Illicit Still; Trap-Door Under Carpet Led To Cellar

Wanganui Chronicle, 27 October 1948, Page 3

Illicit Still; TrapDoor Under Carpet Led To Cellar

7 DUNEDIN. Last Night (PA).—De--7 scending through a trapdoor hidden 7 under a carpet at the home of Robert 7 Olliver McLean at Ravensbourne on October 19. police and Customs officers found an elaborate distilling apparatus In the Police Court this morning McLean admitted a charge of operating a still without a licence 3 and was fined £250, in default three 3 months’ imprisonment with hard la--3 hour.

McLean also pleaded guilty to a charge of the theft of electric power from the City Corporation valued at £l3 3s Id. and on this count was fined £l5 Mr. F. H. Haigh, collector of customs. who prosecuted, said that two 45-gallon drums were found in the cellar They were fitted with taps and covered with sacking. Through a door in a small compartment of the cellar was a still of about 25-gallon capacity, complete with coil and water jacket. The apparatus was being operated by electric power Mr Haign said he was satisfied that McLean was operating in a fairly big way. There were about 90 gallons of wash in fermentation capable of producing about 25 gallons of raw spirit. Also in the cellar were various liquor casks and bottles of flavouring essence.

Mr Haigh submitted that McLean was selling the spirit at a handsome profit. He added that reasonable suspicion existed that much raw spirit, familiarly known as “hokonui,” was finding its way on to the market to supplement reduced quantities arriving from overseas.

Various people, said Mr Haigh. had complained to him of the poor quality and Hokonui flavour of spirits in at least one hotel in the city.