A LICENSING CASE.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 404, 1 May 1902, Page 2

A LICENSING CASE.

SPECIALLY INTERESTING TO HOTEL-KEEPERS. (Per Press Association.) DUNEDIN, last night. The Supreme Court to-day was engaged with the ease of Laffey v. Peters, a case of importance to hotelkeepers. In November, 1900, plaintiff leased the Gridiron Hotel to Mary Josephine Fahey and James Conelly, who transferred the icasc to defendant (Margaret Peters, wife of Isaac Peters, bootmaker, and Alfred Isaac Peters, hotelkeeper), stipulating amongst other things that if the lessee should he convicted of an offence against the licensing laws plaintiff might re-enter. On the 4th December last, Alfred Peters was convicted of refusing to admit the police without unnecessary delay. The plaintiff therefore planned £2OO by Way of mesne profits. ,The statement of defence set out that Peters himself was not guiity of refusing to admit the police, and this Was made the subject lor a motion for relief.

After argument judgment was given for plaintiffs for possession with mesne profits at the rate of £206 per annum from the (ith December to uate, on condition that plaintiff waives any claim under the covenant. Costs on the highest scale were allowed. Mr Husking, for Peters, moved for relief against the forfeiture of the lease upon the grounds llutl the breach was committed inadvertently, and that through an accident or mistake, and iiigt nq injury happened to the lessor other’ than’ Cmijd 'lie compensated for in damages, Mr Justice Williams reserved his decision.