ALLEGED DISGRACEFUL CAROUSAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10244, 22 May 1911, Page 5

ALLEGED DISGRACEFUL CAROUSAL.

THE INVERCARCILL AFFAIR. HON. MB, FOWLDS' EXPLAXA- . TIOW. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Last Night. I Qustioned 'by a newspaper representative concerning the alleged disgraceful carousal in the Park Reserve, at Inv'ercargall on a recent Saturday night and Sunday, the Boa. G. PWkls, Acting Minister of .'/i..v tice, said that from report* Ire hci.ri received he was of opinion that tli<? published reports gave an exaggerated 'account of what ,hud occurred. "•It appeared from th'fo reports." said the Minister, "that ove indriridual purchased an IS-gallon keg of beer, and, with some companions, took it into the chowgrounds, and being joined: ,by some other persons, the beer 'was consumed. The night being wet, some of the party remained all night dn tihe shelter of some of tsbe buildings on the ground. The place in question is outeride the boundaries of the Borough of Inveroargill proper, and is fenced with a close boarded fence, and is separated [from the public street by a considerable space- and belt o ditrees. There is no suggestion *tliat the residents of the vicinity or the general public were annoyed iby or ,saw anything of what was going on. The occurrence is very regretffcaihle, and reflects diis•credHt on those concerned in it, ibut I tibinkit is only (fear; to citizens of Inveroargill and the .police to isay tihiat there was no disturbance, that the drinking took place in a .secluded spot out of town', and that so far as can 'be gathered, no breach of the law took place." i