LICENSING LAWS

Southland Times, Issue 19514, 13 May 1922, Page 5

LICENSING LAWS

CASES AT LUMSDEN A LICENSE ENDORSED A sitting of the Magistrate’s Court was held at Lumsden yesterday before Mr G. Cruickshank, S.M., when several charges under the licensing laws were heard. John Thomas Gwynne, licensee of the Royal Mail Hotel at Lumsden, was charged with exposing liquor for sale on April 1, and also with selling intoxicating liquor on the same date. Mabel Gwynne was charged with supplying liquor to persons under the age of 21. The charges were taken together. Inspector Dew prosecuted and Mr F. G. O’Beirne appeared for the defendants, who pleaded not guilty. . Constable Henderson gave evidence concerning his visit to toe Hotel at 8.35 p.m. He found three youths, Rogers, Wellman and Patterson in the bar parlour and on going round to the passage found three men named Adams, McDermott and Hanley standing by the slide. There were three medium glasses of either beer or shandy-gaff on the ledge. Looking under toe slide, he saw Mrs Gwynne, who said the youths had had only soft drinks. At that time Gwynne himself was in “Dunedin and Mrs Gwynne was in charge of the hotel Cross-examined, witness said he did not inspect the glasses when he entered the parlour, and he could not say whether or no,t it was soft drink in toe glasses. The Health Inspector had complimented Gwynne on the state of the hotel. George W. Rogers, 17 years of age, said that Patteraon x Wellman and he were served by Mrs Gwynne with raspberry and lemonade. There might have been beer in it. He knew he had beer and raspberry. Nobody paid for the drinks, which Patterson called for. William C. Wellman, 17 years of age, corroborated the evidence of toe previous witness. This closed the case for the prosecution. Mabel Gwynne said Patterson had previously boarded at the hotel and on the night in question came to pay for his board. She had never asked him his age. He went to toe bar parlour where he paid her. Patteraon asked for a drink for himself and his mates and she gave them raspberry shandies. He did not pay for them. There was no beer in the drinks. She had no doubt they were all over 21 years and she was surprised to know their ages. While she was in the bar, Adams and his two children and McDermott and Hanley came in. Adams asked for and was given a room. He then took McDermott and Hanley into a room and they had a drink each. Adams slept in the house that night and toe next and left on the Monday. H. Adams said he arrived in Lumsden by train on toe night in question with his two boys. As the accommodation in his mother-in-law’s house was limited, he stayed at the hotel. McDermott helped him to carry his basket and in return he entertained him. His relative in Lumsden did not know he was coming. Cross-examined, witness admitted that he did not tell Constable Henderson that he was a boarder when the constable served toe summons.

At the conclusion of toe hearing of evidence His Worship said he would enter a conviction for serving boys under 21 and also for supplying liquor after hours. He would hear the other cases before imposing a penalty. Gwynne was further charged with selling liquor after hours on April 10. Constable Henderson said that when he visited the hotel at 8.40 p.m. on April 10, there were four men: F. Pannett, A. Brooks, O. Taylor and Geo. Smail at the bar slide, on which were six glasses, one containing beer and the others froth. In the bar parlour there were two men: Crawford and Rish. Crawford had a glass of stout and Rish whisky. As he frent in he heard Crawford say to Rish: “You fool! Why didn’t you keep quiet? I knew he’d hear you.” The defendant said that he had asked Brooks to stay for tea that night. After tea Pannett and Taylor came in. Brooks asked him to give them drinks and he did bo. He did not serve Crawford or Rish. His Worship said it was extraordinary that Gwynne did not take warning the first time. He must endorse the license. His Worship imposed a fine of £2O in all with costs, and endo’-jed the license. Crawford and x'annetr were each fined £2, and costs 2/4, and Rish, Brooks, Taylor, Smail, Rogers, Wellman and Patterson were fined £1 and coats for being on licensed premises after hoars. All pleaded guilty. The eases against Adams and MeDennott, who piMdbd waca -dj«UßBed.