Friday, June 22, 1866.

West Coast Times, Issue 236, 25 June 1866, Page 2

Friday, June 22, 1866.

Briucii op Public House Ordinance. John Bailer was charged with selling spirituous liquors at his house, situate ontho beach south of tho Arahura, without having a license for the same. Mr Rees appeared for the defendant. Constable Moeller sworn, deposed, that he had bought a glass of spirits at the defendant's house on the day in question. Tho defendant admitted the offence" ; but stated thathe had applied some time ago for a retail license, and had not heard whether his application had been granted. Mr Eaton stated that the defendant called at the Commissioner's office oh the Ist June, when he was told that his application had been refused. A question hero arose as to whether the defendant's house was situated on the Maori Reserve, private property, or on Government land, for in the last case it would be out of the jurisdiction of the Resident Magistrate's Court and in the jurisdiction of the Warden's. But were it on private property or Maori land, the Magistrate could deal with tho case as it then came under the Public House Ordinancei

Mr Sale was called and stated it was not on goldfields' land, and corroborated Mr Eaton's evidence as to tho fact of defendants application" for a retail license having been refused. °

Tho Bench considered that there were no mitigating circumstances, as it had been distinctly proved that the defendant knew his application had been refused, and fined him L3O. The spirits to be forfeited.

CIVIZi CASKS.

In the .cases" of Akerley v. Fisher, and Quail v. Fisher, which wore heard on the 2J st inst., when the Magistrate reserved his decision until the following day. A judgment was given for the defendant, the Bonch being of opinion that £he plaintiffs had no claim against Mr Fisher. - Lewis v. Wagner. There was no appearance of plaintiff or defendant in this case.