SUPPLYING LIQUOR TO A MAORI.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 911, 22 August 1907, Page 21

SUPPLYING LIQUOR TO A MAORI.

At Wellington last week Margaret Turner, keeper of a restaurant and lodging-house in Mdesworth-street, was charged with having supplied liquor to Maori woman, in contravention of section 24 of the Alcoholic Liquors Sales •Control Act Amendment Act, 1895. SubInspector O’Donovan prosecuted and Mr. Wilford defended. The evidence showed that Mrs. Turner, who, Mr. WHford stated, acted in ignorance of the law, having been engaged in her present occupation for only six months, was asked by a Maori “woman named Te Ra, lodging on Mrs. Turner’s premises, to send for a bottle of gin, being given money for that purpose. Mrs. Turner sent a man for the liquor, and Te Ra proceeded to make herself; intoxicated. When she had done so, Te Ra missed a sum of Mrs. Turner sent for the police, so that a thorough search could be made for the money. The latter was found under the mattrass of Te Ra’s bed, vyhere the Maori had evidently placed it when sober. In the course of their inquiries, the police learnt about the bottle of gin, and accordingly laid an information against Mrs. Turner. In the circumstances, H’s Worship considered that the infliction of the minimum fine provided by the Act, £2, would be sufficient, with costs (19s).