AN EXTRAORDINARY CASE.

NZ Truth, Issue 117, 14 September 1907, Page 5

AN EXTRAORDINARY CASE.

TWO MEN WALK STREETS

ALL NIGHT.

Say They Cannot Get Into an

Hotel m Wellington.

A most extraordinary tale was poured into the ear of "Truth" on Saturday last by a Napier citizen of the highest standing and reputation. His story is to the effect that he and a friend arrived m Wellington one night last week and went to the house of a mutual friend m Newtown. At 10.15 they left the friend's house and endeavored to set a bed. One of them had cash on him to the extent of £200 and the other a man whose personal effects wouldi answer for the price of a few hundred beds. They tried the Caledonian and were told that there was no room, then they got a policeman and he rung the bell. A voice from the upper storey inquired what they wanted, and replied "All right," or something to that effect, and that was the last they heard of it. The. bell wouldn't act any more arid all the knocking they inflicted on the door panels torouKJh-t n<x response. Finally, the policeman advised them to try some other pub. They agreed to dio this, but first went to the Mount Cook Station and laid a complaint. Then they set about looking for another pub. They aver that they walked the streets until 2.30 a.m.., and could get no publican to take them m, and as a last resource they slept m the Te Aro Railway Station waiting-room. To the ordinary citizen, such a thing' seems incredible. That two men of standing, well L dressed, respectable, and MODERATELY WEALTHY, had to walk the streets of Wellington because they couldn't get into an hotel, reads like a romance from a story book. What hotels these gentlemen tried after ihsy left the police station we don't know ; being strangers tio Wellington and the night being dark, they didn't know the names of the places they tried, but with regard to the Caledonian there is surely some explanation necessary. We understand that the Mount Cook police did make enquiries and that tflie explanation was that the person who answered the bell was not tha proprietor, but only some irresponsible boarder who told any old story so that he might retire back into slumber and that the bells were working badly, therefore' the landlord couldn't hear, and that the hotel was full, anyhow. Why a boarder could hear and the landilord not, and why if the bells were out of order the repeated rapping couldn't be heard, isn't explained!. And why should a pub's .night-bell be out of gear, anyway ? Of course the old "full up" story has grey whiskers right down to its toes and is that ancient that it has to be wheeled round m a chair. "Truth" isn't m the least convinced by the police report, and would like to know whether the licensee of the | Caledonian thinks that he is given a monopoly of the drink trade round that quarter to supply drink only, or whether he has certain duties towards the public to perform, 1 and one !of those duties is the entertainment of travellers ? The Licensing Benchmight '.',ivi" him a ( i:io! v.'-isucr that l'.e "c'ir'n't r;ct his liccr.so 1o r-:?ll shvpro only.. And he is not the only cae...