SHOPS AND SHOP ASSISTANTS ACT.

At the Magistrate's Court this morni before Mr Booth, SM,, Georgina Warr was charged tliab on the 27th day October, 1898, at Gsborne, being a sho keeper in tho boiwgh of Giaborne with the meaning of die Shops anrl Shi Assistants Act 18ft she did fail to do her 6ho]> in accordmce with tho provisiai of the said Act. Sergeant Black co ducted the proseution, the defendai being represented iy Mr W. L. Rees, Sergeant Black, v opening, said that was brought as a tet case. David Barry, t brewer carrying c business in Gisbene, deposed that 1 knew tho defends t, and was acquaint with the business carried on by her ; Gladstone road, 'he shop was a gener one, fruit, fish, groceries, tobacco, fant goods, etc., being sold. Witness, in con pany with three ithers, visited the she on the evening h question. He saw k Warren behiud ,ho counter. Witne: purcliased a bottlcof oysters and sixpenn worth of lollies. _Mr Warren supplie witness with the dings, and received U money for the san). Cross-examinedby Mr Rees : The doc of the shop was ©spd when witness wer lo the shop. He ould not swear whetlx he opened it, or nether it was opened ft him. Sergeant Blacli Inspeotor of Factorie for the Gisboruc district, produced tli New Zealand hzetto authorising h: appointment, als a communication froi tho Labor Depanient asking him to tak up the duties ollnspcetor of Factories Witness knew tb defendant. She kept shop in Gladstor road, and retailed fish Emit, tobacco, grteries, periodicals, books and confectioner. He believed she als kept supper roon at the back of the shop He had reason 3 believe that althougl Mrs Warren clod her shop, sho did no ceaso from sellii;. Witness watched tin shop an the nighof the 29th, and saw tei or a dozen peoplenter the shop, and comi out again with sail bags in their hands Witness would live entered the shop aftei seeing these peole go in but that he sa<v Mr Warren waling up and down on the footpath, and lew it was useless to try md prove a sal Witness waited until the Theatre can: out, when he walked in ihe crowd to thehop. Ho tried tho door, md it opened Ifore him. The shop and >ne of the windos were lighted up. When vitness enteredihe shop there were six lersons presented the last witness was me of them. A 1 Warren was behind the :ounter, and wain the act of handing over , paper bag wh something in it to the ast witness, 'itncua asked JJr Barry if, io had purchaei anything else, and he eplied that heiad obtained a bottlo of ysters. Witns told Mr Warren that he •ould aummoniiim, and pointed out to im that he haspoken to him on several ccasions. MiWarren replied that he ■as only sellinpcrishahle goods. Witness >Id him that hwas aware of several oecaons when he \d sold other than perish)lc goods, anrla would have to summons m. At tweiy.five minutes to twelve io same eveni; witness again visited the iop with Conable Clarke. Witness saw re men in t\ shop, which was lighted ), and Mr V.rren was still behind the unter. Hb d not see him serve, but he is behind thiounter apparently for that xpose. Constable Crke corroborated tho stats:nt made b.Sergeant Black regarding i second vis/to the shop. Mr Rees acressed the Court at somo igth. Ho ctended that in cases where hop or facty had a common entrance, was suflicie for the provisions of the t if such (trance was closed and nob ked. He imitted a technical breach the Act inie sale of the lollies. Sergeant Bck said that lie thought lie 1 proved tthe satisfaction of the Bench A the fihowas practically open to the ' jlic. MreViirren was exactly in the ie positiojs regards refreshment rooma were Mere Erskino and Craig, who c I been fed by His Worship the £ vious wa. for keeping their shops l n. He itcd the Bench to impose a stantial snalty, as he had received nerous cnplaints fcom shopkeepers b irding As Wnrren being allowed to c< p open nen they were closed. 8 'he Majjtrate said that tho Sergeant n a diftalt and unpleasant duty to C iorm, b he was forced to carry out a! Act. c was satisfied that the shop ol open c the evening in question, and would lierefoto impose a penalty of and cos 7s. N

Ie Prylenl of the Napier Chamber of mercwho is mauneer of the Union Me punjrt that port, says tliat ft would the r iiuOOO to make tho break water in th< jughl useful, whilst an expenditure the 1 £25,1) would enable intercolonial I good neisi get into the inner harbor, .'grutu i