WANGANUI SUPREME COURT.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 348, 2 December 1915, Page 3

WANGANUI SUPREME COURT.

THIRSTY OHAKUNE,

JUDGE EDWARDS’ REMARKS

INTERESTING EVIDENCE IN

APPEAL CASE

Some sidelights on life in Ohakune were thrown in relief by a witness at the 'Wanganui Supreme Court on Tuesday—a stablekeeper named 'E. Cawthray, who appealed against a conviction by Mr. Hewitt, S.M., as the sequel to a charge of selling .liquor in a No-license area. “If a ease of whisky comes to Ohakune the people follow- it round to see who it is for,” said the appellant. “They are right after it.”

“If that is so it is a lamentable state of things,” remarked Mr. Justice Edwards, “and straight-out prohibition is sadly wanted in some places. ’ ’ “It would be better to have licensed houses,” suggested appellant’s counsel (Mr. Gifford Moore).

“There should be some respect for the. law,” his Honour continued. “Why a number of the inhabitants of Ohakune should go to the station to watch, a case of whisky, and theit round in the hopes of treating and swilling is absolutely shocking to a w-ell-constituted mind.”

Mr. Gifford Moore: That is what goes on at Ohakune. The appellant produced a list of 27 names whom he gratuitously supplied drinks to —three were commercial travellers who visited Ohakune monthly, and were in the habit of engaging gigs from him to drive to Raetahi.

His Honour: And you keep 24 other people supplied with drinks. Appellant (casually): And there might be another 30. He added that the general rule in Ohaknne when a case of whisky came was to “treat all your friends.” Mr. C. C. Hutton, who was appearing for the police, endeavoured to seek some informaton about the occupations of some of the 27 “residents” on the list who had been supplied with “nips.” The information supplied by defendant was:— No. 1,2, and 3—Telegraph lines-

men. No. 2—Opposition coach-driver. No. 4-—Father-in-law. No. 5 and 6—Railway employees. - No. 7—Butcher. No. S—A neighbour of five year?’ standing. <' No. 9—A navvy who called on Saturday nights. No. 10—A bricklayer. No. 11—A piano agent. Mo. 12 —The carrier who brought the coal No. 13 —A man who lived just handy, who turned up ou Sundays, and sometimes stayed a week. Nos. 14 and 15, —Two carpenters. “Did those- last two ask for a drink?” asked Mr. Hutton. “Well, next door to it,” replied appellant.

Mr. Hutton: '‘And did yon sug gest it was not a fair tiling every oody asking for a drink?

Appellant: “That's not the rule in

Ohakune. ” He went on to give some details of life in the hinterland cen-

tre. On special occasions—christenings for preference—all were welcome. The next witness, a boardinghousekeepr at Ohakune, said that the practice was, when anybody had a case of whisky for everybody to “drop in." His Honour: Do you go round to the butcher or the baker and say: “I have got some whisky.” Witness: It is generally the other way. They come up and say: “You have some whisky.” (Laughter). Mr. Gifford Moore: The custom in the King Country is to “cut out” a

case? —YQes. Mr. Moore said he understood there was a coterie of friends in Ohakune. There was no hotel. Some or the residents took turns to get liquor up, and then they would call on one

another for “nips.” His Honour: Well, if they want to be free from suspicion it would be better for them to have a club, with a committee, and keep a record of

“How many ‘nips’ are there in a

their meetings

bottle of whisky’” inquired Mi'. Hut ton.

“It’s according to how thirsty you feel,” replied the witness cautiously. The next witness, a bottle gatherer

t-c! that Oh a-

by profession, .inf-mi kune was a happy hurting -'T plying of his calling. The appeal was dismissed with costs.