THE HUTT HOTELS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 407, 16 January 1909, Page 7

THE HUTT HOTELS.

INQUIRY RESUMED. THE PLOT THICKENS. . .ALLEGED LIQUOR IN BOOTHS. . into: the ,Hutt local option' poll was resumed yesterday morning at' tho Odd--fellows' Hall, before Dr. A. Al'Arthur, S.M., Mr. W. Riddell, S.M., and Air. W. P. James, S.M., Samuel P. Skinnorj scrutineer at the Loiver Hutt booth, 'deposed that. just before lunch on polling day ho heard a tap at a window and saw Air. a hotelkcopcr, outside; About .four'pints.or beer in : a jug wore handed in, and jt wa,s distributed in glasses to tho officers and scrutineers. Some of tho deputies participated.Mr. Skerrett: In what; clause does this come in?

Dr. M'AHhur: That is just wlmt I was going to ask. . .-:'. .s\. Air. Ostler: I adriiit that it is not covered in tho' petition, but -the 'Cburt has power to allow it and in support. /'Dr. Al'Arthuv: The Court.is unanimously of opinion that''the evidenco cannot bo admitted.: Reasonable notice, had to be given, arid Section 32' of tho Act .was not complied with.

Air. Ostler: Wo can give notice. Dr.. Al'Arthur: Itis'too. late.; '.-'•', Alfred Edward Morgan/ scrutineer at the. Oddfellows' Hall, Petone, said that Sarah Elleri;Smith ap'plied to 'vbte. '.; He commenced to , s detail conversation 1 ' between; the woman and. the .returning officer.; ./•/." : - - '.' .; Air;. Skerrett objected- to.,the. adriiission : of hearsay' evidence.' Ho considered that it .was 1 manufacturing evidence: \. :-:/'.. ■ -'■ Tho objection was upheld. < Totals that did not Tally.

. By''?lr>t)stler: Mr. Cowie .was m chargo of thaofibsentee booth.-',Th'o:returriing officer was' ■absent/ifrom-' the' . booth several times.., When the -jPapefs were .counted .six wore informal, two: of-which were doubtful. In one, the, two topi Unesywere struck. out and the first two letters! of-'the-bottom'line crossed.. They were: piitMside-for a iiioment,iarid eventually.given :j - ais,'informal. -The other had a pencil mark :V underneath the bottom line, but touching it, and was put in as a formal vote for Continuance and Reduction. Mr.i-Ostler irAt the recount there was a ... paper with "1 vote" . crossed out. r- .Was that the. same paper!' •' ■. i . Witness:;l should- say; not. : ," ; yMr;iQstler': ;; .l)id-the ;licen6ing papers;tally: with-the Parliamentary?— No. : -1.-recolleot right the . Deputy j - Returning Officer,'.gave; out''one imore..paper. Unless the unused papers, wore. would you know this?— Before tho poll the .'. papers. were ; Jstaoked .in -twenties and. .fifties," and a dilferonco of ono was noticed. A Logond of "Lemon 1 Squash." , Did you seo any liquor in tlio booth?— ! Yes; rshortly -.after 'noon, .Mr. 'Palmer came in' with the. lunohesVand- some liquor, and ■ remarked that .it-wos'two-thirds whisky.' Mr.; 'iPalMerftwas- twice .'in. the booth. At. the Becoild."tinio ho brought tlio tea in. ; ■. Mr."'-'Skerrett: You, area.-;No-License,' advocate? -. ' iVWitness: Yes. . , And '.'you;' think.. the. whole;', world should be.so, too?—. No. . .... v Did you object to tho tea being brought ..in?—Wo. 1 Did. you' object.to anything?— No. -; lllverytbing -;was'.,quite• proper, then?—l don't say that. N , :.. How do you know., itwas-whisky ?—Mr!. ■/ Paljner. said;.'-io! f'j] ' :: W; S,"\ :■ s'i . Did :it not occur to you that he spoke jocularly?— No. ■

• If I wero to tell you it contained lemon squash. for,', a : teetotal "abstainer,; Mr. Cowie, ; but there must have w bqon,,niany-.totaLabstainers. ' 'You ; tittle-t&tiledv ?.—No;'I mentioned it- first to Mr. Ostler. ; • •Weresiyou -at--'-the ':Deputy vllcturning. Of-' ficer's qount?—Ves..' . . v;;:.;-.:::. ■ Did; y.o.u:_tak'e, any .notes p... : ; Did.you see .a 1 paper..with.'-'I- vote" struck i out? —Mo. •, > ' i .- You*.-missed.>.it'?r-It.. could . not; : have':'been ! in our pile. - .' Will, you swear that the papers are not. : the (same?— meantime. / , v .. Wi(l ;:you .'swear .tlie.' line v.did ('not. ,always- ; extend ? You examined it by gaslight!—lt did not extend.' \; How did •' yoiY'.kfiow th at', one " more •' paper wasri given" oufc'?-r ; j) , rom v : ay conversation between, the deputies. - ' ' •' ' Wore you: awaro ;that, somo people can vote at the licensing but not at the Parliamentary election ?-j-Noi . Mr. Ostler: Aro you suro what was in Mr. Palmer's.bottle? ■'..'. -. : r Witness:: I had no, means of'ascertaining. Did you'smell liquor?— Yes.. ; v .;; ,'. By.jMr.-: SkerrettHe. smelt- another man's breath 1 ' Mi-. Skerrett :_:Wliat was it ? -:; o '; .- Witness: Whisky. • .. How do. you know?—l have smelt it - be-. . fore.' ' ■ - Where?— All my-friends aro not prohibitionists. .. .Then-yon .are unfortunate in your .friends. ..' v;; An Uncorrootcd Mistake. Lilian Ann. Clarki of Petone, said sho voted :at "tlio Oddfellows' 'Hall, Petone.; ;She made a mistake on tho local option paper . and asked-for a -fresh "one.'-The"lloturniiig Officer ..refused;/then; witness, made -it-' informal - by striking; out the'.; : three lines and placed- it in tho.ballot box,- . . .'Jes'sie': Burridge-jsaid 1 ' she saw Mr. Mothes at the • Oddfellows' Hall, rPetone, ,whoh'; ; she. , wont to vote, but she did -not speak to him. i, ■. ■ A "Hamper." In tha Booth. Walt-er Clement Bird,;' scrutineer;, at . the Oddfellows' ITall, saw Palmer; enter, the bootk not. see.the. contents. Palmer' saicl ;there;.was:-iome;:liquor.'-at th© back of the hall, and if they went round they could get it. yv. .;; a ■;. > Mr. James: Whom did he'address? V:j Witness: No one in particular. . ;. Witness' 'could riot" : see where tlio .hamper i;was';depo'sited..' : Palmdr camei; again' in the afternoon, .but. witness ,did ,n6t...remember: if he said anything. ; ....... ' ~ Mr.- Ostler: - What was -Mr.: Motbes doing ? : Witness: I-do not know.-.. . Dr. M'Arthur: He. was not acting as a ,deputy.?'-. : ./,

jfr. Ostler: No. Dr. M'Arthur: Then ho would be at liberty to como and go as ho pleased. \ : : - Dr. M'Arthur. (to, witness): Did you "see anything improper? . - Witness: No. ' . '■ *

" ,:.If you tppk, liquor at lunch .usually, you would See no : harm- in having it on noliinc day?— No. • • b

■ Svdneyj'.Oliver:."Kenny, scrutineer at tho Oddfellows' Hall,'.did not see what ..the hataper .'contained, .but Palmer said thero. wore light..refreshments.*'on the staged It was placed: on tho stage;.and after tho count, ho saw. soveral bottles >in which beer was.usually: .placed;. V .Hesaw, officers goto theso refreshments 1 several' man .'applied for a fresh paper, but it was . refused by Mr. Stutter; • • ; . - ;

William.' Sussexj ; blacksmith," ; of Petono, deposed ..to,; having. seen on the ■ afternoon : of polling day: a man; driving' a-cart containing: a tankVwith' written .on .it. -Some-, thing - else was also o'n : tho tank,' but. ho could not i say ..what it •/■as., v •.>

Mr. Skerrett : Tho tank might-have been conveyed, for some useful, purpose. '«• .. Witness: Yes. - -By Mr.- Atkinson: Tho word Vbeer" was in minted letters on tho tank.

John' Downing, farmer, of Mungaroa, say Mr. ' AVhiteman at the railway station driving a cart .'containing. beer and. whisky on polling day>s He commenced to: detail a* conversation .between' himself and a .Mr. Edwards. •• v

Mr. Skerrett: You are-only getting tittletattle from this witness. '-,' :

Mr. Atkinson: It is ridiculous to talk like that. : ;.v' • / ' Mr.r'SkerrettTho petition is full of tittletattle.' ; -■ .

: Witness: ,Mr... Edwards was . chairman of, the brewery. (Laughter.) .1 Mr. Skerrett objected to this. ■ : Witness: Ho was chairman of the drinking party.- (Laughter.). .. . , : It was eventually ascertained " that Edwards was chairman of a committee in con-

ncction wittv thn Trade. \ Wi'tuoßs; It was Edwards who ordered tfio liijuor. Air. Atkinson submitted that Edwards was clearly an agent. - • Dr.M'Artluir: Youmust pet a shade uoarot to it ttmu that, Xtavson. - Witness stated that the liquor was put in a shed; near tho polling booth, and many peoplo took some of it. . Ho named, people, whom ho saw drinking.. ' Air. Skerrett: Anybody else? . Witness:' I- can't say John; AI. Whiteman, farmer at Wallaceville, deposed that T. Edwards was a riiember oE tho Hutti County Coimcil, arid understood he .wa3 chnirman' .at Air. /Caroy Fitzgerald's meeting at Upper,; Hutt. Serious If True. Charles K. Travel's, grocer's .assistant,- Petone, scrutineer at the Oddfellows' Hall, was at Upper Hutt When Air. Fitzgerald addressed tho electors. Air. Edwards occupied the ohair at the meeting. Witness saw a lady, Mrs., Burridgo, enter the booth at. Petono to vote... Sho was given, trrp papers and hesitated: at tho boxes. Air., .Alothes, was. standing by and - said, "That's tho. electoral tio'x';and. that's, the .licensing; box/ That box has not got a chance." -/ . - Dn Al'Arthur: Which box? '-. . .. i Witnoss: Tho licensing box. v : Mrs.'; Burridgo had, left the hall,'.but she was sent for to give. evidenco on tho'point. V Witness added that Airs.'.Clark 'said that . she made ,a mistako in a paper and was. re-fused-a-second one. He saw Air. Palmer in 'the booth with a hamper containing luriches. iHe saw- nothing else iri it. 'Palmer-told the ■scrutineers that refreshments would be found !at the hack of the. hall. " In the evening wit.ness: entered' tlio back room' arid saw bottles. One looked like a whisky bottle and 1 the other ilike a beer bottle: He wished to inspect the roll before polling day by- the returning officer,-who said he was using it. He/smelt' liquor- on some : of the officials at tho booth. ' . - Air. Skerrett: I take it you are a wholesouled No-License advocate? Witness: I am. ' i Air.:' Atothes' remark was very senseless and .stupidf-rlt was very inexpedient. // ' It could do: no good?—I did not think so. .• : - Anyone at the.tabid could havo heard it? -Yes. Cojild Air. Damant . have heard it ?—Yes.;. " Airs.'. Burridgo' has been/called, and said: that: Air.: Alothes. did not speak to her. How do you - account; for. that?—rl can only say what took place. i Air. -Skerrett, asked at this stage, that; the; witness- bo, instructed to/remain in the hall until Airs. Burridgo bad been recalled. ■ .- Air;: Skerrott: You were' constantly haunting the returning officer's office. -; Witness ': I-' -was • there - several times a week. ■ ■■''■- v ''iV-'V "' ' ■' -' And .were ■ rude to .him ?.—Not that I recollect. VI-.am .never rudo ,to my/elders orsupnriors: ' Dr. Al'Arthur : Hpw : do .you; differentiate between your elders and your superiors?. .. No answer:- -' -•*' - ; Dr. Al'Arthur : Well, 1 never mifid. '.: ■ ; : Mr.' SkerrettHow/ many times • had' you been refused' the roll? "v

'About sis times.'' I 'was- told 1 ,! could' not: sco. it as' Mr. Mothes was 'using: :it., .vK ; "V

f < What do you complain of? I cannot'discovcr. it.—-Iwas refused-when- Isaw no one else using it. ■•" ' '•'. , '!. ■ ;You'thought Mr. Mothes was'telling, you a lie?—l am not prepared to say that;:Then what have you to complain' of?' You ;aro-making an attack, on an official. Indeed, the whole petition is a wanton attack.; —l am making -no attack. -

Mr. Skerrett'elicited the fact that witness jraa-copying the "roll as fit came' ; out' : to'see that, people- they put -on tho roll: were duly, .enrolled.' -He had' been refused, several'times because ;th6 registrar -was inquiring into the claims for enrolment.,:' / Witness complained that- he .often'- found the, door closed. 1 . •.

~ Mr.- Skerrett: .'ti)at ,; you were treated': with' coiirt'esy;— ~|iritilv last ; a ' X. , Mr. ; Skerrett': And.; he'itf-geftSgfhis reward. '' < .; Mr.Atkinson: It tor.do.;with .the-witnessi . . ' ".-V- : rK

; ,fc'^-rsi£weK : r-®:''.i?''..'tJiß'; of, thbs'e -chhrges,® and you' know .it. • ,t'. '. •> By ; Mr.- ;sstlor :' Mr. Mothes . stated-that lie ■would like toxbe as sure of, £1000 as, he .was .of the licensing--box!losing; * "Mrs,-Burridge, recalled, said .'she was not hard of hearing. Mr. Mothes did not speak to h'er,"but he addressed; the scrutineers., He said : thisbox (licensing) had no chance.''' Court. Peasantries. i .Witness had just come.in:with ; Mr. ; .Joseph PiperV but. she denied conversing • with him. Mr. Piper rose among the Audience' and said: Your .Worship, may .1 ask -—t-. Dr.' M'Arthur: 1 • don't, know .who ' you are. ■ (Laughter.) - t , . ■ Mr: Piper: Don'.t think I want to. intimidato your witnesses. ' J' ■' A Voice: Sit down,:"Joe. , . Walter James Wakclyn gavo evidence as to tho placard ','liiberty." . . ... V- Thomas Townsend, late secretary, of the, No-License League, was", called to give evidence as' to; Wisbb's status.;.' He said he voted at. the Petorie -School. He, saw - Webb there, aiid commenced: to relate a conversation be-: tween; Webb and another person. ",: Mr.;; Skerrett; objected.':Mr..,Ostler said that .it was an admission of status on AVebb's part. v.'V'-y ■■ .The.:Court'ruled :.that' it could, not bo al-: lowed.' : .. ' ■;- Mr. Ostler wishod to ask if'.the".witness knew if Webb was-a partisan'. ■ ; ;;.-:Mr; : Skerrett-'said.it. was not: for a; witness to determine, but-i'or tho Court. ' Dr. M'Arthur said a man might vote conscientiously either way, and yet-not- be.a partisan. . , Mr. -Ostler .-sai'dhe ; would- .not press tho question. ' In, reference, to' allegations hotel being illegally open on polling day, witness said that on .pplling day he saw, a crowd' round the ■ doors of , the Provincial Hotel; TJpper Hutt, about-4 'p.m. -One'person came out intoxicated. The placard "Liberty" was on a motor-car driven; bya',;son, of , the -licensee of the hotel. Charles Henry Lcpper next camp forward. • Mr. Atkinson: Your name is Charles : Henry Lepper? ' v Witness (gravely): Too true. ' (Laughter.) The ..witness . gave; evidence as. to seeing tho placard, on the motor-car. At 12.45, p.m.; the Court adjourned for lunch. Noveltios in tho Bar Business. .Upon.;'-resuming, the. next- witness called was ■■■ . ." - . David M. Blair, who stated:. that. :-I.thefront door of the Provincial Hotel/ Upper HuttjV.iwas. open .on'v the afternoon of. polling (lay, and he. saw two persons drunk. lie got some liquor at a,stable-near the hotel. A number oi' people had. drinks'there at tho same time. Tho drink-was served- out by different, men, only one 'of whom he knew. 'The witness also : gavo cyidence as! to tho placarded motor-car.. - , " i,By Mr; Skerrett-: 'He ."was not asked which way ho .was voting. ;

■| Charles Oarberry, a.Petono carrier, was at Upper Hutt on polling day. He said he saw a person .drunk outside tho poll. l .Witness tho , car containing tho placard. ■The Itov. Benjamin Francis Rothwell, of Lower Hutt, said that on polling day, about 8 a.m.,;a barrel of beer was taken to a shop near tho booth. All day he saw. people coming in and out, wiping their mouths as though they had had a drink.. : .

' By Mr. Skerrett: There might have been a dozen people wiping their mouths. Arrangements' were made for refreshments for the No-License, workers, ,and he also .saw some of them come out wiping their mouths. Mr. Skerrett: Do you think there was anything .wrong in providing tea?. , . Witness:^l am hero to give evidence, not to offer .my opinion.

I want your ; opinion.—l did not' think there was anything wrong in it. . :

John Ferguson, of Akatarawa; said he saw soveral people drink ' some liquor from a demijohn in an express driven- by a nian named Southcy. .'•

By Mr. Skerrett: Ho could not say liow many gallons the demijohn contained or what size, tho glasses were.

' Margaret Ferguson,, wife of the last witness, stated that it was after tho votes had ;b'een recbrded that she saw. tho liquor..• • Skerretti'. It might havo been cold tea.. '

."Witness (positively): I lmow colQ tea when I'seo it. ,Charles Clout, of Alicetown, deposed that a man', named Sutton gavo him some liquor on polling day. v Mr. Ostler: Was anything said? Witness-. "No; ltooli it.and said nothing. Alleged Unqualified Voting. John James Maxwell Cameron, oS Ngaliauranga, was called in answer to an allegation that certain-persons outside tho district voted. Ho never received auy notice that ho was not properly on-the roll. : . Henry Nicholson, a carpenter, said hc-.had lived for many years'at Petone,'but about ten' 'or ■ twelve months ago' ho removed to Dixon Street, Wellington. By Mr. Skerrett: Ho could riot say if -he slept at Petono for six nights since lie left. He was on-no .other roll. than, the Hutt. ■■/ Re-examined by Mr. Atkinson:.He could not swear that lie had slept three nights at Petono since removing. Scrutineers. John William Al'Ewau, Mayor, of Petono, gave evidence on the question of allowing scrutineers to be present at the final count and the negotiations leading up. to the appointment of' paid clerks. •/ He.'also saw trio, placarded motor-car at Upper Hutt. Wit-' ness, was asked to enter, the Petone School booth the day after polling l day, and he saw some liquors.' which, ho believed, contained a little whisky '•■ '■■■>: Mr-. Skerrett: Mr. Alothes is a decent, respcctablo man, is he not? Witness: So far as I know.. . ■ Air. Skerrett: One would not think ,so to. judge by the petition. How many bottles' 'were in the.booth? —Six beer .bottles.and a whisky flask. . ( Horrible sight, wasn't it?— No. Reginald Kingsbury Piper, No-License .'scrutineer at.Aluritai, stated, that 164 votes ;were polled at that booth; but in the count ; there were ICS papers. His roll, was checked' with that of the deputy during the poll,' and ! both'were satisfied as to tho checking.'Every voter . received a voting paper, but more •'licensing than electoral papers had been issued according to his r011... By "Air.. Skerrett: Ho may have omitted 'to mark off one. voter. . ' /-.',/

' Robert ,do Ridder, a civil engineer, deposed that'there ,was an ' absence of voting compartments at the Epuni booth.. It would have been: possible for those present "to sea .what was going on. Dr. Al'Arthur: Did anyone see you vote ? ': Witness: No. ';' '. ,Dr. Al'Arthur :. Then what's the trouble? ', People with "Wonderful Noses." ; Henry Josiah Oakley, caretaker of.'.-,- the Petone. School,, stated that when he, cleaned -the. .-building in' the . morning after ..the poll, he rourid a, hamper containing six bottles and a medicine ■ bottle,, containing., whisky. Webb came for them, and said the hamper belonged to Palmer. The hamper was still there. The bottles .were marked- "Imperial : Witness saw the tank being'driven, about in Jackson Street.

; Mri SkerrettThe:.medicine bottle was broken. The room smelt of liquor. ... : Mr. Skerrett: What wonderful noses the peoplo of Petono have. , . : Tlio-.Rev.; Richard Wilson deposed that he, "balled', to,' inspect' the' roll,; but this .was; re-, fused by Mri Mothes, who said it was in use, and he would: be using. it for tho remaining part of the day., - '~ 'iMr. Skerrett: Is.it not a fact that.the.No;Liconsa pnrty pestered his' life.-.out,; ahd;niade : his life a long dreary misery? . ,t'; , Witness:. No. Carey., Fitrgerald . almost slept there.. Mr. Skerrett said he'would'show."that.'Mr; Mothes was not bound to show . the roll while : ;n course of preparation. Wind-Blown Ballot Papors. Tho, Rev. Thomas Arthur Williams, who acted as a No-Licenso- scrutineer at 'Hwtt, ; Baid-;that:,Henry Cooley went to vote,' .but.found.that his : name,was struck.off.' ,Ho camp, and- said ;ho . was Henry .Cooley,- .junv;v,He:rwas* ohalleriged .by ;tho returning, officer,---and; after explanation, he .was' alTow.ed':to:.yoto. .Witness-explained the trtublo; about the presenco of scrutineers', at' tho final count. ,He. had the privilege of Scrutineers, except ori l two 'occasions. -: After 2000 papers had been counted, it was found thkt two paper's were missingj and four hours were.-,.: spent;, ; in searching:. A knock came . ..at . . a': side door; . ,Mr. Mothes opened':it,"and all, thp: papors, : wero scattered oyer,thp''flooiri<which,was-littored with-waste papdr,. dirt, -eto.v : Whilo -pioking them', up, witness: discovered, that , ono paper had two numbers 'on 'it, .thus explaining'- the..absence of one-of-:tho;missing papers.: The number missing was'. 1541. -, In tho search, No: 1705 was found to be missing, ;but it' was eventually found under , a table. A' little later he sawa paper ;which"was taken as 1 informal, and on one pile- there, were only 99 instead; of , 100. Tho two top lines, were-erased very heavily, and there was a thin line through th'e third issue. ■ Witness objected strongly, as that parcel had been checked,' and when found he should- have seen it. There were no adjournments for- lunch. He -saw somo liquor :at 'the close of the. day at the .back end of the ball. Ho noticed excursions up that way during tho day. Witness continued that he'did not see any paper with tlio, "I" or "I vote" only struck out of: the bottom 1in0.., : )

'i By Mr.'Skerrett: He only; saw one chart used in the count;;. The papers were not put ,ori to a further chart. IVo papers were short beforo the wind scattered them. All the bundles had been checked, and aftor a search they .replaced the number, chock with the exception of paper 1541, which was never found.. . , / V'!: ' Mr. - Skerrett: ..You had' 1998 . papers . after, the wind blew? ... ' . , Witness: I'.admit that. ■ ■You' admitted that'to Mr. Oowier—YesiYou did not see anyone, drinking this 1 horrible material, did you? —No, . except, :the journeys to and fro.. ' : _ . Dr. M'Arthur: I quito believe that something might have, been here, for one day I saw two champagne, bottles empty. (Laughter.) ■, ■' : ■ v ; 'Mr. Skerrett: Did you hold a coroner's in-, quest? . ■ V' • ' i Dr. M'Arthur: No.. V. Witness added'that if he' dosired he had ample opportunities of altering some papers. Mr; Mothes. was often abfeent, and'there'was S lack of supervision. : ■: Mr.'Skerrett: Such ridiculous nonsense I have never.heard before.. '<;'At : this stage the .'inquiry' was adjourned :until 9.45 this morning. The, Court will sit until noon.' . The case for the petitioners is expected to conclude on Holiday. ; . :.