WANTED BEER.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 76, 30 March 1928, Page 9

WANTED BEER.

THIRSTY' MEN'S MISTAKE. AT ALBANY HOTEL. LICENSEE AND SON PINED.

Two thirsty men who had tramped a good distance on a recent Sunday evening, called at the Albany Hotel. It was then that-'they - made. a big mistake— and a costly one. "What do you want?" asked a tall, stout man. "We want beer, of course," they said. "Well, come inside," said the T.S.M.

Both- men entered the hotel and sat down. The tall, stout man, instead of hrinping glasses filled with an amber liquid, fioth topped, withdrew a notebook and asked the men (heir names and addresses. The man turned out to be Sergeant Brown, of the Devonport police, who had no difficulty in getting the desired information.

Both nien appeared at the Police Court this morning on charges of being found on the premises during closed hours, while one of the two was further charged with entering 'licensed premises during the currency of a prohibition order. Each pleaded gtiilty.

Sergeant Brown said that, both men were quite frank about the whole matter. The prohibited man was fined £1 and costs on each charge, while his companion was mulcted a fine of £1 and co«ts.

Five other youn*j men who were also found on the premises pleaded not guilty, each stat'pg on oath that thev had merely called in for an evening mtfal and that they consumed no liouor.

In d'sni'ss : n«r the charges against the five. Mr. McKean remarked that it was rather a curious thinsr that when tbe sergeant entered the room there were the same number of beer bottles and glasses as there were men.

. The licensee of the hotel. John Norton, nnd his son. Neil Norton, were then charged, the licensee with. sellinT liquor nnd his son with sunplvin" liquor.

In plMdint prltv on Tv»h*tf "of the "eennee and won, Mr. E. H. Northcroft «a?d that tli» ]ioenw« was ra'her embarrassed bv the far* thflt.his hotel was a wnwil? inn and. thnt there wee always associated with such o house citvj»*ed in a .remote d'strVt a« A'bunv. (.»h(.k!«Hv traveller* called and r atrnd #o*- re'r**shnents. He had been or'*® the matter.

Mr M"! 7 """ fined" the licensee £5 and his son £4. nlns costs.