HERE AND THERE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1138, 1 February 1912, Page 20

HERE AND THERE.

Curious! In all the “Impressions of the recent Poll” contributed from various centres to the “Vanguard” except one there is the demand for “the bare majority.” The exception is Ash' burton, where ever since the fatal vote of 1902 the majority has been ruled by the minority!

A “dispute” is alleged to have occurred between the country hotelkeepers of the Auckland province and their employees, and in consequence every such hotelkeeper has been individually cited to a conference which is. to be held before the Conciliation Com" missioner at Auckland on the Sth February. Mr. A. E. Grosvenor is likely to conduct the case on behalf of the hotelkeepers with Messrs. J. S. Palmer, J. H. Pagni, and G. H. Foster as assessors.

More than usual interest attaches to the adjourned annual meeting of the Auckland L.V. Association, which is being held on Wednesday next, and a good attendance of members is looked for, in view of the important proposals that will then oe under discussion.

Tattersall’s Hotel, figuratively speaking, is a land mark in Christchurch. Ever since Tattersall’s saleyards have been in existence, getting on for three-quarters of a century, this hotel, has been the popular rendezvous of farmers and graziers, and sportsmen.. There one meets the farming element bn Saturdays, when the hotel accommodation is usually taxed. The Is luncheon is voted the best in town. Under Mr. E. McCullough’s regime the hotel has been managed most satisfactorily, and he is reaping the reward merited by those who look after business first and pleasure afterwards. Intending visitors to Christchurch, should wire or ring up telephone 214. to ensure accommodation. A special court under the Licensing.. Act, to hear a petition against the declared result of the Horouta native licensing poll, will sit at Port Awanui on February 7, the presiding magisstrates being Mr. Barton (Gisborne),. Mr. Dyer (Rotorua), and Mr. McCarthy (Napier). a o $ * Mr. Alex. Mcharry, who until recetnly was one of the substantial residents of the West Coast, having for many years been a prominent member of the Crown Lands staff, has purchased Mr. Drewitt’s interest in the Queen’s Hotel, Christchurch. The “Queen’s” is a popular house. People from all parts of the Dominion connected with agriculture and commerce stay there. It is central, being near the Triangle, Clock Tower, Tattersall’s yards, and the New Zealand Farmers’ Co-operative. Mr. Drewitt has built up a first-class trade m this hotel, and' we predict that his successor (Mr. Meharry) will more than keep it. We wish the gentleman every success in his new sphere of life. We can recommend the Queen’s to the travelling public, as the tariff is greatly in favour of clients at 5s per day, and' the wines, spirits and ales are thechoicest procurable. A Timaru message states that an up-country publican was fined £ 5 for keeping his bar open after 10 p.m. Two men who were found in the bar were fined 40s each. The magistrate said he wished the fine could be made' heavier in their case as the men, by refusing to leave the bar. got thepublican into trouble.

Mary McGuckian, who was charged' in the Magistrate’s Court at Masterton with keeping liqudr for sale, admitted'

that she had received twelve dozen bottles of beer since November 9th, but stated that she had consumed it all herself. She said it was quite possible for her to consume a gallon of beer a day. His Worship said he would dismiss the case, but would issue a .prohibition order against the accused. The accused (excitedly): “No —never! Death before dishonour.” The order was issued.

Fifteen licensing «*ses were settled .at the Magistrate’s Court, Te Kuiti, last Thursday, before Mr. F. O’B. Loughnan, S.M. A number of technical breaches of the Licensing Act were dealt with, and fines from Is to • I’o s and costs were imposed. G. P. Barclay, of Manunui, . was charged bringing liquor into the King Country unlabelled, with failing to notify the vendor that liquor was going into a prohibited area, and with ..supplying a half-caste with liquor. .Constable Matthew, who prosecuted, said that the accused was supposed to be a sly grog-seller, but they could not prove it. The magistrate inflicted a penalty of £5 for bringing the liquor •in unlabelled, and convicted and fined defendant Is and costs on the second charge.

A course of lectures are being delivered at the Yin mer s’ Hall, London,

under the auspices of the Wine Trade -dab, their object being to combat the

apathy prevailing among so many members of the trade, and also to secure the interest of the general public. The course will conclude in May next with a lecture on “Alcohol and the Human Body,” and an examination, open to all employees in the wine and spirit trades, will be held early in the following month. Two of the candidates will be selected for a free visit to one of the wine-growing districts of Europe, and they are promised both a useful and enjoyable tour.

The wife of the licensee of the Telegraph Hotel, Takaka (Frances Ailington), was fined £3 and costs on Thursday, for supplying liquor to an intoxicated person. The decision in similar •charges against the licensee was re:se£ved. The informations were the outcome of a recent trap accident, by which a man named Cassidy met his ■death. * * * * Returns of crime in Masterton for 911 (says an exchange) show that there were 31 cases of drunkenness as against 40 in 1910, while breaches of the Licensing Act numbered 38 as

compared with 37 the previous year. At Carterton there were 50 cases of drunkenness as against 40 in 1910 and 8 breaches of prohibition orders. Of the 50 cases of drunkenness only 2 were against Carterton residents, the remainder being against persons from 'Masterton, where as it is well known prohibition was in nonce.

A sly-grog case,.heard before Mr. F. O’B. Loughnan, S.M., and Mr. Hockley, at Taumarunui last week, was dismissed,’ as accused proved he got the

liquor in arid distributed to his friends just to oblige them and made no profit on the transactions. On a second charge of introducing liquor into a Maori kainga he was fined £5 and costs. The penalty would have been much more severe but that the accused put in a newspaper announcement of October 20 last that the kainga restrictions had been removed. This notice was premature, and, besides, the effect of the proclamation is abrogated only in the case of land leased by Europeans. The sections held by natives are therefore as strictly prohibited as ever.

Important extensions and additions are to be made almost immediately to the Waverley Hotel, Queen-street, Auckland. In September last the hotel proprietary secured a, lease oi rue mg four-storey block of shops and offices adjoining, and suspended further action until the beginning of the present year. It has now been decided to proceed with the project, and a contract has already been let to 'convert the corner block into an addition to the hotel, the work to commence on March 1. The scheme involves a total expenditure of £lO,OOO, end when completed the accommodation at the Waverley Hotel will be almost doubled, making it one of the largest hotels in the Dominion. The plans, which have been prepared by Mr. John Currie, architect, provide for the complete remodelling of the interior c f the corner structure,. «nd also for the thorough modernisation of the exi~t ing hotel premises. Over 100 bedrooms will be provided, and the existing diningroom will be enlarged '• give accommodation for 250 persons. Attractive lounge and smokingrooms wili be provided, and the building will be equipped with electric passenger lifts and fitted with electric lights throughout. The kitchen will be removed from the basement of the existing hotel, and placed on t?. second floor of the new building. Facing Customs-street there will be a striking private entrance leading to the main passenger lift and staircase. The greater part of the ground fl--

of the new building will be div into shops as at present + '' isting shop fronts will be completely remodelled, and a new ornamental verandah will be erected right round the whole of the hotel frontage. On entering upon the enlargement of the hotel, the proprietors are making special provision for country visitors who may be spending only the day in town, and who do not require bedroom accommodation. In order to meet the convenience of such visitors special separate compartments, with washhand basin, locker, etc., will be provided, and these may be taken for the day. These facilities, which are new to Auckland, and are in accordance with American ideas, will doubtless be much appreciated. It is also proposed to run the hotel on the cafe system, so that a visitor may pay for his bed or meal as he requires.