MOTUEKA POLICE COURT.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 356, 22 March 1861, Page 2

MOTUEKA POLICE COURT.

[Before J. Mackay, Esq., J.P., and C. Thobpe Esq., J.?.] ' - ■ -~. Friday, March 15. 'John Staples, Jun.,- Brewer, was -charged with having on the 11 tlx instant supplied Hamura Te Nanawa, an aboriginal native, with five gallons and one quart of beer contrary to law. / : After hearing the evidence of, Hamura and two Other natives, the Magistrate said the defendant was convicted of the offence, and the judgment of the Court was that he be "fined the sura of £10, iwith 11s. 6d. costs; and in default of payment, be mprisoncd in Nelson jail, for three months with hard labor. ""''"'. y'. ■". '.". /'. '." ~^ y" A ,

The money was paid, theij and there. /.,-. WilUarh Auty, of- the MotuJji Hotel, was. charged with having supplied to (Kme native on the same day, .one bottle of brandy. .. , y • ; ; After, hearing the evidenca of Hamura and another native named Riwai, the defendant was asked if lie'had anything to say in reply, ; ■■ The defendant sajd that;. the native came to his house, and represented himself asa constable from Collingwood sent there by Mr. Mackay with orders to stay thejrp until he (Mr. r Mackay) should come—so that whatever the man asked for ]ie supplied him with, and if he had not have paid %\ it, Mr. Mackay would have found it put down to his account, as he had several times formerly had men at his house sent by Mr. Mackay. He (defendant) admitted supplying the" brandy, but iv mitigation of any penalty lie might liave rendered himself liable to, he would remind the Bench that he had only re-entered the hotel little more than a week, and he could state with confidence that for the years he kept the house formerly no one could charge him with having a disorderly house. - The magistrate said the bench had taken'into consideration what Auty had stated, and should therefore only fine him-in the mitigated penalty of £5, with 9s. costs. A ]/ , ' The money was*paid. George Harding, of the Swan Inn, was charged with supplying, on the same day to the same native, one bottle of rum. Harding admitted the charge. Fined £o, with 4s. costs.

The money was paid. ' .• The Magistrate took that opportunity of making it known that the Government was determined to use every endeavor to put a stop to the fieavful amount of drunkenness amongst the natives, for which Motuoka had become of late years, so, notorious, and every means would :be-used to convict any person guilty of supplying the natives with intoxicating liquors contrary to law, and he could assurt them that for the future any one convicted for. the .offence would liave< the w full penalty of the law inflicted oo then), r