MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Hokitika Guardian, 6 November 1936, Page 6

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

TO-DAY’S CHARGES HEARD

The whole of the business in ■ the •Hokitika'Magistrate’s Court this morning related to breaches of the licensing regulations, t\vo licensees -being fined, and * several men also being fined for being on premises after hours. Licensee Fined £'2. Allen Leslie Robertson, licensee of the Commercial Mote; at Ross, faced three charges, relating to opening premises, exposing and selling liquor. All- Murdoch appeared lor defendant and pleaded guilty to, selling, .the others being withdrawn. Two men. were charged with being found on the premises.

Counsel for Robertson said the latter made a clean breast to the constable, and admitted it was a “fair catch.”

Constable Thom said lie found the defendants- in the bar parlour, •none of them being boarders.

Sergeant Gilligan said Rpbertson made no attempt to evade the charge, , and frankly admitted it when question’ed by the constable. He was fined £2 and cost 10s. The two men found on the premises were each fined £1 aiid costs.

On Licensed Premises. . f .2 .r ' . Four men were charged with being found on the premises of the Red Lion Hotel after hours. Constable A. R. Randall said he visited the hotel on a recent morning and found the four men in front .oL.the .bar slide with drinks in Front; of them. .Each ivas fined £1 and costs 10s. ' A charge of being found after hours on the premises of the Commercial Hotel was preferred against a man who Was fiiied £1 and costs 12s. Licensee Fined £2 tOs. EdAvard Dingle Davis, licensefe of the Clydesdale Hotel at Ross, was' charged with opening his premises after , hours,’ 1 Avith exposing liquor for * sale, and with selling liquor, the alleged offences being committed after hours. Air Murdoch appeared for defendant Avho pleaded not guilty.

Two men were, charged with being found'on the premises.

Constable W. I). Thom said he entered the hotel at'll.'ss p.m. and found the Lavo latter defendants- who admitted they Avere v nqt hoarders, arid 1 had no reason to be there: Each was fiiied £l' and. costs. Regarding the licensee. Constable. Thom said the front door was open 5 and > that leading’ into - the 'bar u parlour ivas not'locked. Three ,inen av ere* found in the bar. He asked the men in the presence of tlVfe licensee if they had any explanation tonnake, but they had not/ The licensee declined -to say anything, and repeated! tlti s assertion Avhetl interviewed) the following morning, There •were several empty, used’glasses arid a bottle o'ri the counter, f Deferident said there Avas a Retiirn. 'fed Soldiers’ ball at Boss that night. He did ;! not knoAV there Avere any men in the hotel at the time. Ho Ava s preparing to go to he ball Avbefi' the constable came, and concluded they ■must’•have just conle, in before the constable. The glasses fqund on the counter had-'been'there Since 6 p.m: Mfe had not served them 1 with 'any liquor-,- and the only slide open' faced into the adjoining bar' parlour, and riot the 'bar. ’ Tlie Afagistratfe said he Avas unable I to accept the defendant’s excuse. It seemed a clear case of opening.and' exposing, although" there Avas no proof pf i selling.. On the charge of exposing he was convicted and fined £2 10s and costs and was convicted and ,ordered to pay costs on the other. Civil Cases. j Judgment for plaintiff by default was I given in the following case:—J. Crow- • ley and Co v Ernest Smith £8 17s Bch, and costs ; £1 12s 6d-.