The Bona Fide Traveller.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 11784, 5 October 1901, Page 2

The Bona Fide Traveller.

HOW IS HE TO BE KNOWN? I?ER PRESS AS?< CI VT ION. I Wellington, October 4.— Judgment was given by the Stipendiary Magistrate to-day in a case in which Payne, licensee of the Western Hotel, was charged with having on Ist September (Sunday) Bold liquor to two men. According to evidence tha defer dant, when th 9 men Dpplied for drink, asked them where they came from. They said they came from Lyttelton by the Tarawera, and represented themselves as bona fide travellers. One of the men was served with a drink when the sergeant of police arrived on the scene. One of the men was a fireman on board a steamer which had come into port l«te at night, aad the other did not appear at the hearing. It had been contended in defence that defendant was entitled to a dismissal of the case on the ground that he had taken all reasonable precautions, but hia Worship held that neither of the men had been proved to be travellers within tbe meaning of the Act. As to defendant having taken all reasonable precaution his Worship said tbat the mere asking " where did you come from " was not sufficient. A great deal more was required on the part of the licensee, considering the peril he was in for a breach of tho Act. Defendant seemed to have been a great deal too easily satisfied. He was fined £5 10s and costs. Leave to appeal was granted.