THE LICENSING ACT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5270, 29 May 1895, Page 2

THE LICENSING ACT.

CHABGES OF SUNDAY TBADING

AND COtfSPIBACY.

THE CASES ADJOURNED.

At the Christchurch Magistrate's Court to-day,.before Mr B. M. Taylor, J.P., and Mr J. Hamilton, J.P., nine persons holding publicans' licenses in the Christchurch

licensing district were charged, on the information of George James Bruce and others, with having sold intoxicating liquor, to wit, whisky, on a Sunday. The names of the persons against whom informations had been laid, and the solicitors engaged, were: — Carl Schnltheis, White Swan (Mr Loughrey), Thomas B. Gaffney, New Zealander (Mr Kippenberger), John Moir Walker, Zetland Arms

(Mr Fisher), Thomas Popham, Cokor's (Mr Bruges), James Hadfield, Boyal (Mr Fisher), Annie Hall, Eastern (Mr Kippenberger), Edward Bavenhill, Caversham (Mr Fisher), John Neill, White Hart (Mr Kippenberger) Patrick Burke, Burkes family (Mr Kippenberger), John Fox, Prince of Wales (Mr Loußhrey), Jane Sophia Conway, Tattersall'a (Mr Wilding). Mr Caygill appeared for the informants. The Clerk of the Court stated that these cases had been laid under the Licensing Act. Owing to Mr Bishop being unable to attend that day, he would ask the Bench to adjourn the cases sine die. He would undertake to see that all the parties concerned received notice of the date of hearing the caseß.

Mr Kippenberger asked if the clerk could not name a day, '

The Clerk said he could not very well do that.

The Bench then adjourned the cases sine die.

The cases of conspiracy and procuring against George James Bruce, John Thomas Boyer, William George M'Donald, Edward Peter Gill of Christohnrch, and Percy Wake of St Albans, were then called. Mr Kippenberger appeared for the informant, William Henry Kiddey; and Mr Caygill for the defendants.

The cases wore adjourned sine die. The information of William Henry Kiddey set out " that George James Bruce, John Thomas Boyer, William George M'Donald, Edward Peter Gill and Percy Wake, on Sunday, May 5, 1895, did amongst themselves conspire, confederate and agree together to procure the persons at Christohnrch holding publicans' licenses under the Licensing Aot, 1881, to commit an offence under the said Act for- which Buoh persons can be punished on summary process, and in further pursuance of the said conspiracy, confederacy and agreement amongst them, the said defendants did, as aforesaid, on May 12, 1895, unlawfully procure Thomas B. Gaffney, he being the nolder of a publican's license nnder the Licensing Act, in his licensed house, known as the New Zealander Hotel, at Christchuroh, during the time at which Buoh licensed house is directed by the paid Act to be closed, to commit an offence for which he can be punished, by then and there procuring the said T. B. Gaffney to sell to Edward Peter Gill intoxicating liquor, to wit, whiskey, the said E. P. Gill not being a bona fide traveller, in the said

licensed honse."

Separate infor_aa_..riß -were laid against George James Bruce, Edward Peter Gill, William George M'Donald and John Thomas Boyer for having unlawfully procured the above - mentioned licensed persons to commit an offence by procuring them to sell intoxicating liquor, to wit whisky, during the time all licensed houses should be closed.