MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Grey River Argus, 28 July 1925, Page 8

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

MONDAY, JULY 27.

(Before Mr W. Meldrum, S.M.) ‘‘AFTER HOURS.”

Alexander Scott was charged with being on licensed premises after hours, and pleaded not guilty. In defence he stated that he went on the premises to see Mr Ryall, a member of the Harbour Board, about work. Defend ant was not in the hotel five minutes. To Sergeant Smythe: The licensee was wrong if he said witness stated he had come to see a. man named Bell, who was a boarder in the hotel. De fendant admitted that lie sometimes went into a hotel, but was not in the iial.it of doing so after hours. To His iiorsliip: Defendant had been working that day, knocking of! at live o’clock.

Constable Baird gave evidence to the effect that lie saw defendant and another man in the passage of the hotel. Scott stated that lie had come to see Mr Ryall, but the licensee said they were there to see Mr Bell. Witness had received complaints about defendant being on licensed premises after hours. e

His Worship held that the circumstances looked somewhat suspicious. Defendant’s proper course was to go and ask the licensee if ho wanted to see anyone staying nt the hotel. However, he would give defendant the benefit of Hie doubt, and dismiss the A number of first after hours offenders were dealt with in the customary manner. OTHER CASES. Daniel Mason, John Mason, Michael Mason and John Nash were charged with riding bicycles after hours along Preston road without lights, and were each fined five shillings, and costs, seven shillings. Francis Michael Curry was charged with being found drunk in a railwaycarriage between Greymouth and Rewanui on July 11th last, and was lined ten shillings and costs. On a charge of riding a bicycle on the footpath of Bright St., Cobden, Charles. Grams was fined five suilling-s uni costs.

Bert Nieper was chargccl witli leaving a vehicle standing in Bright street, Cobden, after dark, without lights, and was fined five shillings and costs.

Similar charges in respect to William Page anil Alexander Gamble involved .heir owners in like penalties, J. Gage and Frank Russ, for allowing lorses to wander, were fined seven (hillings anil costs. Leonard Fray was charged with riding a bicycle on the wrong side nt the .litersection of Mackay and Taiuui St,, and was fined five shillings and ■osts.