WAITARA NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 272, 23 April 1914, Page 5

WAITARA NEWS.

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Before Mr. A. Crookc, S.M.

Wednesday, April 22. A prohibition order was granted on the application of the wife of a local resident, against her husband.

BILLIARD ROOM HOURS, An information was laid by the police against B. Carrington for keeping a billiard Toom at Awakino open atter 11 p.m. Mt. Johnstone pleaded guilty on behalf of lii 3 client, tne position being that he and another man named Rangi were finishing a game of Milliards and had' not noticed the Iftfce hour. A fine of 10s and 19s 8d costß was inflicted. For being on the premises Kwigj, the player aboye mentioned, and Ronald Black, were fined 5s and costs 19s Bd.

"STORLNU" LtQpQR. The question of what was meant by receiving and storing liquor in a prohibited area was before tho 'Magistrate for decision.

The case was one brought by the police against Frederick Carrington (Mr. Johnstone) of Awakino, and the factß elicited were 'that Carrington hadi, at the request of a man named Preston, ordered a case ol whisky to be Bent. On arrival at Awakino the coach driver refused delivery to defendant ana took the liquor to the boarding house that night. On the following day a fellow employee, of the eoacliman delivered the liquor to Carrington, who, it was alleged, kept it for some diays before handing over to the owner, thus in the eye of the law committing a oraicli ot the Act T.liey stated a good deal of druniceimess took place at Awakino, and that very often liquor was ordered by peopie who could get at it for others to whom it was re fused and it was the preventing of this third person from obtaining the iiquor that the police were aiming at. In this particular case all the requirements of the Act had been complied with but the police were not satislied with many of the surrounding circ:uiii'S|t.Mices. Mr. Johnstone admitted that hi* eji-:iit had rece.ved and stored the 1 i j'ior faith e man for whom it wan (vddress'.l, tin: consignee not being in AwfvVi no 011 Ibe arrival of the coach, as he lived some 12 miles away. His client anted as agent for the coach pi-op:'<,i.'>v, <eeciv!;ig J'nl storing any goods that came along, amongst them being the ea.He i.i question. Counsel did not think that the legislature intended that such a person shouhi be fined for such a very tj.-hnieal cffence. What was aimed at .iy the Act was the prevention of depots being c« tablishcd in prohibited areas. A nt.Ui.iiimaster was in a similar position to ir's client, should- it so happen that the consignee of liquor in a no-license area did not take delivery inimediat, <on arrival, as also was a coach nriver under similar circumstances. If the driver chose to leave it on the road it. might also lie assumed' that the Comi'.v Council would be committing a breach of ..lie Act by permitting it to remain iii'.v length of time. The position was a rather peculiar one and both the police and his elie-vf, would be glad n) a decision so as to know the no-;i' mi.

His Worship said' he vis .ni'lei the impression tlmt a judgment of the Supreme Court had been given in a - what similar ease, and he won'] v.w>]'V'j decision and look it up and give hi.-} decision in NTeW Plymouth.