HOTEL DISTURBANCE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12856, 25 October 1912, Page 3

HOTEL DISTURBANCE.

TROUBLE AT MARTON

BOY ATTACKED

DELINQUENT HEAVILY FINED

(By Our - Travelling Renorter.) MARTGN, October 24. Somo men seem to be always looking for trouble, and usually the precincts of an hotel is selected as a suitable place for tho disturbance. This has been proved over and over again in different parts of the Dominion, and stipendiary magistrates have im-ariably "imposed heavy fines in order to act as a deterrent, ami to demonstrate that hotelkeepers had a very heavy liability imposed upon them in tho maintenance of ]?.\v and order and the good conduct of the premises licensed to them. In the best-regulated hotels, however, trouble does occasionally present itself, and a ca«o in point arose at Marton in the early part of this month, when a disturb- i anco occurred at the White Hart Hotel. Tho two principal parties concerned were Leslio Phippen and a Maori named L. Renania, and as a sequel to the trouble thn former was charged—(l) with assault, and (2) with, using threatenincr ! behaviour to Renapia in a public place! Thn defendant was represented by Mr. Lndley, whilst Constable Fitzpatrick prosecuted. A considerable amount of ■pvidenco was given in support of the charges, after which the chareo of assault was withdrawn. In dealing with tho second charge, His Worship said that ho had been prepared to deal leniently with defendant, but a, list of previous convictions haying been put in by the police made him alter his" mind. Ho fully intended to do his part in putting an end to riotous behaviour in hotels, for conduct such as was complained of was not only intolerable to the I'con^oe. but also to the people who frequented the olace. Moreover, It brought an hotel into disrepute, and in tho cp.so before him he intended imnosing a fine that would act as a warning. Defendant would be fined £5, or in default 14 day.';' imprisonment ' in Wan^anui coal. Two weeks were given for the payment of tho fine. Amos Phinpen was then charged with having; conducted himself in a billiard 5-aloon at Marton in an improper manner, beina: a breach of the Borough byolawa, and was fined £1 and costs.