A LICENSING CASE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 225, 5 October 1901, Page 2

A LICENSING CASE.

PKEPBKSS ASSOCIATjON. • WELLINGTON, October 4,

Judgment mid given fay the Stipendiary Magistrate today m a case in which Payne, licensee of the Western Hotel, was charged with having on Ist September (Sunday) sold liquor to two men. According to evidejace"the defendant, when the men applied for drink, asked tbem where they came ffttm, : They Mid they cams from Lyttelton by the Tarawera, and represented themselves as bona fidt travellers. One of the men was served with a drink when the sergeant of police arrived on (he scene. One of the men was a firemen on a steamer which had come into port lite at night, and the other did not appear tat he hearing. It hid been contended in defence that defendant was entitled to a dismissal of the case on the ground that be had taken all reasonable precautions, but his Worship held that neither of the men had been proved to be travellers within the meaning of the Act. As to defendant hiving taken all re -sonaMe precaution his Worship said that tbe mere asking "where did you come from ?" wns not s. fficient. A great deal more was required on tho part of the licensee, considering the pßrilhe was in for a breach of the Act, Defendant seemed to have been a great deal too easily satisfied. He was fined £5 10s and costs. Leave to appeal was granted.