TE AROHA.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2160, 13 May 1886, Page 2

TE AROHA.

[I'UOM OUB OWN' CORKKSPoNIKIXT.] Tk Akoh \. Wednesday. Tiik U.M. Court h,it hero yesterday, Mr H. Kenrick presiding. The first c\se heard was a chaige laid by Sergeant Emerson under section 13iof the Licensing Act, against John L!d\(J, recently of the Cmi incrci.il Hotel, Waioiongomii, for failing to keep his promises and the accommodatiou theieof at th<* standard required by law. The case was one of considerable interest, a.s it raised the question whether a public in could log.dly close hi-> house without first obtaining permission to do so from the licensing committee, or by other authoiity. The particulars, briefly stated are a» follows :— About the middle of April, Mr Lloyd intimated to the committee, through the clerk that he, wished to surrender hib license, and to close his premises after the 21st of that month, for reasons that may be taken to mean that the hou->e was not renamed, or in other words that hi-> busincs-, was unprofit ible. The Miuendcr was not accepted by the committee, for they dirt not deal with the matter, and of this ctr-cuni-tance Mr Lloyd was duly informed by the clerk. He, however, closed his hoiiio on the date mentioned, and his doing so was the causT of the action tik.en by the police. It was argued on behalf of the defendant, th.it there was nothing in the Act t > pio\et)t any licensid pciaon from surrendering his license and closing his premises at any time he might sec fit to do so, but the B^nch declined to accept thib view of tli3 matter, for the reason that case* might occur in which other interests than those of the publican were involved, and which might bo injmiou-Jy affected. In the case before the coiut, however, it was shown that no one would suffer, for public convenience did not require th it the hou&e should be kept open, and the «m render had been wade with the con-ont of the ownei of the premises. Although there had been no formal Acceptance of the surrender by the committee, the ]$cn"h held th.it undei the citcunistanoes defendant had done nothing that could be tenanted as an infringement of the law, and the case was dismissed. Mr Hay, who acted as defendant's counsel, applied to have the costs saddled on the pro-iocution, but this wa^ not allowed, as his Worship considered tli.it the duty of the police had not been exceeded in bringing the case into Court. J. McKee v. T. AiriiKX.— ln this case plaintiff, who i<* caretaker of the baths, charged defendant with allowing pigs, his property, to stray within the boundaries of the Domain. The offence was admitted and a penalty of Is was inflicted, the bench intimating that simihr chu-ge.s would in future be more severely dealt with. The following were the civil ca.se*. J. Faiuihll v. Ps.ratv (a Maoii).— Claim, £2 Is 3d. Part of this sum was paid by defendant after the issue of the summ >n«, and judgment was given iv favo ir of plaintiff for the balance, £1/ with ousts, {)■*. J. Wood v. R. Mackie.— Claim, £10, value of a dog, aud £3 10s for detention. Order nindo for defendant to return the dog within 24 hours, and to pay witnesses and other cost?, amounting to £4 17s. H. Bukdacb v. J. Colmxs. — Claim on iudgment summons, £5 13s. Adjourned for one month to give defendant time to pay. Mr Montgomery, of the Thames School of Mine*, has arrived hero from Karaugahake, in which district he has been staying for the last few weeks imparting instructions to the miners. He proceeds to Waiorongomai to-day, and w\H continue his labours there for a week or ten days, and will then return to Te Arolri to deliver a short (scries of lectures for tho benefit of tho miners aud others iv this part of the field. It has been detoi mined to hold a bizaar and fancy fair heio in aid of the building fund of the Church of England. Several meetings of the members of the congreea tion have been held in furtherance of tho objects, and strong committees have been formed to carry out the preliminary arrangements. The time h.i 3 not yet been definitely fixed, but it will probably bo in about threo or four months from now. It is expected the affair will prove a great success. The attractions of the domain have been temporarily enhanced by tho exhibition of a camera obscura which the piopnetors, Messra Ciain and Montagu, have been permitted by the Boaid to erect for a short period on the rising ground below the drinking fountain. This ingenious optical contrivance has drawn numbers of visitors, and has afforded pleasure and amusement to both young and old. The .scenes reproduced under a clear sky are very striking, and in many instances are remarkably beautiful. ___^_^