TE AWAMUTU POLICE COURT.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2272, 1 February 1887, Page 2

TE AWAMUTU POLICE COURT.

THURSDAY.—(Before Messrs Mandeno and Rutherford, J.P.) SLY-GROG SELLING. Te Mana, a native from Te Kumi, a settlement near Te Kuiti, was charged on the information of Constable Brennan with having on the 17th December, committed a breach of the Licensing Act, 1881, section 159, by selling to the informant one bottle of whisky. He was also charged with having on the same date sold two glasses of whisky to the informant. He was further charged with selling on the same date three glasses of whisky to the informant. Defendant pleaded guilty ccuilty to each of the charges. After hearing Constable Berriinan's statement, which was to the effect that he went at ditferent times during the day to the defendant, and made the purchases, and that the latter sold therri openly, knowing witness to be a policeman, the bench inflicted a fine of£l in each charge and costs £5 lis 6d, or one month with hard labour. The court took into consideration the fact that it was the first offence and that the defendant having sold the liquor so openly was perhaps not aware of the gravity of the offence. They cautioned hiin against a similar offence in the future and said that if he or any other person were brought before them again for such a crime they should inflict a heavy penalty.

Our correspondent writes:—The Resident Magistrate was to have been at court that day and there were about 17 cases set down for hearing. A number of witnesses and others waited till past midday but no Resident Magistrate put in an appearance. At last Constable Ryan telegraphed to Hamilton to ascertain the cause of the delay. A reply came stating that Mr Northcroft had gone to Wanganui, and that Capt. Jackson had been telegraphed to the day before, but no answer had been received. The result of this bungling is- that people have been put to expense and trouble, for fresh summonses will have to be issued. It is too bad that just in the busy harvest season people should be compelled to waste their valuable time. Two J.P.s. were got, who at a considerable personal sacrifice, heard the case of sly-grog selling in the afternoon. This was done to let the natives who live a long way off get back to their settlement. Had the case not been tried, Constable Berrimnn would have to come all the way from Te Kuiti again. The J.P.s in this place cannot be jcharged with any neglect of the duties pertaining to the honour.