A Sad Case

Feilding Star, Volume V, Issue 19, 16 February 1884, Page 3

A Sad Case

It is a mark of the most supme folly j on the part of publicans to be guilty of a groFS breach of the Licensing Act at this particular juncture, when the keea eyes j of prejudiced observers are fixed upon them. We refer to the case of a residen t who is an old man. the father of a family, , and who nas at one time a highly respected citixen of Wellington, but who, from over indulgence in drink, has brought himself so low tbat his wife was forced to obtain the assistance of the law to restrain him from utterly ruiuina himself and family. A prohibition orde r was issued but a few weeks ago, yet yesterday this unhappy man was Keen in the public street almost helplessly drunk. If proprietors of licensed houses would take the trouble to study the Act they would find that "If any person shall, with a knowledge of such prohibition, gire, selL purchase, or procure for, or on behalf of, such prohibited person, or for his or her use, any such liquor, shall forfeit on conviction, for every such offence, a sum not exceeding five pounds. The evidence of any person shall be admitted in proof of unkwful sale of liquor, and such evidence, if otherwise good, shall be sufficient to support a conviction." Supposing the police were to take up this case and put the wretohed man in the box, and also his young children who have probably been sent to purchase the liquor, a most damaging case would be made out, and the license of the house most certainly be canceled on the next licensing day.