Bryan,

Evening Post 5 September 1910
HUTT LICENSING COMMITTEE
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Transfers were granted in the following instances:- Taita Hotel from W. Branigan to Mrs. W. E. Bryan;
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ALLEGED SUNDAY TRADING.
A TAITA CASE.
At a sitting of the Hutt Magistrate''s Court to-day before Mr. W. R. Haselden, S.M., Mrs. W. E. Bryon, licensee of the Taita Hotel was charged with unlawfully opening her hotel on Sunday, 3lst July, for the sale of liquor.
Constable McKenzie stated that he went to the hotel on the date in question, and after knocking was admitted by an employee. He then went into the dining-room and saw there three men G. Cooley, H. Johnston, and W. Alsop. Johnston and Alsop were in the act of drinking beer. He was in plain clothes, and in answer to his enquiries, the men replied that they were waiting for dinner. Witness questioned the daughter of the licensee, Mrs. Howell, who stated that she did not see any harm in giving the men a drink. "They were decent fellows, and she gave them a beer to get them out of the kitchen, she being busy preparing dinner." She charged them nothing for the liquid refreshment. It was the practice of these men to go to the hotel for dinner on Sundays. Cooley did not have a drink, and Alsop had stayed at the hotel on Saturday night.
Ethel E. Howell gave similar evidence.
The three men in question were next called, Johnston and Alsop stating that they had not paid for the drink. The evidence of the constable was corroborated.
The Magistrate reserved judgment, intimating that if We entered a conviction, he would not order an endorsement of the license of the hotel. Inspector Ellison represented the police and Mr. T. Young appeared for the defence.



Evening Post 20 September 1910
SUNDAY TRADING.
LICENSEE CONVICTED.
Reserved judgment was given at the Magistrate''s Court to-day by Mr. W. R. Haselden, S.M., in the police prosecution brought against Francis Elizabeth Bryan (sic), licensee of the Taita Hotel, Lower Hutt, for keeping open her premises for the sale of liquor during prohibited hours.
The facts were, said his Worship, that on Sunday, the 31st July, Constable McKenzie went to defendant''s hotel at 12.20 p.m., and, finding the front door locked, he knocked, and was admitted. He found three men - Cooley, Johnson, and Alsop - in the dining-room. Alsop and Johnson were near the fireplace, and had glasses containing liquor on the mantlepiece. Defendant and her daughter said that they did not think there was any harm in giving these men a drink on Sunday, as they were very decent fellows, and often spent a few shillings there when they could afford it, as they knew trade was not too good. When the men were asked what they were doing, they said they were waiting for dinner. There was no sign of dinner on the table. The three men lived near to defendant''s licensed premises, in different boardinghouses. They were labourers earning 8s a day. Defendant said the drinks were given to the two men to induce them to leave the kitchen and go into the dining-room. The bar was not opened, and the liquor was procured from a cupboard, and was not paid for. The defendant said the kitchen door was always open, and that "residents in this district seem to be in the habit of walking through the house." The man Alsop had slept in the house on Saturday night, and remained on Sunday. Only Alsop and Johnson had drinks. The two men gave evidence. They each, said they were in the habit of having their Sunday dinner at the hotel. Alsop said he paid 1s for dinner, Johnson said he paid 1s 6d, and Cooley said 1s. They boarded near the hotel, and went there on Sunday for a change.
In the magistrate''s opinion, the defendant kept her licensed premises open on the day in question for the sale of liquor, and he could not accept the story of the defendant and of her witnesses in its entirety. He thought there had been a breach of the law, and defendant was accordingly convicted. A penalty of £5, with court costs, was imposed.
ON LICENSED PREMISES.
Arising out of the charge against Bryan were three informations against George Cooley, William Alsop, and Henry A. Johnson respectively, that on the 31st July they unlawfully entered the Taita Hotel at a time when the premises were directed to be closed by the Licensing Act.
The case against Cooley was dismissed. There was no evidence that defendant had anything to drink in the house, and his presence could be excused on the ground that he was there for dinner.
In Alsop''s case, his Worship remarked that the fact that defendant slept in the house on Saturday did not entitle him to remain until noon on Sunday and consume liquor. The magistrate did not think defendant was in good faith, a lodger in the house. Alsop was convicted and fined 10s, with costs.
Defendant Johnson, said the magistrate, was not a lodger. He was found on licensed premises during prohibited hours, and was proved to have drunk alcoholic liquor therein. He was convicted and fined 10s, with costs.

Source 1911 Electoral Roll
Electorate Hutt
Record Number 932
Surname BRYAN
Given Names Frances Elizabeth
Place of Residence Taita Hotel Taita
Occupation widow
Nature of Qualification
Comments
Data Sourced From 1911 Electoral Roll Search v2.3

Source 1911 Electoral Roll
Electorate Hutt
Record Number 3568
Surname HOWELL
Given Names Ethel Emily
Place of Residence Taita Hotel Taita
Occupation married
Nature of Qualification
Comments
Data Sourced From 1911 Electoral Roll Search v2.3



Death Details
1937/21723 Howell Ethel Emily 70Y