MAYOR'S COURT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3244, 29 June 1872, Page 3

MAYOR'S COURT.

Friday, 28th June. (Before His Worship the Mayor.)

Drunkenness. — Alexander Syme Avas fined 53, with the option of taking' 24 hours ill gaol.

Byk-laws.—"Richard Edwards and David Levi, for suffering the chimneys of their "houses to take fire, Avere each fined 2s Cd aifcWQsts. TIIB^i^cKNSING OItDINANC'K. —Ephraim Maehlin wag-oharged, on the information of faergcant Mallard, that he, being a person holding a license to 4m- the General Licensing Ordinance, 1865, for liis-house, the London iavern, Walker street, did sell therein, at Halt-past one m the morning, a certain quan-

tity of fermented liquor, to wit, sixpence Avorfch of ale. The defendant pleaded guilty. He said it was a common practice to sell after tAA relve o'clock, and he made no secret of doing so. When he heard the knock at the door he opened it; the Avoman walked in, folloAved by the constable, and he served herin his presence. Sergeant Mallard remarked that the defendant's house was very much frequented by women of the loAvest order, and that not only on this night, buton theprevious night, prostitutes had been seen in the house drinking. He Avas found selling liquor on this night, and this fact, taken with "the one that he had preA^onsly been seen doing the same, and wifch the class of people who visited the house, induced the police to take proceedings. It was a matter of notoriety that the Avomen visited the house at ail hours. The police Avere deteraiined to put doAvn the practice of keeping open after proper hours, and would do so. His Worship thought the police were quite right in taking action in the matter. He thought 12 o'clock was a late enough hour for the closing of all public houses, whether of a good class or otherwise. Sergeant Mallard : _Ao doubt it is, your Worship, we put all the houses on the same footing. The defendant: 1 plead guilty, and I must say it is true that I served the pint of beer at half-past one. ,In answer to Sergeant Mallard, he said: So far as my house is concerned, I conduct it as respectably as any house in town; it is the locality. All the old members of the force, and the neAV ones as well, haA^e always Avatched my house closely. I conduct ifc respectably, and they can say so; too. I haA'e had it for six years and have never allowed roAvs or gambling in it, nor has a robbery been committed in it. I pride myself that my house is conducted as well as the best in the place, but it is the locality that condemns me. His Worship said that considering the surroundings of the defendant's house, he did not think there was any imputation that .it Avas conducted improperly ; at the same time publicans Avell knew their licensed houses should be closed at tweh^e o'clock, and he noAv understood thafc the police were not making this merely an isolated case, but took action with a vieAV to having all the houses closed at the proper time, and publicans should take the Avarning. This being the first case of the kind, a mitigated penalty of 20s, and costs, was inflicted.

Contempt.—Robert CraAvford Avas charged on information by Constable Rooney Avith encouraging one William Morrison, a prisoner, to resist him in the execution of his duty. The defendant not appealing, a warrant Avas to issue for his arrest.