The Awahuri Hotel

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 76, 9 December 1884, Page 2

The Awahuri Hotel

♦ We learn from the Advocate that an enquiry into the conduct of this hotel was held at Sandon in the schoolroom on Saturday which lasted nine hours. The evidence given on both sides was very voluminous, at the conclusion of which Mr Prior, who appeared for Mr Samuels, said he would leave the case confidently in the hands of the committee. The committee retired for nearly an hour and on their return to the room, The Chairman said the opinion ef the committee was that conclusive eyidence had been adduced to prove that grave irregularities had occurred on the licensed premises of the Endymion Hotel, but in view of the evidence in the licensee's favor rendered by independant witnesses, together with an influontially - signed {letition, the application to deprive the icensee of his license would be refused. The committee wished to express their approval of the zeal displayed by Con stable Gillespie in the conduct of the case. Constable Gillespie asked that an order to pay costs be made on Mr Samuels. The 64th section of the Aot empowered the committee to award costs to the party who succeeded. He maintained that the decision ef the committee was that the police had succeeded _in proving the charges — not one of which had been rebutted — and the costs should therefore be paid by Mr Samuels. Mr Prior said the verdict, to use a phrase in the law court, was virtually for the defendant, and he did not think he should be saddled with costs. The chairman remarked that the committee fully justified the conduct of the police, and were agreed that the charges had been proved, but in consideration of the petition, and the evidence of the witnesses in his favour, they did not wish to take the licence away. Tho costs would have to be paid by Mr Samuels. Order made accordingly. The costs were— £2 10s court fees, and ten witnesses at 10s each.