Country Hotel Accommodation.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 145, 13 March 1886, Page 3

Country Hotel Accommodation.

Complaints have frequently been received by the police from various travellers that the licensees of some country hotels, and also some that are situated in the city, are not particularly eager to carry out the provisions of the Licensing Act and supply victuals only to wayfarers when required. At length an opportunity arrived when action might be taken. A gentleman named Daniel Shea Lawlor gave information at the police-station that he had been refuged tea at the Avondale Hotel. The caee was at once taken up, and on 9th April the licensee, Mr John Bayley, appeared at the Police Court, and the case was heard before Messrs Moat and King, Justices. Mr Cotter appeared for the defendant, and pleaded not guilty, Sergeant Gamble stated that on the evening of the 19th of February a gentleman named Daniel Shea Lawlor went to defendant's hotel at Avondale, and having travelled from Henderson, he asked to be supplied with tea, meaning: the evening meal. He was informed that it could not be provided, but afterwards was offered some bread and meat. As he did not wish to partake of liquora, the informant was compelled to go to a private house in the neighbourhood in order to obtain his tea. This,, of course, was a serious matter, as the licenses wore really granted the hotels not for the purpose of selling intoxicants, but in order that travellers might be provided with accommodation. He mightfurtherstatethatnumerous complaints had reached the police regarding the defendant having been previously guilty of similar offences. Daniel Shea Lawlor deposed that on the 19bh of February he arrived as a traveller at the Avondale Hotel about seven' o'clock in the evening. He saw Mr Bayley, the landlord, and signified his intention of staying the night, and also having tea. This was refused, the licensee saying that he was then too late, but he offered bread and meat and beer. This witness refused, as he was just recovering from a severe illness, and his stomach was rather low. Witness further stated that he had reminded the landlord of his duties under the Act, but Mr Bayley persistingly refused to supply tea. His manner was offensive, although his language was not offensive. Witness went to the stable where his horse was feeding in order to escape the abuse of the landlord, but Mr Bayley followed him and demanded payment for the horse's feed before it had finished, and threatened to retain the saddle and bridle unless it was paid forthwith. He was therefore compelled to pay at once, and then retired to the house of a settler, where be obtained the tea that he required as a restorative. In the morning he returned to the hotel and got his breakfast, but not until he had, in colonial parlance, "worked the crack" with the landlord. By Mr Cotter: He had told Mr Bollard that the place was extremely dirty. Had said that there was an island of dirt on the table when he had his breakfast at the hotel next morning. That was, of course, comparatively speaking. Mr John Bollard stated that he considered the house was very well conducted. He had been on the Licensing Bench for the last 3 years, and they had neverreceived acomplaint against the house. Sergeant Gamble stated that another witness had been summoned, but had been unable to attend owing to ill-health. Mr Cotter contended that the case had broken down as the Act stipulated that the liceneee of a hotel must provide " lodgings, meals, and accommodation," therefore the word "tea" was not mentioned. The other had all been offered to the informant, but be practically said : "All the world is naught to me unless I get my cup of tea." The Bench said that they considered the charge had not been sustained, and the case would therefore be dismissed. If the house was not properly conducted, then it was a case for the local Licensing Committee to deal with.

There are 127 males and S females in Mount Eden Gaol; The population of Paris has gone down 115,000 in three years. The Governor will arrive in Auckland about the 23rd of this month. _ It is expected that the New Zealand Parliament will meet about the middle of May, The "Colonies and India" states that the foremost of the agricultural and pastoral shows of New Zealand is that of the Auckland Society. For Sir William Clarke, of Victoria, there has just been begun a new house which is to cost £45,000. A parish magazine has been started in connection with St. George's Church, Thames. The trappings of the white elephant of King Theebaw are said to be worth £2,000,000. An action is being raised by Cambridge Racecourse Company to compel Mr W. K. Carter to complete the purchase of the racecourse, the price being about £1,800. At Cambridge Dairy Factory there are ten ton 3 of cheese ready for the market. There are 190,000 "duly qualified „ medical men in the world ; the " quacks '" are innumerable. The cup that doesn't cheer or inebriate, but sometimes rouses suspicion -the hiccup. An editor down South declares that times are so bad that he can't even collect hfs thoughts. For the Gordon Memorial Fund, the Victorian people have subscribed £4,358 19s, with which it is intended to erect a monument to the hero of the Soudan. Scarlet stationery has been introduced, but will not be popular. Who wants a letter red before it's written ? The Sheeban Memorial Committeo at Napier have only raised some £40, half of which will be absorbed in expenses. It has been resolved to expend the balance in the purchase of iron seats for Marine Parade. Christchurch City Council have decided to leaso their tramway to the cemetery and Mr C. O. Malley is the successful tenderer, for £245 per annum. The question of an underground water supply for Inveroargill appears to have been satisfactorily settled by fche test-well. The quality of the water, according to Professor^ Black, is nearly twice as good as that supplied by the citizens of Dunedin. Fred Fulton, a Dunedin "crank" who has made himself notorious of late, raised a libel action against George Kencard lately, the latter having published a letter stating that Fulton " ceased to be a gentleman when he ceased to be a drunkard." The Bench dismissed the case after hearing evidence. Bernard Hand, recently arrived at Dunedin from the Kohimarama Training School, has been sentenced to three months for stealing twenty £1 notes from a fellow employee named Thomas Thompson, who won the money at the races. A clerical dispute is likely to come before the Supreme Court of Wellington next month. Rev.J C. Dodwell, whose license to officiate in the Wellington diocese was cancelled .by the. Bishop of Wellington at the end of tile" year, contemplates taking legal proceedings against the Bishop, with a view to the recovery of damages for alleged illegalgdismissal,