SELLING LIQUOR TO NATIVES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVIII, Issue 1036, 13 January 1910, Page 22

SELLING LIQUOR TO NATIVES.

ALLEGED SALE IN KING ’ COUNTRY. At the Magistrate’s Court /Hamilton, John Oliver was charged with having on February 18, at Kawa, sold whisky, and with having four bottles in his.?, possession, Kawa being within a prohibition district. The alleged sale took place at the opening of a Maori ruanga-house, at Kawa, as far back as February 18 th last year, when accused was known to have had a large quantity of whisky planted in the vicinity. In the

early part of the day, the natives, who were present in large numbers at the meeting, were perfectly sober, .but as the day wore on, it became evident that some of them were under the influence of liquor. Constables Fraser and Fitzgerald searched a plantation from which the inebriated natives were seen to issue, but discovered nothing until accused came on the scene wearing a large overcoat, although the day was very hot. Accused had been seen at the meeting earlier in the day when he was without the overcoat. As several natives were following accused and one was calling out to him “give me the whisky now,” Constable Fraser searched him and discovered four bottles of whisky in his possession. A glass was also found in one of accused’s pockets. The constable took charge of the liquor, and when he went to serve a summons on accused next day he had left the district. Both constables gave evidence, and mentioned that when charged with the sale of whisky, on the day in Question accused admitted having brought twelve bottles from Kihikihi the same day When asked what he had done with the additional eight bottles he replied that that was for the police to find out A native named Kohu Tahi said that on the day in question accused offered him the whisky at 7s 6d a bottle, but he did not see accused later. Accused pleaded not guilty to selling the liquor though-he admitted having had twelve bottles of whisky in his possession. His account of the missing eight bottles was that his horse fell and the sack containing the twelve bottles struck the ground when eight of them were broken. He had bought, the whisky for the use of himself and several mates with whom he was going to. work. A Maori had asked him for some of the liquor but he (accused) refused to give him any. His Worship thought the evidence was clear that Accused had sold the whisky to the natives. The case was a very bad one and it was a very wanton act on the part of accused to go to. a meeting of that kind and debauch the Maoris. He would inflict the maximum penalty of £5O, on the charge of keeping liquor for sale. In default accused was ordered to be imprisoned for three months as the maximum term allowed under the J.P. Act.