SLY GROG TRAFFIC.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2236, 5 March 1886, Page 2

SLY GROG TRAFFIC.

Th« periodical scenes of drunkenness and riotous conduct on the part of some of the railway employees-at Mata-iwi have long beon a scandal to the district, states the Woodville Examiner, and as there is no house nearer than Woodville, it was pretty generally known that an extensive sly grog traffic must have been going on. It will, therefore be satisfactory to'the public to know that the police have at last taken the matter in hand, the delay having occurred solely through the difficulty in procuring sufficient evidence to securo a conviction. Sergt. Carlyon, accompanied by Constable Barry made a raid on the boarding houses at Mata-iwi on Saturday, and being armed with the necessary search warrant, prooeeded to business without loss of time. He found that Mr Kirby had two casks of beer on tap, and at Mr Reuben HarriY he soon unearthed liquors of all kinds, including beer, whisky, brandy and rum. The Sergt, heard of a third party enraged in the traffic, but having to return to Woodville for the soarch warrant, he''missed his shot" through the delay, and only succeeded in discovering some empty beer casks, The position was graphically described by one of the detected men who said to the Sergeant, ''You have caught the two partridges but have not got the pheasant." The " partridges" owned up, we* are informed, to the delinquinces; it is to be hoped the " pheasant will soon be bagged—he has his wings clipped already.' The liquoralmost sufficient to start a hotel on a 'small scale was seized, and conveyed to Woodville, where it awaits the order of the Court, confiscation or otherwise. Summonses against the men will be issued in due course.