THE LICENSING ACT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 10007, 19 December 1895, Page 5

THE LICENSING ACT.

MR. NORTHCROFT ON SUNDAY TRADING.

At the Police Court yesterday, before Mr. H. W. Northcroft, S.M., Simon Coombe, licensee of the British Hotol, was cbargod with having committed a breach of the Licensing Act by selling liquor after hours on the night of November 23. Victor 'Jornada mid John Hand, of the Britomart and Thames Hotels respectively, were also charged with committing breaches of the Act by selling liquor on Sunday, November '24. All three cases wore the outcome of evidence given on oath ab the inquest, and at the subsequent trial for murder of the Kanaka, Ned Matiloo, killed on the Railway wharf. It was then stated by the witnesses that the British Hotel was not left until about eleven p.m. on the Saturday, and that drink was obtained nt the Thames and Britomart Hotels on the Sunday morning following. Inspector Hiekson conducted the prosecution, and Mr. Sam. Hesketh appeared for S Coombe, and Mr. F. E. Bauma for the two last-named defendants. Not guilty was pleaded in all throe oases. John Simmons, Charles Davidson, Mylius Simiavi.Chas. Tyrrell,and Sam. Heathcote, deposed to being in the British Hotel on the nig/ib of the 23rd IKovomber. When asked by tho inspector at whab time they left, each one replied that he left at closing up time on being requested to do so by Mr, Coombe. Tho barmaid of the British Hotel also stated that tho men left the premises at ton p.m. In tho caso against the lessee of the Thames Hotel, Robert Evans and John Simm-ns said they went to that hotel on the Sunday morning, and asked for drinks. Simmons stated that ho could nob remember whether they were served or not, and Evans said they wore refused. Heathcote also could nob remomber whether they bad drinks or not. Similar evidenco was given in the charge against Mr. Cornaga, Inspector Hiekson remarked here that it was useless to proceed further. Mr. Northcroft called all tho male witnesses into court, and commented very severely upon tho way in which their evidence had been given. He pointed out the discrepancies existing between the ovidenco given at the murder trial and that then before the Bench, and contrasted the concise manner in which they gave evidonce at tho former with the fact that in the prosont case they swore thoy could nob remember tho facts. He said thoy either perjured themselves in the other caso, or in tho present thoy had deliberately lied. There was perjury somewhoro. With rogard to the cases ho would dismiss them ; but he had made up his mind that so surely as a man was convicted of Sunday Belling, so surely would he have that man's license cancelled, if ho had a voice on the Licensing Bench at the next annual meeting. His Worship pointed out that men woro frequently brought beforo the Court for being drunk on a Sunday.