The Hawera Still Case.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 58, 10 February 1885, Page 2

The Hawera Still Case.

(UNITED PttESS ASSOCIATION.) Hawera, Feb. 9. Another Wrest was made by the police; on Saturday m connection with the illicit distillation case, m the person of George t Moss, hotelkeeper, of Woodville, near where the still was found. It is said: nialt^ was found on his premises. '-All; His: property, including horses, cattle, etc., were taken charge of by the police.'

It appears (says the Post) that the' existence of the private still rocenty seized by the authorities m the Haweradistrict was known to Inspector Goodall before he went to take charge of the Wellington Station. It was deemed expedient, however, to defer, effecting a seizure until the still was m full working order, and meanwhile a strict watch was kept over the spot and those implicated m the oonoern. In the event of a conviction, Inspector Goodall, being the first to discover the still, will, of course, be entitled to a share of the reward.

The atmosphere about Hawera is getting thicker and thicker with all sorts of flying rumorous anent the illicit distillation lately disco vered near Woodville. We are informed that the police arrested another hotelkeeper, Mr Moss, of Woodville, for having undutied spirits m his possession, and that further arrests are pending. It seems tlje man Anderson occupies some land leased to him by Mi? James Currio, of Moore and Currie, and has some cattle and other property ot Mr Curries also rented to him. The disgust of the latter gentleman may be imagined when he was informed by the authorities that everything on the land is confiscated to the Crown by the alleged unlawful act of the tenant m having an unlicensed still m his possession on Mr Carrie's land. Thip a very harsh law, as an innocent person is punished for the misdeeds of a tenant or occupier, and, a person having a spite against another might by such means put the owner to a heavy loss and annoyance through a still, of whose existence the owne^iknew nothing, being found on Ins premises. Of course a petition to the Governor will get the matter put straight to some extent, but it is a tedious and uncertain remedy for an injustice that rvnorVifr nr>t. to ]ta ai-tfrwnaA -