NEW ZEALAND WHISKEY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2318, 21 August 1880, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND WHISKEY.

Some interesting evidence was given in Dunedin, on Thursday last, during the prosecution of Thomas Taylor and George McGustie, for illicit distillation.

Samuel Woolley deposed —I am a hotel-keeper at Waikouaiti. Ido not know the defendants, but I have seen Taylor, although I do not know ids name. Ho called on me once and asked for a private interview. He asked me if I wanted to buy some whiskey. I asked him if ho made it from barley, and he said not exactly. Ho said it was cheap. He poured about a tablespoonful into a glass, but when I tasted it I said that I did not want any of that kind. I have had 20 years’ experience. I should not call it whiskey. It never saw any malt, that’s certain. After he had gone I threw it into the fire, and it nearly set the house on lire. He asked me 18s for a gallon of it. I remarked upon the peculiar smell of it, and Taylor said it was made only the night before. Constable Townsend deposed—l know Mr Hagan’s section. I went there with Constable Colbornc on July 25. We followed up the creek and came upon a water-race. Following this for two chains, we came upon a sort of a hut. It was cut in the bank, and was covered with scrub. lu one part of the hut a fire had been, for there was smoke on the roof, which bad a piece of zinc over it. There was also some wood built in a stand, and tops of casks. I measured the distance from where the lire had been to this stand, and I have measured the length of the worm-head, and the}’- correspond. The tent was 100 yards away. On the 12th August I went to Elueskiu. Constable Colborne and I went in pursuit of defendants. We followed the tracks of a dray which led on to the Port Chalmers road —Green’s road. Just before dark we came upon the two defendants unloading a dray. There was a but about a chain away from the roadingtbc bush. They were carrying the thin s into the hut. We waited about all night. At about half-past 6 in the morning Taylor opened the door. I stopped him from coming out. It was a onc-roomcd hut. We found two barrels of yeast and some empty kegs, which smelt of whiskey. We also found a large barrel, an empty biscuit-cask with a hole bored near the bottom, some measures, three funnels, a tin flask, two or three pieces of piping, a bottle of liquid marked “Poison,” a small jar with ammonia, and a hag with about a dozen wooden bungs. Otside the but, live yards away and within the fence, we found a cask of molasses, probably weighing three or four hundred-weight. I asked the men if everything belonged to them. Taylor said they did. I also said, “ We’ll got the still directly.” M'Gustie said, You’ll have to go a long way up the creek.” Taylor said, “What’s (hat you say?” as if he was annoyed; and M‘Gustic said no more. Constable Colborne pointed out to me the still bead and worm tinder a culvert, which is about 30 yards away from the hut. We took the things out. There were a a still head, a tin boiler, and a worm. The brass end of the worm fits into the barrel we found. We tried one of the bungs in the pipe at the bottom of the boiler, and it fitted exactly, Joseph Eskdale deposed—l have bad large experience is distilling, and was manager for live years of the New Zealand Distillery. I have seen the still outside the Court. It is a complete plant. Molasses is used for making “silent spirit,” and in distilling rum. From “silent spirit,” any spirit can be made —by flavoring—whiskey, brandy, &e. Silent spirit only can be made in bush stills. The kegs I have seen outside contained what was supposed to be whiskey—but a very bad imitation. Yeast is used for distilling also. The tin flask produced lias contained silent spirit, but it has some kind of poison added to it—nitric acid probably. I should not like to drink what was in it. Nitric acid is used by unscrupulous persons to doctor spirit. It destroys the flavor.

Mr Haggitt—And the stomach also. Mr Stout —All liquor docs that. His Worship—it depends on the quantity. Witness —A bottle I have been shown contains nitric acid, and there is a jar of ammonia and some rock salt. These are not used in distilling. The still could be run off about live gallons in as many hours. A considerable quantity of water would be used in working the still. The plant has been in active use for some time.

His Worship considered the evidence sufficient.

Mr Stout asked that a formal conviction should be drawn out, as he and his learned friend had a point to raise for appeal. His Worship then formally sentenced each of the defendants to pay a fine of £IOO, in default 12 months’ imprisonment with bard labor.