BEER AND A RIVER.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1146, 6 June 1911, Page 2

BEER AND A RIVER.

AND SOME FATAL BOATING.

(By Telecraiih.-Succial Corrcsuondont.) Auckland, Juno 1. Some critioisms'of the manner in which the licensed hotel at AAarkworth ha, been coiulucted were made when the ai'W'™tion by the licensee (William Hood Oaw) for the renewal of his license was made to the AVaitemata Licensing Counm ce. Constable E. 11. Johnson reported that a certain class of men of noisy habils, who were among flip, employees at ceitaiii cement works, visited the hotel ami, after they had drunk sufficient hnuor on he premises, took away . quantities of bottled beer which was, in many cases, consumed on the roads leading from 'he hotel, and in tho small boats in which the men returned to their quarters, i-ke practco was a dangerous one, ami wry often objectionable to other people. Oβ .Vnril ■>» rix men left the hotel taking eight fnrgo bottles of Deer and when tliev had proceeded about a mile along the Knrangi Biver, tho boat capsized, and two of tho occupants were drowned, ilie four survivors were more or less under he influence of liquor. -On February 20 thrco men left the hotel with a qua., ity of boor and, soon after leaving he wlaf, their beat capsized, and one of the me who could not swim had to be usbistcd ashore. The three men showed signs of tho influence of liquor, but they were not drunk. ~ f .i.ufIn a letter commenting on tho tatal.t ies Mr. 11. H. French (the district coroner)'wrote that, while there was no direct evidence that the custom had been the cause of the deaths, he cases s ho«ed "^^pX^id^Stth^hoho Pi he licensee, knowing that t he, injn had 1-. fnvel bv water, should supply tliem wit 1U .or after they had drunk to tho n Hied to al use from customers whom he "ffl to serve when Ihoy. considered hiTTlev had not had tullicient. Oucslioned by Sub-Inspector Icndry Mr G w said that he commonly used l!,e expression mentioned by the constable, ami ho intended no callous reference. He ?"'re ted the deaths of the men, bu he foil no responsibility or (he accidents. ■jlr liced submitted that Sir. Gaw, havi,,.. been licensed to sell liquor, it was urepoMernus to suggest that ho should not do so. There was no evidence that tho liquor had been the cause of (he accident.', and it would be unfair to deal with the man in the way which Sub-In-spector Ilcndry had suggested. There was no foundation for any suggestion that tho licensee's remark showed n callous indifference and, if the committee analysed the evidence, it would find that there wns absolutely nothing for it to act upon. The chairman stated that the committee considered that there was not sufficient evidence for it to form nn opinion, but it de?ircd to snv to the licensee and all other liren«ers thnt it wns ueccw.iry Hint they should rondiiet their businesses in such a wny that neither danger nnr liuiKinro tn the nublio would bo caused. The application for the license would be granted. ____________