The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 1878.

Kumara Times, Issue 598, 28 August 1878, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 1878.

In a recent issue we calleil attention to the prevalence of the practice of slygrog selling, as it is popularly called, on this goldfield, and before leaving the subject we desire to add a few words in confiiraatiou of om previous hypothesis. The shanties we before alluded to in general terms, are nothing more than the hot-beds of crime, and in them drunken quarrels arise which frequently develope themselves into serious offences, and over these shanties the police luve no more control or supervision than they have over any private dwelling. It follows, therefore, that unless in very exceptional instances the jKilice cannot demand a right of entry; In om* Police Courts many crimes are very often traceable to this cause, but, it may be obsei-ved that upon the occupant of the house being duly subpoenaed to give evidence in support of a charge, the same tale is invariably told, viz., that the liquor was obtained at a neighboring licensed hbnse, and that the witness would on no account think of vending spirits or intoxicating drink without a license. They may, of course, keep a little for private consumption—and are in the habit of selling cordials. Although the inference is palpable and the corroborative testimony may be as clear as day-light, witnesses can be always'fonnd to testify to these flimsy statements, anil so long us men cun he found to patronize houses of this character, so long will the miserable occupiers endeavor to place the law at defiance, and thus gain a degrading livelihood, whilst living in indolence. It is not onr intention to enter into the morality in vogue in such establishment-!. Anyone, who is not wilfully blind to stubborn facts which daily present themselves to him on these goldfields, must be competent to form an opinion on this point, and can arrive at i but one conclusion. And now, having j > n i briefly touched upon a few of the evils ! °f this great scon rage, we leave the snbi ject, without regret, in the hope (vain i though it may be) that onr remarks ! may have the effect of deterring some | persons from taking so false a step, and I consequently of diminishing the inducement held out to those who gain a nefarious livelihood by the illicit sale of intoxicating beverages. We shall now point toorio or two I matters in. connection with our hotels. And first, we may observe, there is but

little diminution in their number, which it must bo admitted is in excess of our requirements. It is h difficult matter for the licensing officer, acting in a spirit of equity, to refuse to grant renewals to persons against the conduct of whose houses no complaints have hitherto been made, and who may yet have spent their all on their premises ;■ but that official has taken the next best step that lay in his power, viz., to refuse to , grant licenses for any new houses. And we may here express surprise at the eager avidity with '.vl'.ri. -ini -many of whom' have u' ir- U ;r> navi manual labour—seize at 'ue .••pp.wtur.ity, should su rt li offer, of becuii,landlords of publichouses, and thus hading a life of comparative ease. Why this means of earning a livelihood should become a dernier resort ” for so many is, however, a “ thing that no fellah can understand. ” Again, we ask, are single women or widows capable of exercising due control over our hotels H We reply, generally speaking, certainly not in the

former case, and as regards the latter but seldom. Women of irreproachable character cannot be expected to place themselves in the foreground by ejecting from their houses persons whose money they have received when they were sober, but who, having exceeded the bounds of moderation, become offensive and quarrelsome. Next, as regards so called “ Balls,” they are far too frequent, and are eagerly sought after by many of our licensed victuallers, notwithstanding that a fee of £2 must be prepaid. When we consider that these dances are given for the purpose of making money, and that the compliment is paid by those who favor them with their patronage, we must surely conclude that they, as well as the hotels, are excessive in number, and that they are given as a speculation only ; and thus the seeming compliment on the'part of the landlord or landlady is but an empty one. Let it he understood clearly that we are merely viewing this matter from its practical bearing, and not with a view of reflecting on our licensed hotels in any way. On the other hand, we have already given to them a tribute of praise,, and that well-deserved in the main, and shall always be ready to do so so long as they continue to be conducted in their present creditable manner. We may be permitted, in conclusion, to call the attention of the proper authorities to what appears to ns to be somewhat of an anomaly, and that is that a few of the houses which do not at present hold licenses are permitted to retain the names of certain hotels over their doors; and this, coupled with the fact that the doors are open, and bottles (“cordials,” of course) are displayed to view, is almost sufficient to lead unwary persons into the supposition that they were about, to enter a licensed hotel. Would it not be well if the licensing officer could:devise some means to remedy this defect 1 ? At all events we threw it out as a hintof his consideration.