A TAXI-CAB OF BEER.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 159, 10 March 1915, Page 3

A TAXI-CAB OF BEER.

BIG RAID OF POLICE. DELIGHTED CROWD WATCHES LIQUOR SEIZED. A SUNDAY MORNING SIGHT. (By Telegraph.—Press Association. - ) WELLINGTON, This Day. With a taxi-cab piled up almost tc the roof with full and empty beer and whisky bottles, a detachment of the Manners Street police returned tc their quarters on Sunday morning after making a record haul from two alleged “sly grctg shops.” The raid was a se quel to a careful watch on the part ol the police officers, extending over some time.

In the vicinity of Holland Street during the last two or three Sundays an unusually large number of drunken men have been noticed. The bulging pockets indicated the presence of s bottle of beer, and its frequency led the police to search out the suspects on Sunday. As a result, Sergeant Kelly, Sergeant Fitzpatrick, and Constables Thom, Petty and Phillips called at No. 14, Holland Street, which has been occupied by Ernest Kidner only for the last three weeks, and brought to light eighty-eight full bottles cf beer, a large number of empty ones, and two bottles of methylated spirits. It was then found necessary to charter a taxi-cab to cart the load to the police station, and the loading of the impromptu brewery wajggon was watched by a large and delighted crowd.

The operations of the police were then extended to the house next door but one —No. 10, occupied by Rose Lee. Here, again the haul was large, and the crowd were further delighted as a large number of bottles, some full and many empty, ware loaded up for use as evidence for the prosecution. Proceedings will follow against the occupants of the premises. As far as quantity goes, the raid is one of the biggest ever made in Wellington, and the methods cf sale alleged against the offenders are peculiar. -lit is said that a number of “clients” were employed. If a likely purchaser, looking thirsty, appeared in the vicinity cf the premises, it is alleged that the “agents” confided the whereabouts of the enticing liquor, and business resulted.