Trade Topics

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 850, 21 June 1906, Page 20

Trade Topics

The Caledonian Hotel, Napier, was recently totally destroyed by fiire. * * * * A fire in the rear portion of the Oroua Club, Feilding, was fortunately discovered and extinguished before any serious damage was done. The Hawera Licensing Committee refused all applications for 11 o’clock licenses. * * * * Mr. S. F. Hedlund, late of the Prince of Wales Hotel, Hobson-street, has purchased a lease of the Turanganui Hotel, at Gisborne. * * * * Alterations are being effected to the entrance doors of some of our local hotels to comply with the wishes of the present Licensing Bench. * * * * Messrs. A. H. Nathan last week removed to their new premises in Cus-toms-street East. * # A • It is reported by cable from London that a scheme is in progress for the amalgamation of the brewing firms of Burton and Co., Thomas Salt and Co., and Allsopps Company. * * * * In connection with the big sly grog raid, which was recently made in this city, no less than 36 persons were summoned to appear at Court. * * * * The Rangitikei Licensing Committee met last week. The renewal of the license of the Hunterville Hotel was adjourned for three months, and the Court ordered that meanwhile the house should be thoroughly repaired. The license of the Harris Hotel, at Taihape, was also adjourned for three months. The police reported that the house had not been properly conducted, but if the improvement now being shown was maintained the license would then be granted. An application for another wholesale license at Hunterville was refused, and a new application for a wholesale license at Taihape was also refused.

During the hearing last week of a charge of drunkenness against a prohibited person named Thomas Rynolds, it was stated that defendant was fond of taking fits outside hotels, so as to obtain medical treatment. * * * * For being found on licensed premises during the currency of a prohibition order, Jane Fleming was last week fined £2 and costs. * * * * The new Grand Hotel in Willisstreet, Wellington, and which is now rapidly approaching completion, is the tallest building in New Zealand. * * * * Sergeant Williams, of the local police force, has been transferred to Gisborne. * * * * The man Riley, who murdered a barmaid named Rose Arnold in Sydney last March, and then attempted suicide, has been pronounced insane. * * * * At the Hunterville Court recently a Chinaman named Ah Duck pleaded guilty to two charges of sly grog-sell-ing at Mataroa. He was fined £l5 and £2O, or in default one month’s imprisonment on each charge. The Taihape constable called on the Chinaman in the disguise of an old man, and pressed for a drink on the ground that he was ill. A small amount of grog was seized. * * * *

At the annual meeting of the Dunedin City Licensing Committee several licenses were granted conditionally on certain improvements being effected. Three applications were adjourned, ten bottle licenses were renewed, and one application was adjourned, as the Court was doubtful if the members of one firm could hold two licenses in different shops. The Wakatipu Licensing Committee has decided not to issue conditional licenses in connection with sports gatherings or affairs of the kind. * * * * The disclosures at the recent sly grog prosecutions led to Sub-Inspector Gordon declaring that he attributed cases of Sunday drunkenness to the sly grog shops. * * * * Tenders are called for alterations to the Waverley Hotel, in Queenstreet. * * * * The premises adjoining the Waitemata Hotel, on the Queen-street frontage, are being dismantled with a view of enlarging the bar accommodation of the hotel.

* * * * Mr. Arthur M. Myers, chairman of directors of the Campbell-Ehrenfried Company, Ltd., is due to arrive from Sydney next Sunday. * * * * William Richardson figured among the defendants in the recent sly grog cases. We are informed that this is not the gentleman of the same name who says things in Queen-street on Sundays and incidentally passes round an inverted bell-topper. * * * * Samuel Walker, lately hotelkeeping at Dargaville, has called a meeting of his creditors. • * • • Auckland hotelkeepers were the first in the Trade to decide to close their front doors in honour of the funeral day of our late Premier, also their bars during the time of the memorial services. * * * * The inquest concerning the death of the Rev. Father McGrath, who lost his life in the fire at Tapanui, was held last. week. The jury’s verdict was that Father McGrath’s death was due to misadventure through the accidental destruction by fire of the Farmers’ Club Hotel on the morning of June 8.

Mr. Fred W. Brunette is now mine host of the Commercial Hotel, Normanby. This hotel is one of the most up-to-date houses in the Taranaki district. Electric light has been installed, and travellers may rely on receiving the best attention. Being only a short distance from Hawera, those attending the race meetings may find it especially convenient to put up at this hotel, as the stabling is second to none. Mr. Brunette is well known throughout the colony, and was engaged in the Railway Workshops for a period of 16 years. He will also be remembered as bandmaster of the Newmarket Band and the Napier Garrison Band, and will no doubt receive a fair share of the public patronage.