THE GOLLAN’S VALLEY STILL.
PROCEEDINGS IN COURT.
The charges in connection with the illicit still at Gollan’s Valley, preferred against John, Allan, Charles and Hugh Cameron, were partially investigated in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, before Mr Martin, S.M.
There were five charges, to the effect that the accused were in possession of an unlicensed illicit still, and having apparatus for the distillation of whisky, at Gollan’s Valley, on June 13th last.
Mr Gully appeared for the Collector of Customs (Mr D. McKellar), Mr Skerrett for Allan and Chas. Cameron, and Mr Wilford for John and Hugh Cameron.
Mr Skerrett raised the preliminary objection that the information was not laid in a proper form. He applied for an adjournment, to enable him to give notice in writing that the accused wished the case to be tried before a jury.
Mr Gully said if there was any difficulty about the matter, he should simply lay a separate information.
His Worship said he thought Mr Skerrett was entitled to know which of the five charges in the information the Crown was going on with, and that the other four should be abandoned.
Mr Gully said he would go on with count two, charging the defendants with being concerned in unlawfully making spirits, and amend the information by striking out counts 1, 3, 4 and 5.
He called Acting-Detective Gantley, who gave an account of the search made by the party on June 13 for an illicit still, already described in the New Zealand Times.
On their way they searched the houses occupied by John and Hugh Cameron, and by Chas. Cameron, his mother and sisters, but discovered nothing affecting the case.
After searching those houses he left his companions, and on going through the bush, in the direction of a sound of wood chopping, he came across a man felling timber.
Witness turned round to look for the rest of the party, and when he again looked round the man had disappeared.
Near the tree which the man was felling he found an axe and a coat, and in the pocket of the coat he found receipts of accounts and other documents in the names of Hugh and Chas. Cameron.
Witness then rejoined his companions, and immediately after they came across the still, the condition of which has already been described.
There was a dray road leading from the beach near the Camerons’ houses up to within a few yards of the still, and there were marks as if a dray had passed there quite recently.
On returning he met Chas. Cameron, who, in answer to questions, said if there was a still in the place he knew nothing about it.
Cross-examined by Mr Skerrett: When he visited Cameron’s house he found Miss Cameron there. The track leading from the highway up to the still was not a new one, but he did not think it was made a great many years ago. Would not believe that it was in existence 20 years ago.
If he suspected a man of an offence he generally asked what questions he thought proper before he arrested him, and he did not think there was the slightest impropriety in that course.
To Mr Wilford: Did not take notice that the trees near where they had located the still were all of one sort. The ground was not very hard. Dray marks were quite plain to the eye until within a few chains of the place.
When they found the clothes produced in Court they were 15 yards off from the track. There were a number of well-defined tracks. One of them, he thought, would about lead to near Cameron’s house.
The marks of the dray wheels were so plain that they should be observable now, despite the fact that the ground was said to be hard.
To Mr Gully: He only observed one saw-pit, but not two. He had expected to pass a saw-pit, being told of its existence before he set out. He would not take it for a saw-pit; it was not one that had been recently used. Saw no cut timber about.
There were two young saplings near the still, with a bag or sack on them, and he noticed that it just fitted an octave. They carried two octaves out in it.
Dugald McKellar, Collector of Customs, deposed to visiting Gollan’s Valley when the still was discovered by the party. He heard tree-chopping, but did not see the man. He was a short distance from the last witness.
He got to the still first, but there was nobody there. He told Detective Gantley to catch the man who had been chopping, but he failed to find him.
The evidence of the last witness in regard to the still was correct, except that they found more hogsheads there than had been exactly described.
There was a fireplace there, used for the purpose of drying the place and the manufacture of whisky.
Mr Skey had examined samples of the liquids found, and had handed to witness a memorandum describing them as alcohol in different stages.
Near the still were found a copper, tubing, &c., which had apparently formed part of another plant.
Various forms of vegetable matter were used in the manufacture of whisky. He saw 2cwt of potatoes on the ground. There was a waste heap there also, consisting of a kind of mashed matter, which he thought was either barley or oats.
They used the “stretcher” to carry the casks out.
Heard Gantley have a conversation with Charles Cameron on the 13th, and asking him if any men had been camping on the ground. Cameron said he had been on the farm that day.
The casks found at the still were marked, one having the name of Levin and Co. on it, another “Maginnity’s Blend,” and another “Cato’s Export Brand.”
The casks had numbers or figures on them. One had the name “Black Diamond Brewery” on it, another “Petone Brewery,” a third “Thom and Cameron, Christchurch.”
Some sugar bags were marked “L. & Co.,” which he knew to be Levin and Co.’s brand.
A bag containing brewers’ crystals was found, but he could not say where it came from. They brought in seven or eight bags altogether.
Thomas Grant, surveyor, deposed to going out and making a survey of the locality, the plans of which were produced.
James Cruickshank, of the firm of Levin and Co., said that he knew the Camerons, of Gollan’s Valley. H. and C. Cameron dealt with the firm, the account in their books being a joint one.
They got goods in the latter portion of 1893. He had seen Hugh and Allan Cameron several times. He had supplied them with sugar and other goods, besides a tank.
Malachi Taylor, brewer, was the next witness.
Mr Poynton intimated he was present to watch the proceedings on behalf of Mr Taylor.
This witness deposed that the Black Diamond Brewery ceased working some time ago, the plant being shifted to the Petone Brewery, in which he associated himself with Mr Palamountain.
That was in April, 1893. The plant was sold by auction two months afterwards, the bailiffs having taken possession of the place.
The stock included some casks he had brought from the Black Diamond Brewery, as were some belonging to the Petone Brewery. J. Hunt bought most of the stock.
Witness had been out at Gollan’s Valley. Witness refused to say whether he saw any casks there. He objected to being mixed up with the business. He had not been to Gollan’s Valley for four months.
There was some discussion between counsel and His Worship as to the right of witness to refuse to answer questions which might be of an incriminatory character.
Mr Gully proceeded to ask questions of witness, His Worship taking them down.
Witness, continuing, said he had been out to Gollan’s Gully on more than one occasion. He knew where the Camerons lived, and had gone further up the valley than the last house; he was there shooting.
Had never seen a track up the valley. The Camerons lived in three houses to his knowledge. Knew them all. Had visited the locality on two or three occasions.
Mr Gully: Did you ever come across anything unusual there?
Witness: I must decline answering that.
His Worship: When did you go up to the valley first?
Witness: About four or five months ago.
Counsel again asked witness if he saw anything unusual at the valley.
Mr Skerrett objected to the question being put, as also did Mr Wilford.
His Worship said he thought of taking the witness into chambers and making enquiry of him before he determined whether he could grant him the privilege of not answering.
This course was adopted, the witness being examined in the Magistrate’s room.
On resuming, Mr Gully asked the witness once again if he saw a still at Gollan’s Valley.
The witness refused to answer, and His Worship decided that he need not do so.
No more questions were asked of witness, who stood down.
His Worship, in reply to a question from Mr Gully, said he did not intend visiting the locality at present at any rate.
The Court then adjourned until Tuesday at 11 o’clock, the former bail being allowed.
