In which to pay. The Collec*or of Customs outlined the facts connected with the mid on accused's property on Sunday last by himself and detectives, when they found an elaborate still and 180 gallons of whisky. The Collector said this was the 13th prosecution in nine years, the fines collected to date totalling £2400. The reported capture of a great quantity of illicitly manufactured whisky in Southland the other day recalls many stories about the famous "Hokonul brand." as it is called in the district. One tale is woven round the exploit of an ingenious Southlander of long ago The manufacture of whisky had grown to be something of a scandal Questions were asked about it in Parliament. The police were harried about their supposed inefficiency, and at length a reward was offered to the person who would lead the authorities to a still One man conceived the idea of receiving that reward There was an old still which had for long been derelict and useless, left covered over where It was In the hills He went to this old junk, burnished it up somewhat put some water into it with malt light«i a fire to crea. the impression that the process had begun, stamped the fire out. and then went to lay the information The collection of old scrap was carefully tak< n authorities, who rejoiced In the capture, and the Informer rejoiced In the reward The story may not be true, but in any c c it is often retold when Hokonul becomes a subject for discussion.