A GRIEVANCE.

Grey River Argus, Issue 251, 22 August 1867, Page 2

A GRIEVANCE.

(To the Editor of the Grey Sivcr Argtts.J Sir— Permit me to make use of your columns to make known an act of what I ■ call official tyranny en the part of our magistrate, -Mr Revell, who appears to have singled me out as a victim whenever occasion offers. Before I state the last instance of the persecution I have endured, I must go back to the time when I first built my hotel on the Sonth Beach. Two years ago when I applied for my license, I was compelled to remove my retail stores out of the building before my license would be granted, and had to build a store at a distance from my hotel. I had also to provide increased accomodation for the public, which I did at great expense. Within a short time of my opening my house, several storekeepers in the vicinity commenced sly grocc selling, and carried on the practice openly for some. time. At last they were convicted and fined, and in spite of this were afterwards allowed to have a license, although the buildings were mere shanties, without even common accommodation for the public, and were permitted to carry on their store dealing in the same premises. The effect of this unfair competition was that my business fell off, so much so that I did not take as much in the hotel as would pay the license fee. Of course I could not afford to waste my time doing nothing, and I was compelled by my other business engagements to be occasionally from home, the house however being kept open by Mrs Thompson until on the occasion of my going to the Buller recently. Not being able to keep a servant at the hotel, I was obliged to send Mrs Thompson into town for protection during my absence, it not being safe to leave a female all alone in the hotel. On my return, I was informed by the police that nry license had been cancelled on account of my having left the hotel without leave. Now, Sir, the cancelling of my license does not much affect me, as it would not pay me to keep the house open, but it shows the feeling of spite, which has been manifested to me for some time, and 1 think it very hard and unfair. —l am, Ac,, , John Thompson! Ballarat Hotel, South Beach. — i v- -,; ■ if"