The Licensed Victuallers' Gazette

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 980, 17 December 1908, Page 20

The Licensed Victuallers' Gazette

Mr Charles Potts, of the Central Hotel, Eltham, sends a card of Christmas greetings which kindly sentiments are cordially reciprocated.

The latest haul of sly-grog sellers in the King Country has resulted in £2lO in fines being added to the revenue.

The Magisterial recount shows that no-license was carried in Ohinemuri by 87 1-5 votes.

The official answer returned by the no-license party on Thursday to a question in respect to Parnell, where reduction was carried, was that the matter of whether a petition would be lodged was under consideration, but the time for the lodging of a pet.tion has now expired, and, therefore, there villl be no attempt to get the Parnell poll declared void. The declaration of “ reduction,” therefore, stands in that electorate, and two hotels will lose their licenses when the first sitting of the new Licensing Committee is held. The two will be selected from amongst the following hotels: —Exchange, Windsor Castle, Alexandra, Carlton, and Royal George (Manukau Road), Newmarket Hotel, Ellerslie Hotel, Captain Cook (Khyber Pass), St. Hellers, Panmure, and Star and Garter (Panmure).

The quarterly meeting of the Bay of Plenty Licensing Bench was held at Tauranga last week, the following transfers of licenses being granted:— Te Teko Hotel, A. Smith to P. Ganley; Whakatane Hotel, H. Fortune to P. Isaac; Star Hotel, Tauranga, J. M. Hogg to G. McArthur; Palace Hotel, Rotorua, J. T. Henshaw to W. T. Constant.

At Taumarunui last week at the Magistrate’s Court, before Mr E. C. Cutten, S.M., J. Power was fined £5O on a charge of sly grog-selling. K. Kallil was fined £2O for introducing liquor into a prohibited area insufficiently labelled, and S. StreAon was also fined £lO on a similar charge. Another liquor case was adjourned till January 12.

The operation of the Sale of Foods and Drugs Act passed last session, has caused the Health Department to take samples of the various foods, etc., used and manufactured in the Dominion. Liquor in hotels have not been dealt with under this Act, but samples tor analysis have been taken, from time to time, under an older measure, the Adulteration of Foods Prevention Act. There is a fairly general impression that all sorts of compounds are occasionally put in beer, for the sake of increasing the thirst and other objects. From time to time specific allegations of th.s kind have been made to the Health Department in respect of certain hotels, and beer samples have been taken for analysis, but no’ worse adulterants have been found than water. About 60 samples of whisky were taken in Canterbury last year. The spirit was proved good, with the exception of a few samples, in which dilution was evident.

It was declared by a speaker one night last week, at the Presbytery meeting that Ohinemuri had carried no-license out of “ sheer devilment.”

At the quarterly meeting of the Waikato Licensing Committee which was held last week, a transfer of the license of the Putaruru Hotel from J. Miller to G. B. Main was granted. * * * * At Adelaide last week, Mr Wilson, a Labour member in the House of Assembly, made a sensational statement in regard to the amount of drinking at the “ temperance ” township of Mildura, where there are no hotels. He stated that he found four clubs there, aid in the Workmen’s

Club there were 200 men drinking. He saw more drink consumed in an hour than he ever saw in one place in his life. He thought the drinking in the foul dens in San Francisco, before the fire, could not have been worse than what he saw at the Mildura Workmen’s Club.

Wellington shopkeepers have decided not to observe the usual halfholiday next week. They will keep open until 11 p.m. on Thursday, and close on Friday and Saturday.

The only business before the Thames Licensing Committee at .he quarterly meeting held ast week, was the application, which was granted to have the license of the Tokatea Hotel, Coromandel, transferred from John Lynch junr., to H. Kelly.

Mr A. W. Hamer, who was for some time licensee of the Victoria Hotel, Onehunga, and later the Royal Oak Hotel, Onehunga, died suddenly at Cambridge last week.

The French Council of State has delimited the champagne dis.rict, and has decreed that sparkling wines from other places must be sold under different names, or it will be a deceit under the fraudulent marks registration.

Whangarei people are looking forward to a busy time whi'e the forthcoming carnival is on. The no el keepers of tha: place are n w bu y getting ready for the numbers of visitors that are expected.

We regret to learn that Mr Dave Forsyth, the popular proprietor of the Duke of Marlborough Hotel at Russell, has again found it necessary to visit Auckland and place h.mself in the doctor’s hand,s. We sincerely hope Mr Forsyth will make a speedy recovery and be soon home again, souader than ever he was.

With the object of providing a fund to meet election expenses in connection with places where new polls may be ordered, the Auckland Provincial No-License League are asking their friends to support a guarantee fund of £lOOO.

An inquiry into the conduct of the Wellington suburbs licens.ng pool will be held at Wellington to-morrow, before Dr McArthur, Mr W. G. Riddell, and Mr W. P. James, Stipendiary Magistrates.

In the petition presented by sixty electors of the Hutt Licensing District, forty-six reasons are sei forth stating why an enquiry should be held.

The Wanganui Hotelkeepers Association some time ago decided to restrict persons addicted to excessive drinking. At their meeting on Tuesday last (says the “Herald”) two more names of habitual drinkers were added to the list, and the persons interested have been requested to discontinue their visits to the hotels for the purpose of procuring intoxicating liquor.

The Arbitration Court at Christchurch has made an order joining the Timaru hotel proprietors as parties to the hotel and restaurant employees award, but it has held that the proprietors of private hotels and boardinghouses should not be brought under the award. ?j: sj: sj: * One hundred and thirty-one magistrates, believed to constitute a record Bench, assembled at Newtownards, County Down, to adjudicate on an application for a revived license for a hostelry known as “The Goat.” The number of justices would probably have been greater but for a circular issued by the Irish Temperance League warning magistrates who had financial interests in the licensed

trade against voting. The application was refused by 100 votes to 29, whereupon some person in Court uttered a prolonged bleat in imitation of the cry of a lost goat, and the proceedings ended amid general laughter.

It is rather surprising to find that “Jack,” whether afloat or ashore, Is following the fashion, and rapidly abandoning the pipe in favour of ;he more seductive cigarette. Aboard the Powerful, it seems, the canteen sells “Jack” from 1500 to 3000 cigare tes a day, only the old hands remaining true to their firs. love. Sh.p’s tobacco (pure leaf) is served out to all who ask lor it at one shilling per pou id, but the demand is nowadays comparative y limited. The vogue of the cigare. te, universally declared by the doctors to be the most injur.ous method of consuming tobacco, is absolutely astounding. Twenty or thirty years ago .he trade in the paper cigar was nothing to speak of, but today it tar exceeds that in both plug and "cut-up.” Possibly, indeed, pipesmok.ng may become at no distant da e as unfashionable as snuff-taking now is. " Sublime tobacco ” exerts the most wonderful influence, even in the gaol.

* * • « The police have been active during the last few weeks in the King Country in tracking down “ sly grog-sel-lers ” and on Tuesday and Wednesday of last week, 10 conv.ctions were recorded, representing £2lO in fines. In addition to the four men who were fined a; Taumarunui on Tuesday, George Middleton, Alexander Hogg, Edward Reardon, Frank Hearn, John Connell, and Joseph Wallace have been fined £2O each and costs at Te Kuici by Mr E. C. Cutten, S.M., in respect of similar offences at Te Kuiti and area. The majority of the defendants are King Country settlers. I; is understood that a number of further charges are pending, includ.ng one against a man named Murray, of Kakahi, for brew.ng hop beer, which was found to contain over 8 per cent, of alcohol on analysis, the percentage being more than double that allowed by law.

Residents in the vic.nity of the Waihi Courthouse were somewhat puzzled on Wednesday evening (telegraphs our correspondent) on seeing figures moving stealthily about the grounds, and one who proceeded to investiga:e evidently thought there was some reason for alarm, as he acquainted the police with the circumstance. Sergeant McKinnon entered the grounds, and, accosting one of the mysterious visitors, sought an explanation, which was somewhat vague, until further details were furnished. The man simply said, “ Don’t you know? We don’t want to give them any chance.” The sergeant, however, did not' know, and said so, and the person accosted added something about “ ballot papers,” whereupon it dawned on the inquirer that he was confronted by one of the nolicense party’s Vigilance Committee. It seems that the committee men were camping in the Court yard in order to see that the papers were not interfered with. As the papers had been locked in the Cour.house

strongroom, which could not well be broken into without the use of dynamite, it would seem that the chance of interference was remote i.i the extreme. —“ N.Z. Hera'd.”

In connection w.th the Ohinemuri petition, Mr F. E. Baume, K.C., M.P., for Auckland East, has been retained by the “ Band of Business Men,” in addition to counsel retained by the no-license party. It is now known that Mr A. S. Adams, the Dunedin lawyer and a prominent leader of the Prohibition movement in that city, has been retained by the no-license party to oppose the petition. Mr Adams acted for the no-license party in the historic Chalmers and Bruce inquiries, and is regarded as the greatest authority from the no-llcense point of view in the Dominion. For the petitioners, it is generally understood that Mr T. Cotter, the wellknown Auckland counsel, has been retained, and that he will be instructed by Messrs Nicholson and Grlbbin, solicitors to the petitioners. It i s also stated that Mr C. P. Skerrett’, K.C., of Wellington, will be associated with him.

EDEN PETITION WITHDRAWN.

The petition which had been lodged by two of the hotelkeepers in the Eden electorate to have the local option in that district declared void was formally withdrawn last Saturday morning. It is understood that there was a strong case for upsetting the poll on legal and technical grounds, but as the election was fought out on the direct issue of License or no-li-cense, and a large majority had voted for the latter. This decision was the outcome of a meeting of the firms and hotelkeepers connected with the Trade.

WOLFE’S SCHNAPPS TRADEMARK

An action for infringement of trademark was settled by consent before Mr Justice a’Beckett in the Practice Court, Melbourne, on Wednesday, November 25. The plaintiffs were Udolpho Wolfe Co., proprietors of Wolfe’s Schnapps, of New York, who claimed an injunction to restrain the defendants from selling Meijer’s schnapps under a label which, the p aintiffs alleged, was got up so as to resemble the label of Wolfe’s schnapps. By consent, a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from selling Meijer’s schnapps in the manner complained of was granted.

THE OHINEMURI RECOUNT.

Last Friday the recount of the votes of the Ohinemuri licensing poll was concluded by Mr J. Nathan, returning officer, in the presence of Mf Jas. Jordan, the nominee of Mr F. J. Burgess, stipendiary magistrate. The details are as under: — Continuance 2035 Reduction 2299 No-license 3333 Total valid votes, 5408; number required to carry no-license, 3244; nolicense carried by 87 4-5 votes. The figures of the recent official coTTh'c were: —Continuance, 2040; reduction, 2295; no-license, 3340; t'otal

valid votes, 5423; no-license carried by 86. A comparison of these figures shows that the magisterial recount has added practically two votes to the majority previously given in favour of no-license.

DEVILMENT WON.

The subject of the recent local option poll came before the Auckland Presbytery last week-, when the Rev. A. Millar-moved: —That the Presbytery rejo.ces in the substantial advance in temperance sentiment', indicated by the local option poll on November 17. We.£O.ngi:ai ulate-the-elec-torates of Eden and Ohinemuri on carrying no-license, and the Grey Lynn people on the splendid majority obtained for non-restoration. We also note .with satisfaction the fact that reduction has been carried in Auckland city and adjacent electorates, and that in each case so large a vote has been cast for no-'icense. We accept all this as evidence that the rising tide....xS in favour of temperance reform, and will be encouraged thereby, with renewed and increased effort so .that at no distant, dace a comple e victory may be gained over the drink traffic with all its attendant evils.” Mr L. J. Bagnall drew attention to the fact that although the no-license vote had increased by 22 per cent, the drink bill had increased by 32 per cent. That, he thought, appeared to indicate that while the no-license feeling was increasing, the temperance feeling was not. To his mind this was a very serious phase of the question, and one which the Presbytery should take cognisance of, to see if there was any reasonable excuse for it. Again he understood that in Ohinemuri it was not a strong feeling for no-license that carred the day, but a concerted effort by the men of Waihi to protest against the action of the publicans in refusing to give them cheaper, beer. The Rev. J. M. Simpson: Does Mr.Bagnall want' these statements to-ap-pear in press? Mr Bagnall: Certainly; I have no objection. Mr Simpson: They place us in rather an invidious position. Mr Millar said the Presbytery knew full well that what Mr Bagna'l said was correct. It was to be deplored. The people had been drinking more because they had more to spend. However, there were 12 no-license electorates now in place of six, and next election they would be able to give the other side “ a bit of a knock out.” The Rev. I. Bertram referred to the fact that a large number of no-license votes had been cast by moderate drinkers. In fact, one man when pretty well t;ipsy had Informed him thathe intended to vote no-license.

The Rev. J. L. Pattu lo said Mr Bagnall was correct in what he said regarding Waihi. There were comparatively ' few teetotallers in Waihi. He.. believed that proh.bi.aon would not have been carried there had it not been for the refusal to reduce the price of beer. If I might use the word, said Mr Pa.tullo, ” it was sheer devilment on the part of the miners.” The motion was carried, and the Presbytery cordially thanked’ Mr Millar for the energy he had showed in the conduct of the no-I.cense campaign.

THE ESSENCE OF TYRANNY.

An eminent writer, discussing che ethics of prohibition, recently stated: “ The enforcement of a moral practice by legal coercion upon the vote of any majority whatever, is of the essence of tyranny, and has in it all the evil of relig.ous persecution. It is an attrmpt to effect by force and law a moral and social reform, which can only be healthily promoted by moral and spiritual agencies. It involves that abandonment of moral effort for material penalties which is one of the most fatal tendencies of our age, a tendency which brutalises government, whilst it discredits religion. The grea triumph of Christianity was to separate the sphere of moral and spiritual influence from the iron grip of the judge and the policeman. It is for teachers, preachers, and philanthropists to make men sober, chaste, temperate, unselfish, industrious. It is for the magistrate and police to punish disorder, crime, all forms of recognised offences and personal injuries, material, civil, or moral. On this ground, which is the foundation of civil and religious government, it is tyranny to penalise habit's which masses of good and wise men regard as innocent, and even salutary, . . . The basis of morality is moral

freedom, moral respons bil ty, and conscientious conviction.”

THE GERMAN AT DINNER.

He begins by gravely making a tour of the room and closing all he windows. He wishes, apparently, to e -i.joy the smell of the food as well as the taste of it. and he draws no e.icate ' discr minat ng line between fresh air and draughts. His next act is to bow to right and left, and murmur the formula, “ Mahlzeit.” It means, roughly speaking ‘ May you enjoy your meal-time!” Then :he food is set . before him, and, for a season, he is silent. Most na ural.y. The German believes ‘in thoroughness; and the way to be thorough is to do only one thing at a time; Moreover, one cannot .alk with one’s mouth full, and when the German is eating his mouth is always full. Consequently, there is no spund in a German salle-a-manger, save the clatter of knives' and forks, unt.l a course is finished.

In all the intervals between all the courses, however, all .he tongues are loosed at once. The noise of voices is like the roar of mighty waters. It is hardly co'iversaticn as other peopleunderstand it. It is rather a confusion of tongues, nobody, listening, everybody speaking at once. You would imagine, if you did not know the language, that some disputed point in theology cr world’s politics was at issue, and that tempers were being lost about it. Bui you would be quite wrong. The topic under discussion is quite, trivial—the hour at which a train starts, or something of that.sort; and the disputants are not really excited. They are only fi ling in the time until the next course is brought in. As soon as it appears, they drop the argument like a hot potato, and eat' in silence as before.

And so on through many t ourses until they have, all eaten heir fill. Then they struggle to their fee*, say “ Mahlzeit ” again, and go to bed. The German—the typical German out for a holiday—disappears from the social scheme of things a s soon as he has finished his midday meal, and lies torpid all the afternoon. You hear li't'e more of him until he is once more tramping over your head in heavy book's at some unconscionably early hour.

MEDIAEVAL TEMPERANCE AND ANTI-GAMBLING PLEDGES.

Some interesting particulars of what would appear to be the earliest examples of written pledges to abstain from gambling and excessive drinking are given in the last number of the Turin “ Studi Medieval!” by Signor G.rolamo Biscaro, who has discovered three such documents in the archives of Milan. The first of these records is an oath sworn on the Gospels by Giacomo PasquaH and Armanino Duca, to .the .effect that for two years they will abs ram from gambling in Pavia or within three miles thereof, and will likewise refrain from inducing others to gamble on their behalf; the penalty for any breach of this oats is fixed a;' five soldi, payable to Papio Bova oriel In the second document Perano de Bono promises Überto de Proto to abstain from gambling for a certain period,

exception being made on behalf _of the game of “ bismentiro,” at which, however, he was not to lose more than two denari on any one day. Further, he undertakes not to visit any inn for drinking purposes before the hour of Vespers on Monday. A breach of either clause of the pledge involves a payment of five soldi to De Proto. By the third document, Sileto Ferrario expresses his willingness to pay twelve denari to his brother Lamperio should he be persuaded to play for money in any place of public resort or to spend more than two denari on intoxicants in any one day. The motive for these contracts is not stated, but it i s presumed that they were entered into by employees whose masters wished to keep their proclivities in check. There is nothing in the documents to suggest the existence of any organisation for the promotion of temperance: The honour of being first in the field in this respect therefore still rests with Germany, where, according to “Notesand Queries,” two temperance societies were founded in the sixteenth century. Of these, the Order of Saint Christopher was formed by Sigismund de Diettrichstein on January 18th, 1517, and the order of Temperance by the Landgrave of Hesse on December 25, 1600. The members of the one Order were pledged to abstain from toastdrinking, and the members of the other undertook not to drink more than seven glasses of liquor at a time, and that not oftener than twice a day. Temperance societies in those days did not err on the side of stringency.

THE OHINEMURI PETITION.

The petition against the poll at Ohinemuri, where the magisterial recount hag been announced as showing no license carried by 87 votes, was lodged at the Magistrate’s Court Waihi, last Friday, and numerous irregularities are alleged in connection withe the poll. The no-license party intends to contest the petition, and notice of such intention will be given in due course. It is possible that Mr. C. C. Kettle, S.M., will be one of the magistrates asked to sit at Waihi. The inquiry has to be called within 14 days of the lodging of the petition.

Your petitioners state that the said licensing poll was held on November 17, 1908, and that the returning officer declared the proposal to be carried that no license be granted in the district, and your petitioners say:

(a) That the irregularities, or accounts, or omissions hereinafter set out, took place or occurred during the taking of the said poll.

(b) That the result of the said poll was materially affected by reason of the said irregularities, acts, or omissions, or some more of them at or in connection with the said poll.

(c) That such irregularities, acts, or are the facts and grounds on which your petitioners rely; that is to say:—

3 .That the returning officer did not appoint a sufficient number of poll clerks at the Waihi polling booths for the sole purpose - of attending to the business of taking the said poll, nor did he provide a sufficient number of voting compartments for use of voters at such poll. 2. That' the poll clerks at the said Waihi polling booths, and also’ at the polling booths at Waikino, Karangahake, and Paeroa appointed by the said reurning officer were stationed immediately within the entrance of the polling places, and spoke to them therein on matters outside and beyond questions necessary to be put to them in the conduct of their duties, both before and after they had severally recorded their votes. “ig)? That several persons other than those actually engaged in voting, and

deputy-returning officer and his .clieriks, scrutineers, and constables were allowed to remain in such polling booths at Waihi, and, in particular, the polling places entered and remained in such booth at times whilst not actually engaged in voting (here following their names). 4. That in a certain polling-booth named, the poll clerk was stationed within the entrance of such booth, and was, for a considerable portion of the time during which the poll was being taken, incapable, by reason of intoxication, of doing his duty as a poll clerk. 5. That certain deputy-returning officers left the polling-booths of which they were respectively in charge for certain periods while the poll was being taken, without, appointing in writing, substitutes to act for them during their absence or failure to attend to their duties respectively. 6. That some of the deputy-re-turning officers’ clerks and scrutineers were not sworn-in, nor did they make the declaration required by law preparatory to their exercising the duties of their respective offices at such poll.

7. That the deputy-returning officers at the Waihi polling booths neglected to give a ballot-paper to every person proposing to and entitled to vote at such poll. 8. That at the polling-booths at Waihi, more than six voters were allowed to be in such booth at one and the same time, and throughout different periods during the polling-day, and while the said poll was being taken as many as 50 to 120 voters were allowed to be in the pollingplaces, or such booths, at one, and the same time.

9. That',whilst the said booths were so crowded with voters, no secrecy was, or could be observed in connection with the ballot, and the voters conversed together in the booths and voting compartments, both before and giving their respective votes, comparing voting-papers prior to depositing them in the ballot-box, and instructing, or advising, or discussing with one another as to how to exercise or record their cotes, and as to which issues in the ballot-papers particularly answers should be given. 10. That the deputy-returning officers at the Waihi polling-booths were unab’e, through the crowd of voters in the booths at various times, to reture into the inner or voting compartment with the voters who were blind, or unable to write their mark on the ballot-paper according to the instructions of the voters, although requested by such voters so to do.

11. That by reason of such overcrowding of the polling-booths at Waihi voters did not, and could not, show the deputy-returning officers the official mark on the ballot' papers before depositing the same in the ballot-box.

12. That the returning officer during the polling-day, and while the said poll was being taken, illegally and improperly opened an additional polling-booth at the Waihi (principal) polling-place, and Issued votingpapers thereat or therefrom in an illegal and improper manner. 13. That by reason of such overcrowding of the polling-booths at Waihi the deputy returning officers did not in all cases initial and mark the ballot-papers as required by law, nor did they draw a pencil or Ink through the number and name of the elector on the roll, as evidence that he had rendered his vote. 14. That by reason of the unsatisfactory arrangements made for the conduct of such poll at Waihi, and the overcrowding of the polling-booths thereat, many voters were unable t*b record, or refrained from recording, their votes at such poll. 15. That the voting papers were taken out of the polling-booth at' Waihi.

16. That the deputy-returning officers at the Waihi (principal) poll-inging-booth at' the close of the poll

proceeded to ascertain the number of votes recorded at such poll, in•• the presence of persons other than those allowed by law. 17. That the deputy-returning officer at the Waihi (principal) poll-ing-booth, did not ascertain the number of votes recorded at such poll in the manner required by law, but permitted, or allowed, the scruiteneers to perform these duties, and accepted their decision as correct, and after the scrutineers had ascertained such number the ballot-box, votes, and papers were left on the table for some 15 minutes, with no person in charge of the same. 18. That the deputy-returning officers at the Waihi polling-booth did not, immediately after the ascertaining of the number of votes recorded at such poll, make up into separate parcels as required by law, the used and unused ballot-papers at such poll, and all books, rolls, and papers kept' and used by them during the polling, nor did they seal such parcel when made up. 19. That no complete record of unused and used ballot-papers at the various polling-booths was kept or made by the returning officer or deputy returning officers at or after such boh.

20. That the deputy-returning officers at several of the polling-booths did not trinemit to the returning the certified copies of the rolls supplied to them respectively, on which the fact of any person having received a ballot-paper had been noted, nor did they transmit a list of the total number of votes recorded on each proposal and a ballot-paper account verified as required by law. 21. That several of the parcels of ballot-papers were unlawfully and improperly opened subsequent to the poll and before the schutiny of the rolls.

22. That the rolls used at the poll were after the polling day, unlawfully altered and adjusted prior to the scrutiny of the same, by and in accordance with the instructions of the returning officer. 23. That no scrutiny of the rolls took place in the manner required by the law. 24. That due precautions were not taken by the returning officer or any of the deputy-returning off.cers for the safe custody of used and unused ballot-papers during and after the close of the poll. 25. That certain persons at other polling-booths, not authorised by law so to do, were permitted during the taking of the poll to interfere with the unused ballot-papers, by counting or otherwise fingering the same, from time to time during the progress of the poll.

26. That the returning officer, in the course of the official count of the votes recorded at such poll, disallowed votes which he should by law have allowed, thereby reducing considerably the number of valid votes recorded at such poll, and also allowed votes which he should by law have disallowed.

27. That the deputy-returning officers at the various booths drew lines in pencil or ink through the numbers and names of several electors on the roll, as evidence that they

had respectively tendered their votes, although such electors had not tendered their votes or voted at snch poll, and also failed or neglected to draw lines in pencil or ink through the numbers and names of several electors on the roll who actually voted at such poll. 28. That voting papers used at such poll have been so mutilated by the return.ng officer for the purpose of detecting cases of alleged plural voting that thehe is no means of ascertaining whether such voting papers were valid or otherwise. 29. That the number of valid votes counted at the close of such

official count does not tally or agree with the number of votes marked or stamped in arithmetical senes in the course of such official count, nor does it agree with the number of voting papers shown to be used at the said polling, nor with the number of naines struck through on the said rolls as having voted at the several polling; places on the taking of the said poll, nor do the number of voting papers issued at such poll agree with the number of voting papers issued in connection with the electoral poll, there being 118 more voting papers issued in respect of such poll than were issued in respect of the electoral poll. 30. That through the irregularities aforesaid it is impossible to ascertain the correct number of valid votes recorded at such poll, and the true result of such poll, wherefore your petitioners pray that it' may be determined that the poll was void.

Swiss hotelkeepers have started a College for Waiters. The curriculum, which includes fluency in four languages—French, German, Italian, and English—also provides for a proficiency in dancing, to insure the swaying grace necessary to bear a pyramid of dishes across a highly polished floor without mishap. This likewise conveys a dexterity of gesture in presenting the game and salad in the same breath to the admiring guest, and—the sine qua non of the Continental servitor —it gives him an easy bearing in the dress suit which he must' assume at daybreak and wear throughout the three meals.

The Commissioners of Police in West Australia, dealing with the licensing question, in his annual report states that there are 540 hotels in the State, a number of which are not required. He favours local option as a remedy, with increased license fees for houses remaining opes to provide compensation. He declares that prohibition simply means sly grog-selling, and states that' New Zealand’s convictions for drunkenness for 1908 totalled 1000 more than in 1907.