TIMARU NEWS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17711, 4 December 1925, Page 8

TIMARU NEWS.

MAGISTRATE'S COURT. From Our Correspondent. TIMARU, December 3. IN HOTEL AFTER HOURS. In the Magistrate's Court, before Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., Hugh Duftin, Alexander Ross, Thomas Joseph Dwyer, James Thomas Doyle, Muir Clark and Clement L. Dewar were charged with being on the licensed premises of the Empire Hotel after hours. Only one of the defendants appeared, all being represented by Mr \\ alter Raymond. A plea of guilty was entered. Senior-Ser-geant Fahey said that Sergeant Petersen visited the hotel on the night of November 26 and found the men in the upstairs bar of the hotel. Defendants were convicted and fined £2 and costs. LICENSEE AND BARMAN FINED. Walter Laundy was charged that being a person other than the licensee, he did serve liquor after hours. l ive further similar charges were also preferred against him. Mr Raymond, who appeared for defendant, entered a plea of guilty. Emily Frances O'Leary was charged that being the licensee of the Empire Hotel she did serve liquor after hours. She was further charged with exposing liquor for sale and with keeping open for the sale of liquor after hours. Mr Ravmond entered a plea of guilty to the charge of selling and suggested that if his Worship convicted on that charge, he might see his way clear to withdraw the remaining two. 1 here were three salient features of the case. The first was that the night in question was a race night, and the house was verv full. The second was that Mr Launrly had Sole charge of the hotel outside the domestic staff, and the third was the character of the licensee. Mr Raymond went on to explain the circumstances under which the men came to be in the house, and said that Mr Laundy had thought that the men were lodgers. Thev had been in to r dinner and were walking about the hotel afterwards and lie naturally thought they were lodgers.

The Magistrate said that he knew the character of the house was a good one and that the service rendered to the public was also good. To keep up the reputation of the hotel extra diligence was necessary and Laundy must have known some of the men. even though it was a race night when the offences were committed. There was no obligation on his part to supply liquor after hours, even to lodgers. With a hotel like the Empire one naturallv looked for something better. Laundy was convicted and fined £•> and costs on one charge, and was convicted and discharged on the others. Nlvs O’Leary, for selling liquor after hours, was convicted and- fined £3 and costs, and the other two charges were withdrawn. His Worship said that as the hotel had a good reputation, and no previous charges had been sustained, f he license would be returned without endorsement. THEFT OF BICYCLE. Retiben Charles T/ogan was charged with stealing n bicycle, valued at £3. the property of Robert W Thyne. Senior-Sergeant Fahey .said complainant left his bicycle in Seddon Street, and on going to get it, found it to be missing. Later a voting lad saw the bicycle ai the rear of defendant’s bouse, and nformed the owner.

Constable Herron went to defendant’s house, but defendant denied all knovledge of the matter. The bicycle was later found destroyed in a vacant secAfter hearing evidence, a remand till Tuesday was granted, bail being* allowed in the sum of £lO. MILKMEN CHARGED. David Nicol was charged with selling milk which did not comply with the standard, in that it contained 10 per cent of water. Two further charges of selling milk which was not up to standard, in that it contained less than the required amount of butterfat. were also preferred against him. Defendant pleaded guilty. Senior-Sergeant Fahey said that oh | September 17 the Health Inspector (Mr J. Menzies) stopped defendant at J 7.15 a m. and purchased a pint of milk. ■ He divided it into three parts, one | sample being sent on to an analyst, one ' the inspector kept, and the third was j handed to defendant. The sample sent ! to the analyst was found to be not up ; to standard. A fine of £2 and costs was im- j posed on one charge, and defendant was convicted and discharged on the | other. Andrew Ilealey had two charges of j selling deficient milk preferred against | him. The analyst’s report showed that I 10 per cent of water had been added. j Mr W. Raymond, who appeared for | defendant, entered a plea of guilty. lie stated that defendant resided at Sea- j down and for the first four years he had been supplying milkmen. Defendant milked by machinery and was confident that he was the victim of some circumstances over which he had no control. For some time defendant had not locked his shed, but when he found that someone had been tampering with his milk he locked his shed and had since had no trouble. Defendant gave evidence along these lines. llis Worship said the law put the responsibility on the dairyman, and Iledley would be convicted and fined £lO and costs on one charge and convicted and fined £2 and costs on the other. | Robert Taylor was also charged with selling deficient milk. lie pleaded guilty j and was convicted and fined £2 and • costs. LICENSING COMMITTEE. The quarterly meeting of the Timaru j Licensing Committee was held to-day; i present- -Messrs E. D. Mosley, S.M ! (chairman), 11. Green, W. Evans and j G. Bowker. The chairman stated that he had rc | ported to the committee the result ot the prosecution against the licensee of the Empire Hotel. They had a strong feeling against the bar upstairs, and proposed taking steps to have it done a vav with. Mr Walter Raymond asked the committee to hold determination over until he had had an opportunity of bringing the matter under the notice of the licensee. The licensee should have an opportunity of stating reasons. The chairman said that if the licensee saw fit to close the bar he would have the entire approbation of the committee. Mr Raymond said there were reasons for keeping the bar, but he would like to have the matter held over till March. This was agreed to by the committee.