THE MAYOR AS BARMAN

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 46, 19 November 1918, Page 4

THE MAYOR AS BARMAN

—i , MEDICAL CERTIFICATES FOE SI 1 J KITS TO BE PRODUCED. Eiicb day of the great fight against the cpiilomic creates new tights, each more remarkable than those of yesterday. Consequent upon the compulsory closing of the hotels, it was necessary that there flhoiihl 1)8 someono to dispense wines' and spirits on a doctor's order. By force of circumstances this duty fell 'upon tho Mayor yesterday,, and ho took it in his stride, as ho does the hundred and ono multifarious duties Hint are thrust upon him at ay hour's notice. The spectacle of people, waiting outside the door of the Mayor's .room with slips of paper to ho passed through to His Worship, and the latter measuring out supplies of whisky and brandy ''to the doctor's order," was ono that would have made even members of the New Zealand Alliance_ smile. Ono order for a bottle of gin for a man, whose lifo was being sustained by stimulants, caused His Worship a little worry. He simply had no gin. Gin had never entered into his thoughts as an essential stimulant. Ho compromised (on doctor's orders, of coin's?) by allowing tho applicant .half a, bottle of whisky nt the current price.

During the day it must have got around that the Mayor was acting as barman, for several tried how a tale would act, bereft of the necessary signed, order. It wns no go! One person, with, great daring, begged for a bottle of brandy. ( "Have you got an order?" asked Mr. Luke, "No, I haven't, but Dr: —- said I was to have it. I'll go away and get it, if yon like.". "Wait a moment—which doctor was it?" - -fir. —" i Just a moment. ' Dr. — is in my |room il'll bring him out!" With that the Mayor stepped into tho room and asked Di'. — to step outside for a minute. When the Mayor and the'doctor named stepped out into the Corridor all they heard was the clatter of the applicant's boots as he scuttled for safety. '