NO DRUNKENNESS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 918, 10 October 1907, Page 21

NO DRUNKENNESS.

Writing from Antwerp recently to the “New Zealand Times,” Mr. Freeth remarks that in Belgum another anomaly is the disproportion between drinking and drunkenness. The Belgian is a born beer drinker. Men and women throng the cafes in their leisure hours, and sit about the pavements with their mugs of beer on little tables before them, and boys and girls, in their teens, march up and order this refreshment as to the manner born. Beer drinking is a national custom which is elaborately catered for, and there is nothing more pleasant than to lounge in a cafe, and listen to the high-class music which the paid orchestra provides. And yet there is no drunkenness. I have been in Brussels (600,000 population) , and Antwerp (360,000 population) for , several days, in and out and round about, and I have not yet seen a single drunken man ! I do not say that there is no drunkenness here, but there is my testimony for what it is worth. The lager beer that these people drink is cool and delicious, and there isn’t (I am reliaby informed) a

headache in a hogshead. I believe that every now and again, on feast-days and holy days, a portion of the populace starts spirit drinking and runs riot for a

time, but I certainly saw nothing to justify the wonderful. array of sabreequipped police which constantly patrols the streets of the Belgian cities.:-

Police Inspector Dryer, who has been paying a visit to Gisborne and the coast, is surprised at the excellent standard of conduct an daccommodation at the hotels. * * * * A Chinese storekeeper at Benalla (Vic.) created a sensation by hanging a number of £lO notes outside his window, attached to a notice that they were for sale at prices ranging from one for is 6d to 100 for ios. A police sergeant entered the shop, but found himself blocked by the Chinaman with a revolver, which had to be taken away from him by main force. * * * During the hearing of a case in the Wellington Magistrate’s Court recently, it was elicited that Chinamen usually have three names —a private, a business, and an ordinary one. In the absence of further information, the magistrate surmised that the private name was used in the transaction of love affairs.

At Waihi last Monday John McKinley was fined £2 and costs for supplying liquor to a prohibited person, and i G. Smart, for procuring liquor during the currency of a prohibition order, was fined 20s and costs. • • • • In the Wellington Magistrate’s Court last Friday the case against Charles Mercer, charged witn selling liquor without having a license authorising him to do so, was continued. Mr. Herdman appeared for the accused. The principal witness for the prosecution was one David Gibson, who swore that the accused sold whisky to him. His story was supported in part by two constables. The accused, who keeps a “fried-fish-and-chips” shop at the corner of Tory and Holland streets, denied that there had

been any whisky on the premises. His Worship said the police had established a strong enough case against the accused to throw the onus on the latter to prove conclusively that Gibson had not bought whisky from him. This onus accused or his counsel had not discharged. The accused would be fined with costs is. Mr. Herdman asked what penalty would be imposed in default. “That,” said the Clerk of the Court (Mr. Holmes), “cannot be determined until a distress warrant is issued.” An honest mistake was the cause of a case being brought before the Magis- ’■ trate in Wellington. last week, when Hop Tai and Co. (Mr. Dix) sued William Young (Mr. Herdman) for 9s 2d for vegetables, etc.j supplied. Defendant was formerly proprietor of the Otago Diningrooms on Lambton Quay. In September, '1906, he went into occupation of a - hotel at Waitara. Fifteen days after going into the hotel the latter was burnt down, and Mr. Young’s papersand J books were destroyed. The defence was . that the money had been paid, but no receipts could be produced. His Worship found that an honest mistake had been made by defendant, but he was i liable for the claim. Judgment was accordingly given for plaintiff, with cos s . 16s. In our advertisement columns will be found a notification from Mr. William Jardine, land and estate agent, of Oamaru, concerning the sale of a valuable hotel property and farm <at Duntroon, as Well as of sections 13 and 14 block 4 in the Maerawhenua . district, containing 100 atires and a adorned cdttage.

A notable reversion of sentiment in regard to the Scott Act has become evident in the Canadian provinces. This was a measure adopted twenty or more years ago for, the ' alleged fostering of temperance, and could be enforced by its adoption on a vote in any county. The temperance element had it adopted in many counties, but its operation proved so ineffective and the punishment of offenders such a long and ambiguous process of law that it was found to be worse in results than any sort of licensed .control of the liquor traffic. In Cape Breton County, the seat of the principal Nova Scotia collieries, the Scott Act was repealed the other day by a large vote, and the Nova Scotia License Act, which is a 'careful, concise and readily comprehended measure, will be enforced instead. Mr. E. W. Sofield, formerly manager of Coker’s Hotel, Christchurch, has been appointed manager of the Empire Hotel, Wellington.