DRINKING IN SQUARE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 63, 10 February 1930, Page 6

DRINKING IN SQUARE.

FINE IMPOSED. OFFENCE AGAINST BV-LAWS. Described as a “bird of passage, Janies McGill, a labourer, appeared before Mr J. L. Stout, S.M., in the Police Court this morning charged with consuming liquor in a public reserve, namely, the Square. . Senior-Sergeant Whitehouse said that he was passing through the Square gardens at 7.15 p.m. on Saturday when he saw two mej} sitting on a bench and with a bottle of stout and a bottle of beer. Both bottles were open. Accused was in the act of lifting one of the the bottles to his lips when the SeniorSergeant, who was in plain clothes, snatched the bottle away. He told the accused who he was and warned him that he was liable to a fine of £5. The accused took no notice of the advice and proceeded to drink from the bottle. The offence was one against the borough by-laws. Accused said that he was a stranger to the town and was not aware of the existence of such a by-law. He had thought that the senior-sergeant was a stranger who was trying to take his beer, so he refused to give it up. He could not recall being told that he was a police officer. A fine of 5s was imposed. McGill was also fined 5s for being drunk.