RESIDENT MAGISTRATES COURT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 893, 25 February 1879, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATES COURT.

e THIS.DAY. , U

(Before J. Udalb and W.'BT. S. Roberts, Esq.'s, J.P.'s) BREACH OF THE XICENSING ORDINANCE. William Peebles, landlord of the Peebles Hotel, was charged with keeping his licensed house open on Sunday, 9th February. Inspector Thompson conducted the prosecution, and Mr. O'Meagher appeared for the defence. Constable King gave evidence to the sffect that on the day in question he saw ;hree men coming out of the hotel, and on •iding up to it he saw a fourth man coming mt. On going inside he saw the defendant behind the bar, and another man here. The defendant denied' that the lotel.was open; The,:, defendant's wife aid to witness that she had asked her liisband riot to serve the men with drink,: ,nd defendant then said " they only had me drink in the house." In cross-examination, witness said that ie knew one of the men lodged in the

hotel on the previous night, H e co ~ <" not swear that the men wore not ;>(.,„<, J, • boarders or travellers. e Inspector Thompson said he had other witnesses. ° Mr. O'Meagher contended that a charge had not been substantiated, if rested upon the complainant to prove that the men who were seen coming out of th house were not bona fide travellers 0 ° lodgers. This had not* been done. 4* hotelkeeper was compelled to open "hi house' at-all times to travellers, and t* supply them with refreshments. . * For the defence, Mr. O'Meagher eailed Stephen Pirie, who deposed that on the day in question he, with six or seven other men, was on his way from Burnett's f arm with a reaping machine to the Devil's Bridge, and he called at the Peebles Hotel and had refreshments. '! The Bench dismissed the case. J Mr. O'Meagher remarked that the cast had entailed great expense upon the d e . ; fendant, and he thought it would be e jj in future for the police to make some in. j quiries before bringing such charges. i The Bench remarked that they thought I the police had simply done their duty.