NATIVES AND LIQUOR.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 607, 1 October 1913, Page 5

NATIVES AND LIQUOR.

SUPPLYING A HALF-CASTE. An interesting ease in connection i with th;: supply of liquor to person j having native blood was decided at j Te Kuiti Co:irl yesterday, when Messrs John P.cid and Co., the wellknown Auckland merchants, were chr-.rged wich supplying liquor to a native. Mr Olipbant appeared th? defence, the prosecution being conducted by Sergeant Rjwell. The case (or the prosecution hinged upon the question aa to what was the definition of a half-caste. Anthony Ormsby, to whom the liquor had been supplied by defendants, deposed that his parents were half-castes. He claimed to be more European than Maori. Ho was educated and lived in European style and was married to a European. His Worship said it did not matter how ridiculous it might appear to class a person aa a Maori they had the definition of the Act to guide them and balf-castss came within the scope of the Act.

John Ormsby corroborated Anthony Ormsby's statement as to his descent. Witness would class htm\ as a halfcaste. For the defence Mr Oliphant argued that Mr Ormsby might reasonably be classed as a European. He could easily pass the test necessary for becoming Europsanisod had that been deemed necessary. His Worship said the position wss clearly denfied by the Act despite surrounding circumstances. John Reid gave evidence as to receiving the order by letter on one of Mr Ormsby's memo, forme. He was led to understand he was a man of good standing, and naturally concluded he was a European.

His Worship said he was satisfied Mr Reid was not aware that he was committing a breach. As to the position of a half-caate there was no j doubt. Had the breach been wilfully j rommitted the penalty would have j been a heavy one. However, the case j under'consideration did not call for a j heavy penally. A fine of £2 and costs 21s 2d was imposed.