TUAKAU.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 165, 14 April 1916, Page 4

TUAKAU.

OLDEN DAYS RECALLED. The "Herald" re-publiahes the following interesting article that appeared in that paper fifty years ago, viz., on April 13th, 1866 : Un Tuesday evening last, MiBrewer, of H.M. Customs, Onehunga, accompanied by SergeantMajor Molloy, of the Auckland Police, and three constables, started for the Maungatawhiri Creek in one I of Uuick and Company's vehicles. On arriving there they took a boat and proceeded down the river to within two miles of Tuakau, and then proceeding up a branch creek, struck through the bush, a distance of from two to three milos,' to the spot whore the partios now in custody were known to be at work On approaching the house, urmud with sticks and revolvers, they were assailed by three large and savage dogs ; for this reception they wpre, however, prepared, aud one of the dogs having been knocked uver, and the other two beaten back, thoy rushed the lnit, in which they found three men at dinner. These thoy at once made prisoners, placing handcuffs upon them. The police had not far to search for the evidonce of guilt. In front of the house, at the very door, were three casks of whisky, at one corner of the houso was a hogshead of peach wine, containing 20 gallons, and at about 12 yards lrom the house was a rack or stand on which stood a 28 gallon cask and two 10 gallon casks of peach wine for further distilling into brandy, of which a quantity was found inside tho house. Close against the houso there were also found a vat aud a half-hogshead for the recoption of tho spirit as it left the worm.

A search was then instituted for the still itself, aud very soon Constable Ternahau found tho ttill and worm, the whole appartus complete, and a very fine one too, about 300 yards from tho house.