HOP BEER IN OAMARU.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 11 December 1907, Page 2

HOP BEER IN OAMARU.

Per PrcsJ Association. Oamaru, Last Night. Oamaru is a no-license district, and a case of some importance was heard heore the Magistrate to-day. The police brought charges against several persons ?or Celling mannfaotnred locally, the same being held to be intoxicating. The liquor was analysed by Professor Bickcrton, who said the beei contained 2.45 per cent, of pure alcohol, equal to 5.39 per cent, of proof spirit. The porter contained 2.79 per cent, of alcohol and 6.13 pej; cent, of proof spirit. Professor Bickerton, it was pointed out by the defence, had later slightly modified these figures. The evidence for the defence was to the effect that hquor containing even 3 per cent, of alcohol was not intoxicating. Two medical men, .Mr. G. M. Thomson (an analyst), and the lecturer' on Materia Medics, in Dunedin, gave evidence to this effect, all four agreeing in the main. The Magistrate, owing to the conflicting evidence, dismissed the case, but the prosecution gave notice of an appeal to the Supreme Court for a ruling, inasmuch as the English law (there being none in New Zealand) fixed the minimum at 2 per cent, of alcohol, over which duty had to be paid.