HIS HONOUR ON DRUNKENESS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4175, 6 July 1875, Page 3

HIS HONOUR ON DRUNKENESS.

The witness Phelan, prosecutor against Cooney, and who had come into Court in a druuken state, was brought before His Honour towards the close of the day's sitting.. His Honour: Don't you feel how siHy you have been ? Phelan: I do, yonr Honour. I beg your Honour's pardon for it. I was travelling all night—l travelled 30 miles last night, and J. was overcome with the little I took tins mom-

His Honour: Now, if I discharge you, will you undertake not to drink more than is good for you—l won't ask you to take nothing—that you will endeavour to go to bed with a very moderate amount of drink ? Phelan promised that he wonld. He asked His Honour to be good enough to allow liim his expenses. His Homnr: But, you see, ifc is your drunkenness which has thrown on the country the expenses of the prosecution. . Phelan explained that he worked at waipon, and had no money to take Aim there. His Honour remarked that it was not policy or humanity, to leave a man without money, at a distance from his work, but he wanted Phelan to feel what his stupid habit of drinking brought on. Wherever he (His Honour) went, he should, to the best of his ability, protect the public against the expenses that were caused by men who could not control themselves through the effects of drink. He was not one of those who expected men to do impossibilities, but he expected that if they could not take drink without being affected, they would keep within bounds. Public expeuaeand private inconvenience were caused by drunkenness, and people were, by it, tempted to commit offences. He wished -that this man be allowed only such expenses as were absolutely necessary, under the circumstances. With regard to men who tempted others to enrae through their drunkenness?, nnd all publicans in whose public houses these offences were committed, he should endeavour to stop their expenses. (To Phelan.) You got off very cheaply m not being Bent to prison for some days for this contempt. You are discharged. His Honour then discharged Phelan, ordering that his allowance should be the smallest that he could do with. REMISSION OF FrNE. The fine j.m]wsed on Mr H. J. Maclean in the morning, for non-attendance as a grand juror, the amount of which was £5, was, later in the day, remitted by His Honour.