BREACH OF THE LICENSING ACT.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 971, 13 December 1882, Page 2

BREACH OF THE LICENSING ACT.

At’ the Resident;Magistrate’s Court yesterday, before C. A. Wray Esq., R.M., William Qdgers was charged with a breach of the Licensing Act by keeping his licensed premises, the Australasian hotel, open between the hours of midnight on Saturday and 6 o’clock on Monday morning, the 2nd and 4th insts. Defendant pleaded “ Guilty.*’ Constable Crozier stated that on Sunday the 3rd inst, he visited the Australasian Hotel kept by the defendant and found the door of the taproom and the door leading into the bar from the hall open, and a number of men some of whom witness had since ascertained were not bona fide travellers or lodgers in the bar; while Mr Odgers was behind the counter. Witness had had to visit the hotel on several Sundays on account of persons coming out of defendant’s house in an intoxicated condition on those days. Defendant said he had no questions to ask but stated that the men in the bar were working oh a contract at Manutiihi and had come into Patea on the morning in question. Denis Fyle said he was a labourer residing at Patea. He knew defendant. He was in defendant’s house on Sunday the 3rd instant, about 11 o’clock, in company with another man named Trainer. Witness received a pint of beer. He was served by defendant. Trainer was supplied with drink also. When witness left the hotel with Trainer the latter was intoxicated. The defendant had no questions to ask. A fine of 20s, with costs 16s, was inflicted. The same defendant was also charged with exposing liquors for sale between the hours of midnight on Monday the 4th instant, and 6 a.-in. on Tuesday the 5 th. Sergeant Donovan said that at a quarter to one on Dec. 5 he saw the bar of the Australasian Hotel wide open, and several men drunk inside. Upon witness entering gnd asking defendant the reason of his keeping his house open during prohibited hours, he said he could hot get the men out. Defendant said he had no defence to make, beyond that one unruly man was in the bar at the time, and would not leave, and in consequence a number of persons kept about. Fined 20s, with costs 7s.