LICENSING MATTERS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2389, 30 July 1892, Page 3

LICENSING MATTERS.

At Timaru, yesterday, the Resident Magistrate, Mr C. A, Wray, gave judgment in the charges of Sunday trading preferred against several local publicans. In the Ship Hotel case, J. T. Gray, liceusee, His Worship gave judgment for the defendant and dismissed the charge. It was proved that the liquor was supplied by a boarder in the hotel who (to oblige a servant who was ill) was allowed at his own request by the licensee to clean out the bar. The drink having been supplied by a person not authorised and against his express instructions and without his khowledge, the licensee could not be held liable. The information would be dismissed. The licensee was cautioned against allowing irresponsible persons access to his bar at such times. The casojaganistP. Reilly, of the Timaru Hotel, was also dissmissed. The drink was supplied during prohibited hours by the defendant’s cook, who stated that she obtained access to the bar during the landlord’s absence by means of another door key and that she supplied the liquor against the express instructions of her master. This evidence was corroborated on oath by defendant and was not contradicted. The case would be dismissed.

In tb,e case against f. O’Meeghan, of the Old'Bank, a conviction was recorded, and a fine of 20s imposed. This was raised to £ss, r as the defendant wished to appeal. His Worship said the mere putting of the question to a would-be customer of “ Are you a hona fide customer?” was not sufficient. A barkeeper should take further steps to ascertain whether a person asking for a drink during prohibited hours was really a traveller. James Reid, charged with obtaining drink for a prohibited person was severely lectured, and fined £l,' An influential conference, comprising wine merchants, brewers, and publicans, has concluded a sitting at Wellington. Delegates and representatives from all parts of New Zealand were present. The administration of the Licensing Act by several of the Committees, especially in Sydenham and Wanganui, arbitrarily—and the Conference considered illegally—refusing licenses in a wholesale manner was denounced, and resolutions adopted for defensive purposes in future, both as to organising and financially. Other important business which has not been disclosed was transacted. The Executive Council for the year is Messrs M. Kennedy, T. G. McCarthy, J. Jack, J. K. Hamilton, T. W. Yoiiug, and Wilson. The Commissioner of Police has wired to the chairman of the Roslyn (Dunedin) Licensing Committee : “ Mr Macdonald, solicitor, states he is bringing an action against your Committee, as has been done at Sydenham, and wants the publichouses to remain open till the cases are decided. Have your Committee any objection I Similar permission was given at Sydenham, the Committee there stating they had no objection.” Mr Begg replied: “ The Committee decline to allow the houses to re-open. One house has already been turned into a butcher’s shop, and the others are already closed. There is no similarity between the cases of Roslyn and Sydenham.”