TRADE TOPICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VII, Issue 329, 12 November 1896, Page 11

TRADE TOPICS.

We have had communications from all parts of the colony, informing us that in the coming electoral contest the main political question of the country will be subordinated to the struggle impending between the moderate section of the people and the extremists who support total prohibition. We shall deal with this question in our next issue, and endeavour to show how suicidal, from a national point of view, such a procedure will be. The hotelkeepers in the Manukau electorate do not apparently intend to let their opponents, who are seeking to crush them out of existence, havetheir own way at the fortbcominglocal option vote. On Friday last the publicans met in the Onehunga Public Hall, and amongst other business transacted it was decided to have as many names as possible placed upon the electoral roll, and scrutineers were appointed to see that only those holding the necessary qualifications should be allowed to vote. While holding this meeting our Manukau friends ought have gone a little further and taken steps with other districts to organise in a solid way to oppose the attack of prohibitionists. The Melbourne Sportsman furnishes the following account of what appears to have been an impudent action for damages : —At the County Court, Warrnambool, on the 14th ult., John Rapken sued John Adems, of the Anglers’ Hotel, Warrnambool, for £lOOO damages for false imprisonment and malicious prosecution. In April last Rapken attended the Warrnambool races, and stayed at Adams’ hotel. On the second day of the meeting Rapken said he had lost £4O, and got Adams to endorse a cheque for £25 on the Bank of West Australia, Coolgardie, which was subsequently cashed at the local branch of the Bank of Australasia. A telegram was then sent by the bank manager, and paid for by Rapken, to the Bank of Australasia at Coolgardie instructing that branch to inquire at the Bank of West Australia whether John Rapken was good for £25. A reply was received the following morning, “ Rapken no good.” Defendant accordingly went to the racecourse, and there gave Rapken into custody on a charge of false pretences. At the court he withdrew this charge, and preferred a charge of imposing on him by means of false representations. The magistrate, after hearing the evidence, dismissed the case, and Rapken now sought damages. In cross-examination the plaintiff admitted that he had not 25s in the bank at Coolgardie when he gave the cheque for £25 ; his brother telegraphed the money, so that the cheque was honoured on presentation. His feelings had been acutely wounded by the fact that, when arrested, “the Manifold, Gill, and all the bookmakers were looking on.” After hearing, the evidence, counsel for the defendant admitted that his client was wrong in having Rapken arrested. Judge Ohomley directed the jury to bring in a verdict for the plaintiff on the'first count.. They awarded £l5O damages for false imprisonment, but found for the defendant on three counts of malicious prosecution. ■ Social clubs are not allowed to have it all their own way in New South Wales. Mr G. Topp, the manager of the Bulgandra Social Club, at Bulgandra, near Albiiry, N.S.W., was prosecuted On October 24th for a breach of the licensing law, in selling liquor to non-members. Although it was stated for the defence that the non-mem-bers referred to were introduced by the billiardmarker, who was a member, the Bench fined Topp £5O, with costs, and ordered the police to confiscate the liquor found on the premises.