The Life and Experiences of an Ex-Convict in Port Macquarie — John Shaqi
The Life and Experiences of an Ex-Convict in Port MacquarieWoomera
History
The Life and Experiences of an Ex-Convict in Port Macquarie
Woomera
Penal colonies -- Australia -- New South Wales; Prisoners -- Australia -- New South Wales -- Biography; Woomera, 1817-1900
This constable once got information that there was a private still
some miles up the river from the Settlement, and he lost no time in
going to the Police Magistrate for a search warrant. The granting of
this warrant, however, was delayed till a message was sent to the owner
of the still, who was a great friend of the magistrate, to put him on
his guard. And when the constable arrived on the scene, the still was
removed, and he could only find warm bricks. The manager of the still
met the constable with "Good evening; it has been a warm day."
He said "Good evening," and proceeded to read the warrant; then went
and opened the trap-door to look for the still.
"What are you looking for?" asked the manager, "can I do anything for
you?"
"Yes; get me some tea, please!" he replied.
"Very good," said the manager, "you had better stop here to-night; you
must be tired after such a long ride in the heat. When did you leave
the Settlement?"
"Not soon enough to catch you," came the reply.
"Catch me?" asked the manager. "Why, you surprise me. What have I done?"
"You're very green," answered the constable; "but I'll have you yet."
The constable searched all the next day, but found no trace of the
still, so the long journey was for nothing. The fact was, this still
belonged to the aristocracy, who could do almost as they pleased, but
it was nearly a case when the "broad arrow" was put on a vessel in
Sydney harbour on her arrival from the Settlement with some casks of
grog aboard, and also the time that a great quantity of grog was let
loose in Port Macquarie harbour one morning about breakfast-time. This
was hushed up somehow, for there was not another word said about it.
After this useless search, the constable offered a reward of £20 to any
man who would go and stop for a while at the places where this sly grog
was sold, but he couldn't get anybody to go, so he never caught them.
Many a wool-grower lost his sheep through the sly grog-sellers. The
liquor was made at ---- ----, by ---- ----, and publicly sold on the
New England road, without a license. But as it came from ----, there
was no notice taken of it by those whose business it was to remedy such
evils.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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