R.M. COURT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4300, 21 December 1892, Page 2

R.M. COURT.

MASTERTON.-WE DNESDAY, (Before Messrs M. Caselberg and 0. Hughes, J.P.'s).

BREACE Oy TDK UUENStNOI ACT,

Julius 0. Eastwood, lioensee of the Slat Hotel, Masterton, was cbargsd with certain breaches of the Licensing Aot, in keeping open after hours, and allowing liquor to be consumed,

Tho defendant ploaded not guilty to both charges. Mr Pownall asked that all the charges be taken together, and no objeotion being offered this course was adopted. Thomas Watson, tho first witness called, said; lam a contractor reaid. ing at Kuripuni. I remember the night of the 19th of November. I was in the Star Hotel and iaw Sergeant MoArdle and flonstable Btewart. It was about twenty minutes past ten. Had oue drink and called for another, but was refused, I was not drinking anything when the police caniß to the hotel. I was refused liquor after ten o'clock. 1 saw only two raen drinking after ten, and they were from Tupurupuru. I really do not kuow the names of the persons who were present. Only remember having one drink and that was with William Books,

By Mr Pownall: I frequently stop at the Star Hotel. To the best of my knowledge it was a quarter or twenty minutes past ton when the police came in, I was refused liquor iwo or three times by Mr Eastwood, who stated it was after hours, I was nob subpcenaed on the previous case, To the beet of my beliof I did not have a glass of beer in my hand when the Sergeant came in. The men from lupurepuru obtained liquor by stating they wore travellers. The slides of the bar were dowu but were opened by Eastwood to supply the men with a drink. I have boarded at the Star Hotel on two or three ocoasions when ray wife has been away. I always was well treated by Mr Eastwood and found the house most respeotablo. Thomas Stewart, constable, gavo evidence similar to that reported at the laßt hearing of the case against Eastwood. Could Bwear that the time he went into the hotel with Sergeant MoArdle waß from five minutes to eleven to eleven o'clock. The last witness Watson was being I served as the police went in, Watson remarked 'I may as well drink it now. 1 On the second visit at twenty minutes past, eleven, two other men were drinking. The back door facing Chapel-street was open. Did not hear Mr Eastwood say anything about travellers.

By Mr Pownall: The only door I noticed open was tho baolt, which is Borne thirty or forty feet from the bar. About ten or twelve people wero in tho Star Hotel. I cannot say that there were more people in tho Club Hotel on the same night. Would not say whether he was drinking in Fhillips' Hotel after licensed hours, He was not here on that charge, The Benoh said the question was not admiesable.

Mr Pownall remarked that he would infer the witness was afraid to incriminate himself.

J Cross-examination continued: Tho f bar was open at the Club Hotel on ; the occasion he went there, but there i were travellers present, and there were ! also boarders. Mr Eastwood was in [ the bar serving on his first visit to the 1 Star Hotel, He did not know whether J the lato'bus went down to the Star Hotel that night. By Sergeant MoArdle: Mr Eaßt- , wood did not clour the men out on the police's first visit, but he saw a man leave. There were more present still when they went back the second time, and the place was lit up. He would swear this, The men who were

drinking buer on He second visit did not eay they were travellers when spoken to. Sergeant MoArdle deposed: It was eleven o'olook when we reached the Star Hotel on the night m question, The bar elide was up, various rooms were lit up, and the place was as brilliant as in ordinary hours. Thero woro from eight to ten persona present on the first vieit, The landlord said that they were "all'bonus 'except two or three." He (witness) said " we cannot permit this Mr Eastwood. Yoa must close your hotel." He put down tbe slide and they (the police) loft. They then went to the Boyal Hotel. On their return they found that there were still people at the Star Hotel, and upon going. in found two men drinking beer, One of them said his name was" Smith" ' and that lie oamo from Kuripuni. lOn the night they went to the Club Hotel the late coaches had just ar> 1 rived and the waiter-said that travel' lers had demanded refreshments, The law permitted travellers to have access to the hotel bar for that purpose. The two men he found drinking at tbo Star Hotel swallowed their, beer and ; bolted out. - They did not say: they were travellers although asked their names'and where they can?e. from. The Court adjourned at tbiß stage until 2.80 p,a,