QUEENSTOWN NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 20014, 30 October 1926, Page 4

QUEENSTOWN NOTES

HEAVY RAIN EXPERIENCED. (From Our Correspondent.) Queenstown is having a considerable amount of rain at present. Heavy rain fell on Sunday. Monday and Tuesday were perfect days—too hot to be wholesome, and on Wednesday there was a deluge almost, and to-day more rain fell in the afternoon. The highest altitudes have received a slight coating of snow. THE LOCAL COURTS. At the last sitting of the local Magistrate’s Court, several important cases came before Mr G. Cruickshank, S.M. The first was a charge preferred by the police against A. Jopp, proprietor of the Royal Oak Hotel, for refusing to supply meals to travellers, a party of three men and two ladies. The party arrived in Arrowtown at 6.45 from Pembroke to find that tea was off at the hotel. Neither could they be accommodated for the night as the hotel was full. Several requests were made for refreshment, but the proprietor could not comply as the the staff had gone to church. Mrs Jopp, in her evidence, explained to the Court that they had had one of the busiest days in the history of the hotel, it being the day before the Kawarau dam closing. The hotel staff of four worked union hours—they commenced tea at 5.30 and finished up a little before 7 p.m. At the tea hour, however, there were only two on, and Mrs Jopp and a boarder had to assist. In reviewing the evidence Mr Cruickshank said it was unfortunate that the offence had occurred, seeing that the hotel had been in the Jopp family for nearly half a century. He said, however, that there was a legal obligation to supply travellers with a meal and accommodation when the latter was available. He convicted defendant and ordered him to. pay witnesses’ expenses £7 9/- and Court costs. For cruelty to animals, to wit, working a mare in harness while it was suffering from sores, John H. Davie was fined £4 and Court costs. The third case was one in which Mrs Louisa Fix was sued by Dr R. A. Shore, Medical Officer of Health, Otago District, on a charge of using her house as a private hospital under “The Hospital and Charitable Institutions Act, 1909.” Unless a house is registered it is not lawful to have more than one patient in it at a time. When the Health Inspector visited the house between July 21 and 27, she found there were three patients in it. The defendant stated in evidence that she could not refuse the second patient in the special circumstances. The third person was only a boarder. Sometimes cases clashed and patients prevailed on her to admit them. Dr Anderson corroborated the evidence of defendant. He said the second patient was in a serious condition necessitating an immediate operation for which he required assistance. For humanity’s sake, therefore, the patient was admitted. Witness stated that defendant had a maternity registration. She was an excellent nurse, and her house was very clean and well-kept. In the circumstances his Worship registered a conviction without a fine, and ordered defendant to pay costs and solicitor’s fee. A fourth case was preferred against W. H. Paterson by the Lake County Council for a breach of the county by-law in motoring on the Skippers road on certain dates during prohibited hours. The defendant admitted being on the road, but legal argument was heard on the question, the reasonableness or unreasonableness of the by-law. A decision of the Supreme Court in a North Island case was cited, in which a local body has practically admitted ' the unreasonableness of one of its by-laws by making certain modifications. For this reason the Court ruled against the local body. His Worship, G. Cruickshank, Esq., S.M., is considering the matter and will give his decision later. CRICKET. A cricket match between the Queenstown and Arrowtown Clubs took place on Labour Day, and resulted in favour of the local team on a one-inning’s game—l3s runs to 77. The heaviest scorer on the Tocal side was J. T. Lynch -75. L. Peterson, J. Peterson and F. Fletcher made 14 each for Arrowtown. The wicket and outfield were in splendid order. PERSONAL. The Rev. R. E. Davies," Professor of Theology at Knox College, Dunedin, and Mrs Davies and family, are on holiday in Queenstown. Dr Me Ara, of Gore, is at present visiting the district. Dr McAra went to Moke Creek during the week in connection with some mining interests. Mr E. C. Smith, of Gore, was in Queenstown last week-end. He paid a visit to Skippers whilst in the district. Messrs W. D. Wallace, Gordon Reed, R. N. Todd, W. Mann and Mr and Mrs Alfred, all of Invercargill, were visitors to Queenstown over the week-end. The Rev. and Mrs Collie have returned to Queenstown. Mr Collie had just completed a course of lectures to home missionaries. Mrs Davies, of Laurel Bank and Golden Terrace houses, left for Dunedin on Wednesday morning.