LICENSEE FINED £lO.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11511, 6 October 1915, Page 5

LICENSEE FINED £lO.

i - — +- SOLD DRINKS ON SUNDAY. SHANDIES IN A SIDE-ROOM. At the sitting of the Lyttelton Magistrate's Court to-day Herbert, Aitken, liceiificc of ho, Whoatsheaf Hot el. Teddmgtou, « r as charged, before Mi" H- W. Bishop, S.M., with having on September 26 sold liquor to Walter Stone. Aitkon was further charged with hav- ' ing kept the hotel open for the sale of liquor during prohibited hours. Mr Hoban. who appeared for the defendant, said that lift would enter a plea of not guilty. Ho had. only been instructed the previous day, and consequently had practically no time to gather the facts. He, hevever, was prepared to amend the plea, if he thought ihe evidence for the prosecution was satisfactory. The Magistrate said' that, no doubt Mr Hoban was aware of the attitude of the Court where the licensee raised | a weak defence. Under ihe present ciri cumstanes, he would allow Mr Hoban the privilege suggested. Mr Hunt, who appeared for certain witnesses, said that ho intended to ask the Magistrate to grant a certificate of indemnity to those who he thought gave their evidence for the prosecution straightforwardly. Mr Bishop agreed' to the request. Leonard Coffey, wharf labourer, Lyttelton, stated that on September 26, with four others, he left in the morning for Teddington. The party had a two-gallon jar of beer in a cart, and en route two Maoris joined them, a third going ahead. They reached Teddington in the afternoon. The horse was taken from the buggy and n-ut in a pad'dock. Those present, went into a side room of the hotel behind the bar. They saw the licensee and ordered drinks from him. They bad large shandies, but witness could not remember who paid for them, although they had "sixpence in." The order was repeated, a "tarpaulin muster" again being taken up. Mr Aitiren obtained' | the drijjnk from the bar, and, as far as witness could remember, the party were iu the hotel for about ten minutesThey then left for home, all being sober. On the road to Lyttelton the party called at the Governor's Bay Hotel and had tea, but no drink. On Mr Hunt's application for a certificate of indemnity to the witness, it was granted. After hearing corroborative evidence. Mr Hoban said that he would plead guilty. His client, was sorry for what had occurred. He only held a temporary transfer of the hotel. Mr Bishop: Yes; but the present charge is quite sufficient to disqualify him from obtaining a license. Mr Hoban said that he would admit that. Mr Bishop said that the presentlicensee had been warned that it would be necessary for him to adhere to the Act, and "he had not kept his promise. Aitken was fined £lO and cos's on the first charge, and a conviction was entered on the second.