BEER AT A DANCE

Hokitika Guardian, 24 December 1929, Page 7

BEER AT A DANCE

CLUB PRESIDENT CHARGED AUCKLAND, December 20. At a recent tennis dance in the Eureka Hall, twenty gallons of beer was got in with which to satisfy the thirst of the dancers. The beer was placed in charge of an attendant who deserted his post after a time. The consequence, it is reported, was that instead of sampling the brew at judici, ions intervals a number of youth threw discretion to the winds with the result that a disgraceful scene occurred inside the hall when some of the youths who were rolling drunk on the floor had to be ejected. To-da\® at Hamilton, before Mr AVvvern AVilson, Charles Phillip Harrington, of the Tennis Club, was charged with selling liquor without a license. Sergeant Mathieson said that the case was on a par with the recent Gordonton prosecution, with the difference that five youths got beastly drunk and created a disturbance in the hall, where they danced with their hats and coats on, and some of them fell and rolled on the floor and had to be put out of the entrance. The charge was 3s for gentlemen and Is 6d for ladies,.; These charges covered the supply of refreshments. AVhen fifteen gallons of beer had been consumed, tins Committee decided to put a stopper back in the barrel. Afr Tompkins, pleading guilty for the defendant, said that the police statement was exaggerated. The Magistrate, in view of this, said that lie would hear the evidence. Air Tompkins then said that to avoid expense he would withdraw the statement, but the Magistrate said that this would not content him, and adjourned the case to enable witnesses to be called.