IN THE COURTS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 90, 11 December 1912, Page 8

IN THE COURTS.

CUSTOMS PROSECUTION. (Per Press Association.) Auckland, December 10. lu the Police Court, Frank Kendall, of Kendall, Limited, was fined c-30 for making an incorrect declaimcion of tiiG value of a parcel or glo^ l imported through the post olhce, iepresenting the value at T-b i(S instead of '±lso 15s 6d. Defendant explained that the error arose througii •»is having been given in mistake an invoice for a similar package of good,-, previously passed. The Magistrate accepted the explanation, but remarked revenue must lie protected, and imposed half penalty provided. George Cann, for whom Mr O’Doa appeared, was charged at the Havieia Court yesterday, before Mr Kennck, S.M., on three informations with havinor supplied liquor to persons on a Sunday when the licensed premises ol the Norman by Hotel were required to be closed. ' Defendant pleaded not Griffiths said that the informations were laid under section ibo, sub-section A, of the Licensing Act. L'he defendant, was a barman-porter, employed at the Normanby Hotel, am. on Sunday, JSjovember 24th, it was alleged that he supplied three men with liquor. ~ .. Barclay Harrington, the licensee, satetd that he was away from tin hotel from Saturday night at 10.10 t 730 a.m. on Monday morning. He locked the bar up, taking the keys with him. He left the defendant in charge. E Lucena gave evidence of having motored Mr Harrington from Normanby to Hawera. ~ Evidence was given by A. Spence, J. Barlow, and S. Craig that they went to the hotel on the night of the 24th to get a drink, but they were * Mr O’Dea contended that there was no case to answer on the grounds (I) that the police had not produced the license to prove that it was a licensee hotel, and (2) that there was no evidence to show that liquor had been SU The ( Magistrate upheld the contention of Mr O’Dea, that tlie hcemsc should have been produced. lh c evidence, he said, did not support the case. There was no doubt that the men should not have been allowed to remain on the premises. He com rnented on the risk licensees took in leaving young and inexperienced men in charge; he was not speaking against the defendant, who had erred in allowine the men to remain on the pi onuses. Either the men had told the truth or had committed perjury, hut Here ua. not the slightest evidence to pirn that liquor had been supplied. he informations would he dismissed. Star.