COURTS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9347, 16 January 1909, Page 5

COURTS.

Per Press Association,

Waihi, January 15,

William Maidens and Alfred Jack, who were charged with being in possession of a still, and illegally manufacturing whisky, were fined £6O with an alternative of six mouths’ imprisonment. Jack was fined £SO or six months. A month was allowed to pay fines. Tirnaru, January 15.

At the Magist r ate’s Court William Lewis of Christchurch was fined £2O and £3 5s lOd costs for betting at South Canterbury Racing Club’s Spring Meeting without a license, . Auckland, January 15

A peculiar case was heard in the Police Court to-day involving the legality of the sale of liquor on Kawan Isalnd, formerly owned by Sir George Grey. The general impression was that the Island was outside New Zealand boundaries and exempt from the Dominion licensing laws. Thos. E. Hallett, lessee of the Mansion House, Kawau, was charged on five informations with having sold liquor without a license. Mr Napier, counsel for defendant, pleaded guilty to the technical offence, and said there was no concealment. It was represented to the Department when Mr Hallett leased the property that the Island was an Imperial grant to Sir George Grey and outside the jurisdiction of the New Zealand Government, but the Island had not been granted to Sir George Grey as alleged, though it was not in any county or any licensing district, and no rates were paid. Kawau was now being placed within the licensing district of Waitemata.

The defendant in his evidence said the Island had been visited by His Excellency the, Governor and Cabinet Ministers, and he had sold liquor to the latter. The case is proceeding.