DUKEDIN,

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1970, 28 April 1875, Page 2

DUKEDIN,

Tuesday. The Police, with the aid of two revenue officers, are making a raid on sly-grog sellers, but owing to technical objections raised by counsel for the defence, great difficulty is experienced in obtaining a conviction. Out of a number" of cases heard during the week only two convictions were obtained. Mr G. E. Barton, counsel for the defence, told the Inspector of Police that if the Government did here as elsewhere and employed a barrister for the prosecution, they would get more convictions.

Private advices received here state that the steam collier Easby made the passage from Wellington to Sydney in five days. In the case of Tong Si, who was charged with a murderous assault on another Chinaman, Mr Smith (counsel for the defence) pleaded that the prisoner was under, the influence of opium, and was not responsible for his actions. A medical man stated that the use ef opium produced maddening effects •in some cases. The Chief Justice charged the jury in accordance with the case cited in support of. Smith's contention, but at tbo time stated that he regarded the precedent as very bad, and an unreasonable one, and would bring the question before the Court of Appeal. Prisoner was sentenced

to 12 months' imprisonment, with hard labor.

The ova egg? per Timaru, in the acclimatisation hatching boxes, are coming out successfully.