The Licensed Victuallers Gazette

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XV, Issue 884, 14 February 1907, Page 20

The Licensed Victuallers Gazette

It is reported that Mr. Harry Dyer, late'of the Newton Hotel, is negotiating for the purchase of Mr. Phillip Cullen’s interest in the Central Hotel, Dargaville.

At Hay (N.S.W.) last week a powerful whirlwind struck the Commercial Hotel verandah, and lifted some 50 odd feet of the verandah bodily up, twisted the iron and woodwork, and carried a portion of the roof over the building, landing it in the yard at the kitchen door. The roof carried with it in its flight one of the chimneys.

Owing to a certain undesirable element among the list of “paying guests” visiting the Exhibition, board and lodging has not been so very dear in some cases. And boardinghousekeepers have learned another rule of the game, viz., “That down the fireescape and over the fence is out. “Christchurch Star.”

An application for the transfer of the license of the Hibernian Hotel, Onehunga, from T. C. Christiansen to Charles Lomax will be heard at the March meeting of the Manukau Licensing Committee.

Last Thursday night a disastrous fire started in the Old Bond Distillery, Bundaberg, Queensland. No water was available, and the building burned fiercely. A large quantity of valuable machinery and the still were destroyed. A new bond adjoining was saved. The damage is very heavy.

In the Wellington Supreme Court last week a man named Alexander McLean was sentenced to two years imprisonment for breaking into a hotel at Martinborough and stealing some cash and bottles of whisky and brandy.

Last Friday judgment was given in the claim for commission case over the sale of the Kentish Hotel.. This case has occupied a considerable amount of time, and judgment was given for defendants. The hotel in question was finally purchased by Mr. Joe Molloy, late of the Albion Hotel, Hobson-street, he being succeeded in that house by his son, Mr. Murray Molloy. The many friends of Mr. Alex. Schultze, late of the Grosvenor Hotel, Hobson street, will regret to learn that he met with a most regrettable accident last Friday morning. It appears that while he was crossing Queen-street, near the Customs-street corner, he did not notice an approaching tram car, and was knocked down, being struck on the head by the step, which caused a nasty scalp wound. Mr. Schultze, we are pleased to say, was able to proceed to his home, after having been attended to at Mr. Hall’s chemist shop: * * * * The straits builders are sometimes placed in Wellington are exemplified at present on the site of the late fire on Lambton Quay. To take every advantage of the depth of the land, the plans for the new Commercial Hotel provide for a building with its back wall standing close up to the rear boundary of the section —a point some distance up the steep bank, 60ft or 70ft high. To effect this purpose a good deal of excavation has ~been rendered necessary, so much so, indeed, that Mr. W. H. Field, solicitor, owner of the property above, has applied for an injunction restraining the contractor from excavating more than is advisable. When the back wall of the hotel is up it is maintained that the land above will be safer than it has ever been, as it will practically guard against slips. • • • • A London publican was fined recently for giving the “long pull.” It was stated that one of the “pints” supplied measured over a quart.

At the next meeting of the Thames Licensing Committee, held on March 1, Mrs. Syme, of the Coromandel Hotel, Coromandel, will apply to have the license of that house transferred to Mr. Otto Hadrup.

England uses over 30,000 tons of tobacco yearly, but Germany gets through 85,000 tons in a twelvemonth.

The Masterton Licensing Committee have ordered certain hotels in Masterton to be rebuilt, but it is understood (says the “Wairarapa Age”) that the owners of the hotels intend to fight the decisions of the Licensing Committee. This decision, it is said, is the outcome of a judgment delivered recently by Mr. Justice Cooper in connection with the rebuilding of certain hotels in the Wairau licensing district. More will probably be heard of the matter at the next meeting of the Licensing Committee.

Two charges of breaches of the licensing laws preferred against Mr. T. B. O’Connor, of the Victoria Hotel, were dismissed last Friday by Mr. R. W. Dyer, S.M. With regard to the one charge the Magistrate remarked that he was not satisfied that any person of reasonable observation would have that the man supplied with drink had had enough when the last glass was supplied.

The “Wanganui Chronicle” reports a curious circumstance which almost caused a serious accident. It appears that a carter was returning to a brewery with barrels, and the load started to shift when the cart was within a few yards of the railway crossing by Murray’s Foundry. In trying to steady the barrels the driver did not notice the quarter past eleven a.m. outward goods train till it was just on him. With great skill and presence of mind he managed to turn the horse round, but the engine struck the back of the cart, smashing both shafts and a few spokes in one wheel. 4 • ♦ • The Representation Commissioners have intimated that it is impossible to alter the boundaries of the Newtown electorate as desired by a number of residents who have been taken out of the electorate and placed in the new suburbs electorate. * * * * In the local Court last week an exemplary sentence was passed on a young man who was found guilty of refusing to quit the Queen’s Ferry Hotel, and assaulting the licensee. * * * • Mr. W. H. G. Wrathall has purchased Mr. C. A. Sansom’s interest in the St. Helier’s Bay Hotel. * * * * The Alpha Hotel at Kihikihi is being taken over by Mr. George Wallace, late of the Pacific Hotel, Thames. Mr. E. W. Robinson having sold out his interest in that house. • • * • Last week William Hogan, a young man, was fined £3 and costs 12/, or a month’s imprisonment for kicking over a tray of glasses in the Newmarket Hotel. * * * * Commercials and others visiting Coromandel will find a change in the proprietorship of the Coromandel Hotel, which has recently been taken over by Mr. O. Hadrup. The hotel is well-appointed, the dining-room being large and bright looking, while the bedrooms are roomy and comfortable. This was formerly the commercial house in Coromandel, and with the present management there is no reason why it should not regain its former position. The wines and spirits are well-selected, and are'Of the best brands only. Mrs. Hadrup, with her pleasant manner, ably assists her husband in the conduct of the hotel, and patrons can rest assured that they will receive every attention.

The “ blue,” a measure used in Wales, holds two-thirds of a pint.

In Pers’a there are no distilleries, breweries, or public-houses, and native wine is the only intoxicating beverage used.

We are pleased indeed to hear that Mr. William Abbott, who was for some fourteen years in the Star Hotel at Otahuhu, has decided to return to business, he having bought Bennett’s Masonic Hotel at Wanganui. Mr. Abbott being a thorough-going sportsman, and taking a keen interest in all branches of sport, will soon become extremely popular .among his new friends and neighbours, while the patrons of the house will find that the Abbott family are second to none in running a hotel in a thoroughly up-to-date manner.

In the local police court last Monday, the adjourned cases against Edyard Richter, charged with being unlawfully on the premises of the Masonic Hotel, Devonport, on December 25, and Arthur Robinson, who was similarly charged with being on the premises of the Masonic and Esplanade hotels on the same date, were concluded, Mr. Lundon stating that his client (Robinson) had not been able to come down to town to give evidence. The adjournment was for this purpose, but neither of the defendants appeared. Mr. Kettle in flicted a fine of 10s in each case.

The hot springs at Helensville are gradually being developed, and the new bath-house, fitted with porcelain baths imported from England, is to be opened, if possible, on March 2. * ♦ * *

The Hotel Cecil in London is supposed to be the largest establishment of its kind in the United Kingdom, the Savoy coming next, and the New Manchester Hotel in Manchester third.