Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. FRIDAY, JUNE 9, 1871.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 17, Issue 1038, 9 June 1871, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. FRIDAY, JUNE 9, 1871.

In the Resident Magistrate's Court to-dav, before H. B. Scaly, Esq, R. M., and J. A. Smith, Esq., J. P., William Hawker, of Wharepango, was charged by J. JVI. Tabu tea u, Esq , Collector of Customs and Inspector of Distilleries, with having in his possession an unlicensed still. Mr Tabuteau deposed that the prisoner did not possess any distillation licence. From information received, witness, in company with other Customs officers and Mr inspector Scully, went on the 31st ult. to prisoner's farm, arrested him and his son, and instituted a search, resulting in the discovery of poitions of a still distributed about the property, one portion being found in a raupo swamp. Near the house, and close by a stream, a shed had been burnt down, and in the bank there was a fire-place with a flue and excavation for a boiler. A quantity of sugar and barley was also found, some of the latter being crushed. A number of phials, containing creosote and various essential oils (used by distillers to impart to spirits the flavor of the various liquors) were also found. The still did not possess the usual "woim," but in its place a copper pipe fourteen feet in length, which, immersed in the water of the creek, would form a very efficient, condenser. Mr Stedman, who appeared for the defence, applied that the still and materials should be produced in Court, which Mr Wilson, pn the part of the Crown, objected to arj i;nwfissHrv. The Conrt ruled in

favor of Mr S ted man, when it was discovered that tlie searching shed, in which the still had been placed by the .Customs authorities, had been forced during the night, and the still abstracted? the only thing left being a zinc boiler, apparently used for the wash. The broken padlock of the searching shed was handed into the Court.— John Hawkins, late ferryman, deposed that he had known the prisoner for two years, and about three weeks ago heard that he had an illicit still. Hawker afterwards invited him to his place, and told him that he, with another man, had been distilling. His mate, who had brought the still to the place, had removed it and concealed it, and he (prisoner) believed he intended to take it up the line. Witness and prisoner accordingly searched for the still, the various portions of which were found and taken possession of by Hawker. Witness recommended him to resume the business on his own account, to which he replied that he would do so, but was afraid of his mate. He gave him a bottle of whisky (produced in Court) aud a pocket-book (also produced) charging him to be careful of the latter, as he did not it seen. Witness replied that he would. [The pocket-book contained recipes for distilling various liquors ] The charge against Frederick Hawker having been abandoned, he was placed in the wit-ness-box. He deposed that he was the son of the prisoner. He had been abseno from home for seven months, and had just gone there on a visit when arrested. He had never seen a. still, nor heard of one, and would not know what it was if he saw it. Mr Inspector Scully and Mr Rich, H.M.C., were examined, but their evidence was chiefly corroborative ot that of Mr Tabuteau. Mr Stedman intimated that he intended showing that the places where the articles were found were not on Hawker'is property, and obtained an adjournment to 2 p.m. for that purpose. On the Court resuming, a plan of Wharepango was produced, and Mr Stedman showed that it was not on the property of the prisoner that the still was discovered, He argued that, as the still was not forthcoming, the Bench had no option but to dismiss the charge as not proved. Mr Wilson summed up his case. He said the application for production of the still was absurd. In the case of a large illicit establishment it could never be carried out. The case was clearly proved, there were no ex tenuating circumstances, and he hoped the Bench would inflict the highest penalty, —The magistrates then retired, and after a short absence, found the prisoner guilty, and sentenced him to six months' imprisonment with hard labor. The daring robbery last night, referred to in our police report, created no little excitement to day. Whether the object was to frustrate the prosecution, or to turn the still to further account, does not appear. The entry into the searching shed was effected by breaking the padlock, which was found this morning lying outside the door. About four o'clock, this afternoon the body of the still was found lying in the harbor by two of the sons of Mr G. H. Stuart, who were returning from fishing, but the most essential parts —the head and condensing pipes—are as yet undiscovered. The New Testament company finished its eighth sitting on the 31st March, having worked closely during the four days, and made excellent progress The revisers are now in the last quarter of St. Matthew's Gospel. It is not iu tended to publish the first Gospel separately, but to wait until at least the completion of the first three or synoptical Gospels, before any part of the work is given to the public. The progress of St. Mark and St. Luke will, no clobt, be much more rapid than it has been in the first Gospel. The revisers were to meet again on the laft Tuesday in April. A new industry has beeu started in Tasmania. A cask, containing 4 cwt. of shot, manufactured at Moir's Shottower, Ho bar t Town, has been shipped to Sydney. The Mercury learns that the Sydney firm to whom the shot has been forwarded have intimated that they are prepared to pay per ton more for Mr Moir's shot than the invoice price of English shqt 3

The largest electro magnet ever pro duced is now being manufactured at Collinjrridge Works at Wesl minster. When completed it will weigh nearly two tons, and will be of the value of <£soo. The semi-circular portion of the instrument will be cohered with many miles of copper wire. It is for Lord Lindsay, the eldest son of the Earl of Crawford and Balcarres, who promises to be an ardent student of science and a munificent-, patron of art. The cession of Luxemburg to Germany, a Brussels telegram announces, is an accomplished fact, only such details as the apportionment of the debt remaining to be s,ettle<{.