RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1188, 7 June 1884, Page 3

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Gbraldine—Friday, June 6, 1884,

[Before W.U. Slack, and L. Walker, Esq»., and Dr Fish, J.P.'s. BREACH OF THE LICENSING ACT.

Charles Terry was charged with haying on the 26th May last permitted drunkenness at the Rangitata Hotel. The accused pleaded not guilty. Henry Mills deposed: I remember being in the Rangitata Hotel on the morning of the 26ih May between 9 and 10 a.m. The »ecueed was there, also a cook at a machin* camp close by, and a Frenchman, Harry Edmonds, and Mr Thomas wera also there. The cook at the machine was drunk. I can't say Edwards was. We were all muddled with drink, but not drunk. A gentleman came up on horseback to the hotel, but don't know what he wanted as I was inside. The bar door was shnt, and I went and asked the gentleman whether it was •' ■■■-•■ -'ay or Monday, in order to con*!-.;;'? T-rry that it was not Sunday. Terry looked as if he had had a drop 100 much, but was capable of doing his business. I was at the hotel only one hour. By the Bench; I wss sober when I went to the hotel. I found the men who were there muddled.

In reply to a question put by the Bench to the constable, the latter replied that the ca»e arose from what took place od Monday. Edwin Thomas, deposed : I was at the Rantritata Hotel on Mav 26th last, between 9 and 10 a.m. I saw five persons there. None were particularly drunk. They were knocking about and doing their business. Terry would have the bar door shut because it was Sunday. I said it was a mistake as it was not a Sunday I didn't see anyone call hotel, being inside. By the Bench : Everything in tho hote'l was clean, and 1 got everything 1 required. There was not much liquor drank.

Norah McMann, deposed : I have been a servant at the Bangitata Hotel, and was there in that capacity on Monday week last. There were five or six men there on that day on the spree. They w<sre all drunk about 4 p.m. on that day. The accused was drunk. The house was not well supplied for the convenience of people, On the d*y named a traveller, or rather a swagger, caFed and had his dinner and when I asked him foe payment he abnsed me. I have since lev't the hotel.

The accused said he had been summoned as the proprietor of the hotel, but he held no license, neither had ho authorised anyone to apply for a license on his behalf for the hotel.

He hud been asked by the ewner of the property to do what he ceuld for a day or two, hut it was contrary to Irs wish. The Bench dismissed the case, and expressed their regret in being compelled to do so as it was quite certain that drunkenness had been permitted on the premises ; but the accused not being a _ licensed publican according to tha Licensing Act, thev •could not find him guilty of the offence : r\--Section 148, on which the inforn-itioD had been laid. The Bench sever** y cautioned the accused as to his conduct, as it had bean an injustice to the hotel and might prove a seriou3 loss to the owner. _____„,