HERE AND THERE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1151, 2 May 1912, Page 20

HERE AND THERE.

The new Hydro Hotel in Timaru is to be fitted with hot and cold salt water baths. The water for the purpose is to be brought up from Caroline Bay, and the equipment will cost some hundreds of pounds. The new hotel will be the first in New Zealand to -be so equipped.

The Central Hotel, Hawera, was completely destroyed by fire early on Sunday morning, the occupants escaping in their night attire. The fire originated in the hotel, and when discovered had a good hold. The brigade was considerably handicapped by the poor water supply, while a strong westerly wind was blowing. The fire qufckly enveloped the building, and spread to McGruer’s drapery shop. The hotel

premises were insured for £1750 in the New Zealand and £lOOO in the London and Lancashire office. Their value is put at over £3OOO. The licensee (Mr Barclay Harrington) had £25 0 insurance on his stock, which was worth £5OO, and £750 on the furniture, valued at £lOOO, all in the Alliance office. Mr D. Barry was the owner. * * * * We regret to record the death of Mr Thomas Lawless, which occurred at his residence, Lake Takapuna, last Friday. Deceased was well and popularly known on the goldfields. He was licensee of Crosby’s Hotel at Paeroa, and subsequently had the Central Hotel at Waihi. The- interment took place at the Thames,, where the deceased lived for - many years. * * * * Mr R. Meecham, who, as licensee of the Commercial Hotel at Ashburton, has become very popular in the district, is giving up catering for the public, to take a non-commissioned officer’s position in the Territorials, • having been appointed sergeant-ma-jor of the Canterbury Division. Mr Meecham has for years taken great interest in militarism, having been an officer of the local Volunteers.

Speaking at the presentation to Mr G. B. Mackay, licensee of the Grand Hotel, Hastings, last week, Mr A. L. D. Fraser remarked that in the past licensees and the great mass of th e people had had no voice in the moulding of licensing legislation, which was the result of the views •of the two extreme parties, both conserving what they considered to be their mission in life. He pointed out that while the moderates were people of temperance instincts, the natural enemy of the licensee was the extreme temperance party. Their extreme ideas —their guns of aggression—were spiked by the conduct of hotel-keepers, but as long as licensees were clean-living citizens, and rigidly obeyed the law, they need have no fear of interference or injury from the broad-minded majority section of the community. * * * * Messrs H. A. Jarden and Co., stock •and insurance agents and hotel brokers, report the successful transfer of several businesses during the past month. There are still a number of good houses on their lists, which should change hands shortly. a * * • Manaia with its fishing and shooting facilities offers a very pleasant retreat to tourists, who would do well to put up at the Waimate Hotel. Mr John Russell has recently taken over this house, and with his wide experience, practical knowledge, and general popularity the hotel should prove an additional attraction to travellers to that district. * * * * At Invercargill James McWatt, a second-hand dealer, was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment for keep’ing .liquor for sale. He had been previously fined £25 for a similar offence. ■* * * * A pleasing function took place at the Grand Hotel, Hastings, in the shape of a farewell to-Mr’and Mrs G. B. Mackay, who have disposed of their interest. ...Mr A. L. D. Fraser referred to their qualities as citizens and to their unlimited hospitality,, and on behalf of their friends presented them with' a solid silver coffee service, entree dish, kettle, and fruit dish, accompanied by the sincerest of wishes for many years of happiness, health, and prosperity. * * * * A disastrous fire at Makotuku on Sunday resulted in the destruction of the Beaconsfield Hotel, of which Mr Davies was licensee. The public library, saleyards, and a shop were also demolished. * * * * The licensee of the Langholm Hotel, Mangaweka, who Inadvertently committed a breach of the Licensing Act on the day of the Licensing Election, by opening his hotel before 7 o’clock, was fined a nominal penalty of 20s, with 7s costs. The magistrate, Mr Thomson, felt convinced the licensee had not deliberately broken the law, and was satisfied with his solicitor’s explanation. •»» .; # A case with unusually disagreeable features was heard at Dunedin last Friday, wh'en Margaret Parker was charged with sly grog-selling on April 14. The evidence for the police was to the effect that a man named Hollander had three drinks of whisky on the premises, while Mrs Parker drank a glass of beer, Hollander paying 2s for the liquor. Hol- - had made arrangements with the police earlier in the day to visit the premises. In his evidence Hollander said the defendant had spread a slander about himself, his wife, and family, and he wished to get even with her. After counsel for the defence (Mr Hanlon) had addressed the Court, the magistrate (Mr Bartholomew) said he almost regretted that he was unable to express his opinion about some phases of the case, but he could not do so, as the .matter had to go before a jury. The defendant reserved her defence, and was committed for trial, bail being allowed in her own recognisance of £lOO. Aiderman Sir Thomas Boor Crosby, M.D., has been chosen as the next Lord Mayor of London. Although 81 years of age, he is full of vigour. When asked in an interview whether he attributed his health and vigour to total abstinence and non-

smoking, ne replied, “Certainly not.” He thoroughly enjoyed his cigar and glass of wine. The duties of the Lord Mayor are very strenuous. But people do not soon grow old in England

Mr J. P. Keogh, who has been the licensee of the Towai Hotel (Bay of Islands) for a number of years, was given a farewell and a presentation by th e residents on Monday, prior to his departure from the d'strict. Mr Evett, of Papakura, succeeds Mr Keogh.

An interesting personality died at Mobberley (Eng.), recently, in the person of Mrs Nancy Eden one of the best known licensees in Cheshire, at the age of 60. Her management of the Bull’s Head was on very strict lines. Indeed, unparliamentary language, says a correspondent, was unpardonable in the Bull’s Head, and offenders had to go elsewhere for their liquid refreshment. She admonished men drink ng to excess, and sent tuem home. If a prospective customer pulled the bell hastily, Mrs Eden judged, that io.be a sign of inebriety, and she refused to serve him. The police spoke of her as an ideal licensee, and scarcely ever did they think it necessary to pay surprise visits. She was, m fact, her own policeman; she did her duty In a truly conscientious and remarkably successful manner. She would allow thirsty travellers to quench their thirst, but for the lingerer she had no partiality,

The new Vanderbilt Hotel in New York City . presents some interesting innovations. No wood whatever has been used in its construtiion, and it is perfectly fireproof. The bedroom floors are all concrete; even the baseboards are marble. The doors and window-sashes are made of steel. No. wall-papers have been used in the decorations, the rooms being al] painted and panelled. The hot and cold water pipes are-all brass, there; by insuring clean water in bathrooms. Of its 600 rooms, every one has a bath and wardrobe, and each is supplied with a telephone. A complete valet, maid, and waiter service is maintained on each floor. The decorations and furnishings of the hotel are simple and carried out in early English style.

On taking leave of the people of the Cuiverden district, Mr and Mrs Miller were the guests of honour at a-concert held in the Culverden Hall, and "were the recipients of a handsome travelling rug and portmanteaux. Miss Miller was presented with a set of silver-mounted brushes and mirror. Mr the chairman, spoke of the sterling qualities of the late licensee of the Culverden Hotel, and expressed the apprejciatiQn.o.Lthe public at the way the hotel-had-been conducted under Mr and Mrs Miller’s regime. Mr O’Reilly, the new licensee, was present at the: social.

As a rule intoxicated persons are not particular about the places they select as retreats for the purpose of sleeping off their stupor, but . the spot selected by a Nap’er wharf labourer was uncanny to a degree. A new hearse which, arrived for the British Empire stables was standing on the wharf for some time, ready for shipment by the s.s. Ripp’e. When the vehicle was being . hoisted the workmen were attracted by a no.se in the hearse, and on investigating discovered a man inside. He had shut himself inside to have a sleep, and narrowly escaped a trip to Gisborne.’

At the Timaru Magistrate’s Court lastXk T. Yarr, licensee of the Queen’s Hotel, was charged with selhng liquor on the evening of Good Friday, and a young man who was found in the house with a bottle of sherry in his pocket was chaiged with being unlawfully on the premises. The police evidence was such as, Mr Day, S.M., said, required an answer. Mr Emslie, who appeared to defend, called evidence to the effect that the apparent customer was a tradesman engaged to do some work in the house, and he had called to see about it, on the way to a friend’s house, whither he was carrying a bottle of wine previously purchased; and that-the licensee did not know the man was in the house, as the visitor had been speaking to Mrs Yarr in the kitchen about the work. A very suspicious circumstance was that the man hid in the scullery when the police entered. He explained that he did so, fearing to get the licensee into trouble by being in the house. His Worship said he was not quite satisfied with the defence, and decided to d-smiss both cases, without prejudice to fresh proceedings, if further evidence was forthcoming.