SLY-GROG SELLING.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 129, 28 July 1870, Page 5

SLY-GROG SELLING.

(To the Editor of the Tuapeka Times.) Sik, — I have no doubt you are aware that a great portion of the time of the R.M.s Court was occupied on Monday, and the previous Thursday, in hearing charges brought against several individuals for what is usually termed " Slygrog Selling." Now, Sir, T am no apologist for those who break the law by selling spirituous liquors without the necessary license so to do, but I think you will agree with me that the framers of the Licensing Ordinance had in view that many cases might be brought before the tribunal authorized to hear breaches of the said Ordinance, and each case differing in some respect. There is ono case to which I wish par* ticularly to draw your attention, viz., that of Mr. R. Craig of the Round Hill, whose character for respectability is too well known to most of your readers in this district to need any comment from me. It appears from the evidence of that "very respectable witness" who has been going the rounds, and has earned for himself the very appropriate cognomen of the " Old Soldier," that he visited Mr. Craig rp.centfy, whom he found industriously employed on some outbuilding. He enquired if he could get some refreshments, was kindly invited into the house, where Mr. Craig proffered him some scone 3 and milk, but it appears that this was not up to the " Old Soldier's " idea of refreshment, and he enquired if there was not something stronger than milk to be had, whereupon Mr. Craig, too good naturedly unfortunately, brought forward a "wee drappie," and for which he put down a shilling. This, Mr. Craig states, he told him to take back a^ain, but the soldier was too grateful to do that. You will observe by the foregoing statement that Mr. Craig broke the lav/, accordingly ho was summonsed to appear before W. L. Simpson, Esq., R.M., to answer to the charge of selling spirituous liquors without a license. He pleaded guilty to the grave charge, and was fined in the sum of (£2O) twenty pounds. If net encroaching too much on your space, I will mention that another case, where a similar fine was inflicted, bears a, very different aspect. Mr. Craig's house is situated full}'' five miles from any other habitation, in one of the most exposed situations between Dunedin and Law-, rence, while the business place of the defendant in the later case is in the. township, and in close proximity to two licensed houses. Now, Sir, I think you will agree with me, that if £20 is considered by our worthy R.M. a sufficient penalty for selling spirits without a license in a town, and close to publicans, who, besides paying a license, are compelled to provide a large amount of accommodation, and are under the supervision of the police, that a similar fine imposed upon poor Craig on the Round Hill seems, in my humble opinion, to beeither unjust or tends to show that the presiding magistrate was deficient in the necessary amount of discernmeut which anyone occupying his position should be possessed of. By-the-bye, where were all our newly j appointed J.P.'s. If they had been on the Bench when the above cases we^e under consideration,. I feel confident that from the knowledge they possess of the desolate place referred to, they would at least have tempered the small amount of" judgment they possess with, mercy. There is one matter I should mention, or it may be said I have told the truth, but not the whole truth. The R.M. in summing up in Craig's case remarked' upon another case in which he fined a person £20 for a similar offence some few months since. It wa3 supposed by myself and several othera, who were in the Court, that if he had tempered justice with mercy in that case, that probably the fine on praig woxild have been con-, sidcrably less. — I am, &c, Consistency-.,,-Lawrence, July 27, 1879,.