LICENSING CASES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7723, 27 January 1905, Page 2

LICENSING CASES.

THE HOAHDKK AM) (i L EST PHASE. (Per Press Association.) WESTI'OKT, Jan. 26. Throe well-known townsmen u|>peared before the Magistrate, Sir Kcnrick, charged with being on licensed premises on January 7th during prohibited hours. The defence of one was that he was there at the invitation of a friend—a boarder—who was to leave Wostport next day, and of another that lie was also there us an invited friend and also to do businessf with the boarder prior to his departure. Both had a drink in the commercial room with their friend, and at their friend's expense.

His Worship said it was the first case he had heard in which a boarder hud invited a guest to remain. If there was n similar case pending ho would adjourn his decision, but ho did not know of it. He did not sec anything in the new act to alter the power given in the old act of a boarder to entertain a friend after hours in a private sitting room. He did not say a boarder could supply drinks at the bar, but n boarder (who had 110 other home) could chat with personal friends in the part of the house he usually occupied. His Worship pointed out the danger of attempts to •evade the act by stating that the accused were the guests of a boarder when they were not bona fide. His Worship considered accused were bona fide guests of a hoarder, and dismissed the case. The third man was having a drink in company with the others, but said he did not know who paid for it. The magistrate held 110 was not a bona fide guest, and tilled him 10s and costs. WAIHI, Jan. 2(i. An interesting case was heard last night Iwforo Mr ]{. ,S. Jiush, S..M. Two well-known and respectable residents, Hichurd Spratt and Harold Lewes, wore charged with being on licensed premises at the Central Hotel during prohibited hours. The ovittence showed that thy defendants had, at the invitation of a lodger, dined at the hotel on Christmas Daj-[. The Magistrate held that the defendants had committed no breach' of the act.