THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 492, 17 August 1912, Page 5

THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC.

KING COUNTRY CUSTOM. "WORSE THAN BEASTS." MAGISTRATE'S STRONG COMMENTS. For some considerable time the local court has had very little before it in the way of liquor cases, except breaches of technicalities by people sending liquor to customers. On Thursday, however, there was quite an old-time atmosphere in the court precincts, the fact evidently being well known that a number of local people were being called upon to show what had become of the large quantity of liquor they had been getting. E. Kinehan was charged with keeping liquor for sale in a proclaimed area, to wit, Te Kuiti. Constable Mathew said he knew accused, who was residing next Mr Lineham's residence in Taupiri street. Several complaints had been made to the police by Mr Lineham about the

conduct of the people in the whare. tThere was fighting and disorderly conduct frequently. On July 27th visited the wham together with Constable Capp. The light was put out. Prior to them knocking there was a distur-

bance going on in the whare. When they Went in it appeared as if accused and a man named Smith were the ones creating the disturbance. They were tha only people, with the exception of a woman, who were not' drunk. When they went outaidd Witness spoke to a man named O'Neil, with whom they returned to the whare. Kinahan returned to ths whare and wished to know who invited the police in. O'Neil said he had done so. Witness found a case of whisky under the bed with the name Rasmus3en on it. Four bottles had been taken out of the case. Witness asked whose whisky it was, and accused said it was his. When asked who Rasmussen was accussd said be was a mate of his, who was at Franktcn. Constable Mathew put in the court records of the ordering of a case of whisky by Rasmussen and two bottles by accused on the 27th. Witness had warned Kinehan about the conduct of the house.

To Mr Finlay: Knew some of Rothery's workmen were living in the house. There were four empty bottles on the flour.

Constable Capp corroborated the evidence of Constable Mathew as to the crcumstances under which the whare was visited on July 27th. He also stated the place was frequently the scene of rowdiness. Several complaints had been made regarding the place. He had seen the inmates drinking whisky.

G. Lineham.. whose residence was close tu the whare, said the rowdiness of the inmates frequently kept them awake till 2 a.m. He had on several ocaaions complained to the police. The .nuisance bad been going on for twelve months at intervals.

To Mr Finlay: The rows were carried on at least every fortnight, Saturday night being the worst. For the defence evidence wa3 given by H. Rothery, contractor, as to money paid to the men. The amount of £l6 16s 6d was paid to Kinehan on July 25th, £1 on August 2nd, and £4 on August 10th. Accused had been in witness' employ about two years. Accused and his mates had lived in the whare in question about three months. Prior to living at Te Kuiti they had been working out from Otorohanga. Did not consider accused likely to sell grog. . He could drink all be could get his hands on. A. Rasmussen, an employee of Mr Rothery, said he bought a case of whisky at Kihikihi, took one bottle out of the case and sent it on to Te Kuiti. Gave Kinehan permission to get the case, and allow the "boys" to drink it. When witness returned on the Monday, u bottle was left and three of them drank it.

To Constable Mathew: He gave a bottle to a man nameJ Richards at Kihikihi. Witness told accused on Saturday morning to take charge of the case.

James Smith, an employee of Mr Rothery, said he went to the whare on Saturday evening from the railway station with Kinehan who had the case of whisky with him. Others came in. They drank till about half-past one. Wnen the police came in some were drunk. A woman came during the evening, and was given a flask of whisky. On Sunday the liquor was finished except a bottle which was kept for Rasmussen. To Constable Mathew: ,It may have been the four o'clock train the whisky came by. Had been about seven weeks in Te Kuiti. Had only been three times in the whare. Had not seen drink there previously. Thomas Day stared he was working for Mr Ruthery in July. On the 27th he was at the whare in question be

tween 5 and 6 o'clock and had five or six nips. He paid nothing for the liquor and went away after about an hour.. Next morning be went back and had seven nips.

To Constable Mathew: Accused invited witness to have a drink. When he was at the whare there was no disorderly conduct. Accused stated in evidence, that Rasmussen told him to get the case of whisky and cut into it. Accused's story was the same as the other witnesses for the defence as to how the whisky was consumed. Edward Wilson stated he went to the whare at the invitation of W. O'Neil on Saturday evening. He corroborated the evidence of the previous witnesses. He saw a man named Molloy. His Worship, said the evidence showed a case and two bottles of whisky was brought up on July 27th last. The lio.uor was consumed between Saturday evening and Sunday night. It was a sort of holiday celebration. That was the manner in which bsasts celebrated holidays. They were worse than hogs swilling in a trough. They were not human beings when they were in that state The whare was a nuisance to the

neighbours whose servants and womenfolk were frightened by the goings on. The men who were responsible ought to be herded on some island away from respectable decent people. His Worship said he did not think "the whisky was kept for sale. He was sorry he could not inflict a severe sentence on the accused for keeping a disorderly hou3e. Accused was discharged.

FELT IT COMING

A FIFTY POUND FINE. A. Smith, who did not appear, was charged with keeping liquor for sale. Mr Finlay stated accused interviewed him about a fortnight ago and arranged to have witnesses brought. Since then had not seen accused. I Constable Mathew said that on July 13th he saw accused get off the train at 4 p.m. with a portmanteau which he suspected contained liquor. The following day a notice came intimating that two gallons had been got by Smith. On the 15th a notice came intimating the supply of six bottles. Again on the 17th accused got supplied with a case. Witness suspected accused was selling to Maoris. He kept sober all the time. On the 18th witness executed a saarch warrant and found six full bottles in his room. He told accused he suspected him of keeping the liquor for sale. At that time there were a number of Maoris going about under the influence of liquor. Constable Capp gave evidence as to searching accused's room and finding six buttles of whisky. The day previous had been in Te Awamutu and had seen accused bring the portmanteau back full. Witness had frequently seen accused bring men to his room. His Worship inflicted a fine of £SO and coats 7s, or in default three months' imprisonment.

. GROG SELLING CONVICTION. A £25 FINE INFLICTED. William. McGarvey who appeared on Thursday to answer a charge of keeping liquor for sale failed to appear on Friday to which day the hearing of the case had been adjourned. Evidence was given by Constables and Capp to tho effect that accused had got an excessive quantity of liquor from Te Awamutu recently and that his habits of knocking about with natives and half-caates had led to a suspicion that he sold liquor. His Worship said that in the absence of any explanation on the part of the accused a conviction would be recorded. A fine of £25 and costs or in default three months' imprisonment was inflicted.