AFTER THE BALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 March 1934, Page 5

AFTER THE BALL

HOTEL LICENSE ENDORSED. That the postponement of the air pageant had caused disappointment at Hokitika, and that some of the men found in the Railway Hotel after midnight on March 9, were trying to make up for their disappointment in the festive spirit, was part of the statement made by Mr J. A. Murdoch, in the Magistrate’s Court at Hokitika yesterday, to Mr H. Morgan, S.M. A. H. Nancekivell, licensee of the Railway Hotel, for whom Mr Murdoch appeared, was charged' with unlawfully selling liquor after hours, and pleaded guilty. . . I Evidence regarding their visit to the hotel was given by Constable Randle and Sergeant King. Mr Murdoch said that the pageant ball was being held that night, and the hotel had between 30 and 40 guests. It was an extraordinary occasion, not only for the hotel, but for the town. The licensee was in the bar, and had supplied drinks to lodgers, of whom there were fifteen or so in the room. The drinks were passed under the bar slide, and the licensee thought he was supplying lodgers only. It was an error of judgment on his part. The S.M. pointed out that defendant had been convicted recently on a similar charge. The circumstances in the present case showed that he had not been as careful as he should have been in supplying liquor. The occasion was a pageant ball, and some of the guests had been attending it. It did not seem a proper thing that liquor should 1 be served to people who were attending a dance. Such a practice was a menace to the community. He thought it would be in the interests of the community, and justice, - that an endorsement should be entered in this case. Defendant Would be fined £5, and the conviction endorsed on his license

Five men found unlawfully on the iremises were fined