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Waikato Times, Volume XII, Issue 991, 29 October 1878, Page 2

Sib, — The recent case of assault tried by the Hamilton ( Court, Burke v. Glover, furnishes considerable matter for reflection. Here, we have a man holding a publican's license for a house with ample accommodation refusing 1 shelter to a traveller with hia wife and family — and that, too, on a wet night — upon no reasonable pretext whatever. Now, the Raymond Troupe have never been refused admittance m any hotel before, and they pay their way as they go. The publican seemed, however, to have had no objection to sell them drinks. Of course, it is only proper that Glover, or anyone else, should be punished for an assault, but it is extremely probable that the assault would not have taken place had civility and accommodation been granted to them. The question arises — are publicans to choose the travellers who wish to lodge at their houses or not ? The following clause m the Licensing Act bears pretty clearly upon the matter : — " A holder of a publican's or bush license nhall, to the extent to which he is required, find accommodation for any traveller, and supply him with food and lodging ; and such accommodation thill not be refused unless such traveller be tho worse of liquor or a known disrequtable person." How can Richard Burke, of Ohaupo, reconcile this with his treatment of Glover and his family. I li alive, also, that it is the duty of the »}. K ident constable to se« that proper accommodation ifl.girea-to-trttvellers. l)id the Ohaopo^constable do this m allowing Mrs Glover with her children to sleep m a ittlway carriage, with a licensed house a few yards away. The Hamilton Bench have taught Glover that assaults cannot be made with impunity, and it is high time that the proprietor of the Ohaupo Hotel was acquainted with the fact that there are responsibilities m connection with a public license as well as pit^ts.— I am, &c o Faiu Play.