Trade Topics

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 848, 7 June 1906, Page 20

Trade Topics

Annual licensing meetings this week. * * * * Licensees at the Thames were cautioned by the Licensing Bench last week regarding complaints made by the police of Sunday trading. * * * * The licensee of the Star Hotel, Al-bert-street, was fined last Saturday £lO and costs for permitting a game of poker to be played on his premises. * * * * A new building is to be erected on the Pollen-street frontage of the Cornwall Arms Hotel, at the Thames. ♦ * * * Next to grape wine it is believed that Japanese sake, or rice wine, is the oldest alcoholic beverage known to man, its, use in Japan dating back over 2000 years. * * * * A fireman from the steamer Hinemoa, named William Oswald, was last week fined and costs for being found on the premises of the Railway Terminus Hotel on a recent Sunday. * * * * The painting, papering and renovating at the Thames Hotel are being carried out in the most lavish and substantial manner, and reflect great credit upon the proprietress and the contractors. * * * * An inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the recent fire at the Waikino Hotel was held last week. * * * * A “Gazette” issued last week summons Parliament to meet for the despatch of business on Wednesday, June 27th. * * * * A young man named Gellatly alias Knox, was recently found dead in a bed in the Crown Hotel, Timaru. Medical evidence showed that death was due to an overdose of morphia (injected by means of a syringe) acting on weak lungs. A verdict was given accordingly. * * * * Montreal possesses the largest flourmill in the British Empire. This produces 5000 barrels of flour a day. * * * * In some old workings in a shaft at Amherst, Victoria, which is 80ft deep, a bottle of gin, with the seal unbroken, was found recently by two miners. The spirits, it is believed, were left in the drive about 40 years ago, as there has been no work carried on there for that period, the shaft having been filled up. At Waihi last week four young men were charged with a breach of the Licensing Act in being found on licensed premises during prohibited hours. After hearing the explanations of the accused the Magistrate dismissed the informations. * * * * The beer duty collected in Auckland last month showed an increase of £B2, the amount being £lBO6 as against £1724 in May, 1905. Mr. T. Schnackenberg, who recently severed his connection with the 'firm of Messrs. A. H. Nathan to take charge of the New Plymouth branch of Messrs. L. D. Nathan and Co., was last week presented with a handsome arm-chair by his late fellow employees. • • * * Mr. John Endean, of the Waitemata Hotel, contemplates making a fine new saloon bar, as an extension to his already always busy premises. * In reference to the demand of a policeman to enter closed licensed premises, Mr. R. W. Dyer, S.M., said last week that a knock at the door was insufficient, but the one .word, “Police,” would satisfy the section of the Act.

Constable Spellman, of Parnell, has been transferred to Rotorua. * * * * A man named Rhys Williams was remanded from Hamilton last week on a charge of having received by false pretences £4 from Charles Kalman at the Central Hotel, Victoria-street. Some of the wedding guests who were poisoned at Addington (Christchurch) recently are proceeding in the law courts against the caterer who provided the trifle for the wedding breakfast. Claims for medical expenses and damages have been entered, the total of the amounts sued for being (according to the “Press”) about £3OO. * * * * Sergeant Williams, of the local police force, has been transferred to Invercargill. * * * * Messrs. Dwan Bros., of Wellington, report having sold Mr. A. Gray’s in the Victoria Hotel, Jackson-street, Petone, to Mrs. M. Haylock, late of Carterton; Mr. Doyle’s interest in the Park Hotel, Newtown, to Mr. J. A. Lutz; the lease and goodwill of the Grosvenor Hotel, Taranaki and Wal-lace-streets, to Mr. Louis Sweet, late of Hobart, Tasmania, and formerly of Mokonui, Westport; and Mr. T. Cotter’s interest in the Club Hotel, Pahiatua, to a local buyer. * * * * The “New Zealand Times” says that Mr. Herbert J. Williams, secretary of the Licensed Victuallers’ Association, writes to point out an inaccuracy in our recent article on the Cooks’ and Waiters’ Union. He says that “in 1902, the Cooks’ and Waiters’ Industrial Union raised an industrial dispute against hotelkeepers and others, and the case was before the Concilation Board and Arbitration Court for some sixteen days. An award was given in the case, and is current until another is made, and as no complaints have been made by the above industrial union, t conclude the terms of such award are observed.” * * * * A visitor to New Plymouth, having a morning cup of beef tea at a hotel, saw what he thought was a basin of chutney on the counter, and stirred a spoonful into his beef tea. The supposed chutney was a sample of crude petroleum from the bore. The accident might have led to a great gastronomical discovery, but it only produced strong language. * * * a It is reported that Mr. Beveridge, at present chief steward of the Maheno, and who has been for many years in the employ of the U.S.S. Co., will be the first lessee of the new Grand Hotel, Willis-street, Wellington.