THE TAITA HOTEL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2532, 5 August 1915, Page 3

THE TAITA HOTEL

' ALLEGED BREACH OF THE LICENSING ACT. At the Lower Hutt Court yesterday, before Mr. D.-G. A.- Cooper, S.M., Henry Benge znd Maurice O'Kane were charged with being on licensed premises, namely, the Taita. Hotel, when such premises were required to be closed. Mr. P. W. Jackson appeared for defendants, who pleaded not guilty. Constables Holmes and Johnston gave evidence as to visiting tho hotel on tho night of Jnne 9, and finding the defend'- _ ants, 011 the premises, in company with a number of soldiers.; The evidenco for the defence was to the, effect that O'Kane undertook,-in. company with Benge, to drivfe five soldiere .from Wellington to Trentliam. They stopped outside the Taita Hotel, and in response to one of the soldiers, O'Kane entered in order to receive payment for the' car hire. Benge also went inside, as the night was cold, and he was without an overcoat. Neither defendant was supplied with drink. The Magistrate gave defendants the benefit of the doubt and dismissed the information. Arising out; of the above case, Wm. Moore, licensee.of the Taita Hotel, was charged with keeping the hotel open after hours. Moore was • defended by Mr. J. J. M'Grath, , and pleaded not guilty. After, evidence was given by Eliza. Moore, wife,' of the licensee, Maurice O'Kane, and Henry Benge, tho case? was adjourned for the' Hearing of legal argument.