WAITARA S.M. COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 335, 23 June 1911, Page 3

WAITARA S.M. COURT.

(Before Mr. 11. S. Fitzherbert, S.M.)'

(From Our Own Correspondent)

i D. O. Shute was charged with drunkenness and procuring liquor during the currency of a prohibition order. Mr. Etherington appeared for defendant and admitted the charge, but said the circumstances were that the liquor was taken medicinally. Defendant's wife asked that her husband be not committed to a home,'as they had made arrangements to go to the north of Auckland, and she hoped that with the change he would reform. The S.M. said that under the circumstances he would not commit him, but would give him one more opportunity. He fined him 40s and casts on the first charge and 00s and costs on the second count.

Judgment by default was given in the case of T. Northcott v. Nga-Mu, claim

£2, costs 19s. Judgment summonses.—Jas. R. Fowler was ordered to pay 0. Knight £1 His 2d witnin seven days, with the alternative of seven days' imprisonment. Wm. Jones was ordered to pay 11. Cossar £5 3s 5(1 within seven days, or seven days' imprisonment, order to be suspended so long as defendant pays 5s per month. Waitangi Pukere was also ordered to pay the same plaintiff £l2 15s 7d within fourteen days, or fourteen days' imprisonment. An application was made by defendant for a re-hearing of the case Wright v. Mortentei, but as there was no appearance of defendant the ca.sewis struck out.

LIQUOR IN PROCLAIMED AREA. Police v. Margaret Box and Christina Stewart, charged with selling a bottle of whisky, with keeping liquor for sale, and with storing whisky in a prohibited area, viz., Mokau. Sergeant Dart apepared for the police; and Mr. Grey (Wilson and Grey) for defendants. A. Goldwater gave evidence of having received an order by telephone from the postmaster act Mokau asking that a case of whisky be sent to Mrs. Stewart, but could not say who actually paid the money which he had.received; also supplied a ease of whisky to Mrs. Box on March 31'. Had sent the notices required under the Act.

To Mr. Grey: The case sent to Mrs, Stewart was on May 10.

P. Kavnnagh deposed that he boarded at Mrs. Box's, Mokau. Mrs. Stewart was staying there on the second week in May. Mrs. Box asked him to go to the wharf and get a case of whisky. He did so. He believed it was addressed to Mrs. Stewart. Both Mrs. Box and Mrs. Stewart were together when he delivered the case. Could not say what labels were on the box. Did not ask and did not know wiiat was in the case. Mrs. Box afterwards gave him a bottle of whisky, which, it was alleged, ''he soon devoured." It was a present, fie worked for whoever gave him the most money. Was working for .Mrs. Box at the time for 15s and "found," Presents of whisky were very rare in Mokau. lie never paid for whisky. Constable Warneford deposed to having seen a cue of whisky addressed to Mrs. Stewart lying in the shed at Mokau. It had the usual labels oil it. The ease was gone next morning. Then saw Mrs, Stewart and asked where the whisky was. She replied that Mrs Box had it an J asked that it be shown to him. Mrs. Box showed him a cupboard containing five bottles of whlskv. Asked where Uie rest was and she rep.ied that Kavanagh had two, a man named Russell had one, and some had been lined in the house. She could not account for the balance. Mrs. Box asked him to say nothing about it this time and she woujd not sell any morn, .Airs. Stew Art also 4skid Uiß to JMy nothing, as her husband would not like it. Mrs. •Stewart .said they had got the case between them.

To Mr Grey: Did not advise defendant.? to plead guilty. A. T Lake, licensee of tho Club Hotel Box Tt M ' aVln " 0n Ma ' V 10 sent t0 Mra ' . t Mokau one case of whisky. The coaehman brought a letter or wire, Bebeved the whisk)- was paid for. It was sent by coach.

| Mrs ; Stewart deposed to bavins sent Unorder to Ml , Gol<hvat( „: for n « of House of Lords" whisky, which came to hand, Kavanagh brought the whisky m the wharf to Mrs. Box's, where lie was working. Her home uis at the I °l'v r e 1 the >' Were ' blls y she stayed at Mrs. Boxs at night. The case was opened in Mrs.Bo.xV room. Took five bottles home that evening. There were two full bottles there now. One bottle g.ven to Kavanagh and one opened Asked the constable to have a drink but he asled ' f W,,e " came . , lf , ll ease of whisky had been cceived and what became of it. Showed h.m the five bottles in the cupboard and asked where the rest were. Refused to teU him He replied that we 42 go Mrs Boy' ,]i i PT 1)6 fmcd £ ™- alleged bv llm Tn° the stat « D) tho constable: ''Never in mv any ° r '" Box dM not sell y liquor fiom the case. It belonged to witness and not to Mrs. Box No°cr liquor " 0 W ° r(lS ' Wi " " ot sdl a »y mor «

['lis Worship said that there was no KhLT, , by the " o,icc Witne^ >, ,' ( , le ha 'l !»eon a sale. He fullv be beved the evidence of Mrs. Stewart It seemed to him a terrible tC and'im Pioper that people should be lwdgered as lfe e TS.T- lbeen ' ,1 lnfo ' mat,o f »> respect to alleged that' «» ■ had been that the liquor had been kept for sale