THE LICENSING LAWS. Auckland, February 18.

Otago Witness, Issue 2295, 24 February 1898, Page 39

THE LICENSING LAWS. Auckland, February 18.

At the Police Courb a man named James M'Keown pleaded guilty to a charge of procuring liquor for Hugh Moreland, knowing the latter to be a prohibited person, and a fine of £1 was imposed, with costs. A similar charge brought against John Williams White was dismissed, without costs ; and a charge against George Sellwood, licensee of the Marine Hotel, Howick, of supplying liquor to one Benjamin Reedy, knowing him to be & prohibited person, was withdrawn in view of the decision in the previous cases. There was no order made for costs. iNVEBCARGir.L, February 18. At the Police Court to-day, before Major Keddell, S.M., James Aitken, licensee of the Empire Hotel, pleaded guilty to Sunday trading, and was fined £5 and the license ordered to be endorsed. Daniel Cockley,- of fcha Park' View Hotel, was a!ao fined £3 for Sunday trading, the license to be endorsed. In a similar charge against Hugh M'Alisfcer, of the Shamrock Hotel, his Worship reserved his decision, the defence being that the defendant gave the liquor as a gift. Counsel contended that the recent decision that a publican, could not treat a friend during closed hours did not apply, the inference being that the publican in that case converted a customer into a friend, which was nob the case here,,