Sly-grog Selling at Waitekauri

Te Aroha News, Volume XIV, Issue 2096, 21 April 1898, Page 2

Sly-grog Selling at Waitekauri

For some time past the Cross has gained unenviable notoriety for an illicit traffic in intoxicants. After payday, and' i’ndood at all times of late, drunkenness lias become of common occurrence in a place previously free from debauchery. To such an exteut had the evil grown that we are told the shifts at*tho Waitekauri company’s shaft, were carefully scrutinised before being permitted to descend, so as to guard against the possibility of accident arising from the rashness of drunkenness. Business, moreover began to" suffer and the cook-house keepers saw a good deal of hard cash : that ought to have flowed their way* diverted by a nefarious traffic. But in spite of the openness of the trade —aud it was carried on under the very nose of the public—it seemed as though the offender would escape detection. The authorities, however* were biding their time F»r some time the services of an informer had been impressed and it was with the assistance of this necessary evil that a colored man, named George Hyatt, now stands charge 1 with sly-grog selling. The name ot the informer MI Rooney(no connection ot the manager, of course,)and was formerly in the police force. He has been working at the Cross for a short time, iu the mine. Oil Thursday morning, as he left the Cross he is said to have received a salvo from some of the bystanders, the reverse of complimentary. ludeed on the night previous crowd of men hooted and stoned the informer who fled in terror to the, bush. It would have fared ill with him had he fallen into the hands of his enemies.

The police raided Hyatt's premises on Wednesday last and sent down on the truck® an array of casks, cases, and bottles which will no doubt figure as “ exhibits”’ at the hearing of the charges.