POLICE OFFICE.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume III, Issue 124, 7 October 1846, Page 2

POLICE OFFICE.

22nd September, 1846. Before Henry St. Hill, Esq. William Pike, of Wellington, was charged on the information of Wirerau Patara, an aboriginal native, for illegally retailing beer without being duly licensed, on the 21st Sept. Wiremu Patara proved that he was at the defendant's house on the day in question, when he received a glass of beer ; he did not receive the beer from Pike, but from another man of the name of Phillips ; Phillips was in the house at the time, and defendant was present when Phillips gave him the beer. ". John Phillips was examined in support of the charge, but swore positively that he was so drunk on the day in question, that he remembered nothing of what had transpired, nor did he remember having been at defendant's house on that day after having quitted it early in the morning. Kotuku, an aboriginal native, deposed, that he was at the defendant's house with W. Patara on the day in question, and saw Phillips pay defendant sixpence for the beer. - Richard Barry was examined, and deposed,

that he proceeded to defendant's house with a search-warrant from the Police Magistrate, and seized a barrel of beer and a casltof wine. The case being fully proved against the defendant, he was convicted in the full penalty of Fifty Pounds and costs, and the spirits, wine, and beer, seized on the premises, were declared to be forfeited. Joseph Bicknell was charged with illegally retailing spirits without being duly licensed. The charge was proved chiefly on" the evidence of W. Patara and R. Barry, the witnesses in the former case, and the defendant wis convicted in the full penalty of Fifty Pounds and costs, and the spirits seized were declared to be forfeited. The hearing of these cases commenced on the 22nd ult., but they were continued by adjournment for several days. The informations were laid a* the instance of Sergeant Barry, of the armed police force ; and Mr. Ross was engaged to conduct the case on behalf of the prosecution ; Mr. Brandon and Mr. Cator appeared tor the defendants. 3rd October, 1846. William Miller was charged with carrying away property under a distress warrant. The property had ,been leased by R. R. Davis to one W. Lodge, and afterwards assigned to William Miller. ~ , Mr. Brandon appeared for the complainant, and Mr. Cator for the defendant. R. R. Davis stated that he had seized the property in question, and that defendant carried it away. Complainant called Ngauri, a native, to prove the case ; he remembered going to distrain the property in question ; the defendant was present, and was proceeding to tak? away some of the goods, upon which he obtained the assistance of a policeman who took defendant into custody ; he further stated that the property was lying in a heap when he returned, and that none of it bad been removed. The case was dismissed.