ALL DAY PARTY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 1, 21 April 1939, Page 8

ALL DAY PARTY

Liquor -for Natives *}\ '' ) -M

* ii -- - »-'• . - ■'v "■ --•'*4»' 4» CELEBRATING A BIRTHDAY

MAORI AND EUROPEAN FINED

An all-day birthday party for a young Maori girl at which two kegs of beer were drunk was described by Constable -T. J. Cummings when charges of liquor to natives were heard before Mr E. k* Walton, S.M. in the Whakatnne Court on Wednesday. The defendants were Thomas Wilkinson a European of Matata who pleaded guilty to supplying liquor to natives at Onepu on February 11, and to aiding and abetting in the commission of the offence. Patrick Ngamare, a native, pleaded guilty to supplying; and a charge of aiding and abetting was withdrawn by the police. Patrick Main (Mr Otley) pleaded not guilty to similar charges through his counsel, and his case was ultimately adjourned until the nexu monthly sitting. Constable Cummings said that on February 11 a birthday pa,rty was held at Msfln's house for a young Native woman from Matata. Wilkinson purchased a five gallon, keg a»nd took it to Main's-house where the liquor was consumed by those at the party Including native women, some of whom were very much "under the influence. >' After that keg was consumed Wilkinson and the natives went to the Te Teko Hotel and Wilkinson bought another keg. This was In t^ s afternoon, and byl the time the party" was over a good many wei'e 'drunk* Wilkinson admitted taking the liquor but said that he did not know he was doing wrong. Wilkinson took took ho part other t"han hy supplying the liquor. It was handed to Ngamare who distributed it in mu gs to men and won&iU ? Wilkinson and Ngamare were convicted, Wilkinson, being fined £5 and £1 4s costs on the supplying charge, and convicted and discharged on the second. Ngamare was fined 85 and £1 9s costs. When Main was called Mr Otley explained that his client would be late and he asked for the case to dc held over until later in the sitting. When* it was called again Main had not appeared, and Mr Walton ad. journed it until next court daj.