BREACH OF THE LICENSING ACT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4742, 6 September 1893, Page 3

BREACH OF THE LICENSING ACT.

A Pine of £5 Inflioted. ■^AS the Christchurch Resident Magistrate's Court this morning, before Mr R. Beeth&m, R.M., and Mr R. Weßtenra, J.P., Thomas B. Gaffney, licensee of the New Zealander Hotel, St Asaph street, was charged with failing to adoiit into his licensed house Sergeant Wilson without any unnecessary delay. Inspector Broham prosecuted, and Mr Stringer appeared for defendant, who admitted the charge. Mr Stringer stated that the defendant, had been licensee of the New Zealander Hotel for about three years. iOn Saturday, August 5, a man named Edwarde, better known as the American Salesman, hia wife and a number of hia assistants, were staying at the hotel. That evening Edwards heid a sale at the Tuam Btreet hall. The sale waa continued till a few minutes before twelve o'clock, and Edwards, who had instructed defendant to have supper ready at half-past twelve, left the hall shortly afterwards. When he returned to the hotel it waa lighted up,, and he, Mr Stringer, subinittfi^^Mtaards being a boarder, waa eniiflQWßfcis cupper. Sergeant Wilson knocked at the door while Edwards and hie assist ants were inßide. Immediately defendant heard the knock at the door he asked all the boarders to maba less noise. Only a short time elapsed before the door was opened for the police.' No charge of any description had been laid against defendant during tbe threa years he had been licensee of the New Zealander. Inspector Broham cil'ed Sergeant Wileon, who deposed that he went to defendant's hotel at seven minutes rjast one <on Sunday morning, August 6. On going ! into St Asaph street with Constable Swain lie saw some people knocking at the front door. The bar and bar ' corridor were lighted up. Went to the front door and knocked with his baton. A fewminutes elapsed before defendant came to the door and said, " Who's there P" -Witness replied, " The police," and aßked for admittance. Defendant then left the door, and witness heard people moving about inside. Some of the lights were turned down, and a young man came to the door and opened it. Witness then went inside and saw eight men in the passage. Defendant admitted that four of the men in the bar rarlour were son* boarders. Ah far as witness could see there was no drinking going on when he entered, After leaving the hotel he < saw four men who were inside when he entered returning to their homeß. Inspector Brobam eaid the house had been exceptionally well conducted during the time defendant had been licensee, Mr Beetham said it was very difficult to convict in cases of this kind. There were two classes of cases in which people came into the Court and deliberately and of malice aforethought perjured themselves. One of them was those with whioh horses were connected, and the other those in which pnblic-houses wex c concerned. There was no doubt that defendant had been guilty of the present charge. There was no evidence to show that drinking was going on when the police entered, and there was nothing against the conduct of the house. Defendant would be fined £5 and costs, the conviction not to be endorsed on his license. ■