SLY GROG SELLING

Hokitika Guardian, 31 January 1920, Page 1

SLY GROG SELLING

STIFF FINES IMPOSED. TAUMIiuNUI, Jan. 28. Another lengthy sitting of the Magistrate’s Court was held to-day, before Mr E. M. Burton, S.M., when a number of sly-grog cases came up for hearing.

Thomas Brennan was convicted and sentenced to three months’ imprisonment on a charge of keeping intoxicating liquor for. sale, and on a charge of bringing liquor illegally into a proclaimed area w r as convicted and fined the full penalty of £SO.

Janies Burch also concerned in this case, was fined £SO on a charge of keeping intoxicating liquor for sale, and convicted and discharged on a charge of illegally bringing liquor into a proclaimed area.

The bringing of these men to justice was a particularly smart piece of work on the part of Constable McCallum, a haul of ninety-six bottles of whisky being made. Tlie constable hid himself prior to the arrival of the midnight express behind one of tlie trucks opposite the station. After the arrival of tlie train, tlie constable saw' Brennan and Burch taking hampers containing whisky from the blind side of one of the carriages, and placing them under a truck. The constable appeared on the scone and caught Burch. Brennan immediately decamped, hut was apprehended in liis night attire at a hotel.

Smaller fines were inflicted in other liquor .eases. Two young men charged with aiding an unknown person to sell liquor to thorn, were fined £2O each, Two others, charged with supplying liquor to a native, were fined £2O each. A Maori, charged with aiding a person unknown to supply him with liquor was fined £2O.