POLICE REPORTS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 16, Issue 885, 6 December 1870, Page 2

POLICE REPORTS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE HAWKE's BAY TIMES, Sir,—l was very astonished on looking over your issue of this evening, to find under heading " Resident Magistrate's Court" a case reported in which it is stated that defendant had been drinking all day at my house. Now, sir, this is totally incorrect. Boyle was in my house for about half-an-hour in the altera oon, and was served with only one glass of beer. He was, I understand, at liberty until 9 o'clock, and was not locked up until five hours after he had left my house. I am also informed by two gentlemen who were present in Court that your report of Sergeant Davidson's evidence is incorrect. This is confirmed by Sergeant Davidson himself. Now, sir, I think when you undertake to report Police Court cases, it would be quite as well to be certain of their correctness. If it is out of your power to have a reporter present, it would be far better to avoi4 givipg a report at all. Hotel keepers have to contend against, without being mrligned through the caielessness of newspapers in their reports. Trusting that you will, in common fairness, publish this letter, I am, sir, yours, <fcc., J G. H. Swan. Napier, sth Dec, ISJO.

[We very willingly putjlfch Mr Swan's explanation; but we may add that our reporter was present in Court, at the time, and that the statement in question was made by Sergeant Davidson precisely as we gave it. Our reporter adds that, on Sergeant Davidson remarking that it had not hitherto been the practice to inform against publicans selling liquor «all day "on Sundays, the Resident Magistrate read for the information of that officer the clause in a local Apt bearing upon the subject.]