Widnes Examiner. — 1906-09-08 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

THE BOAR'S HEAD.  • Mr. Knowles appeareed on behalf of Mrs. Fraser, proprietor of the Boar's Head Inn,tho tenant and Messrs, P. Walker and Sons being represented by Mr. T. S. Steel.  Mr. Knowles said that the total claim was for £2,334 13s. 6d., made up of £1,762 10d. claimed by Mrs. Fraser, £322 3s. 6d. by Messrs. P. Walker and Sons and £lOO by the tenant. Messrs. Wright, Garnett and Wright had drawn up Mrs. Fraser's claim and made it up as follows : Value of licensed house at twentylive years' purchase £2,000 less value of cottages, into which it could be eonverted,at a nett rent of £7 Its. 6d. at 25 years' purchase after the cost of the conversion had been deduced £1,742 10s. This with £2O added for depreciation of fixtures brought the total to £1,762 10s. Messrs. Walkers only claimed three years' profits and I not twelve as suggested by Mr. Browne. Mr.G.F. F. White(magistrates' clerk) : They are not the actual owners and that makes the difference. Mr. Knowles continuing said that the average sales at the house were 2141 barrels a year, This at 13s. Gil a barrel gave £144 19s. 6d. Half-a-crown a gallon on the spirits sold brought the claim to £487 3s. 6d.and the addition of £35 for depreciation of fixtures made up the claim £522 3s. Gd. The Chairman ; Messrs. Walker had a lease on the premises ?  • Mr. Knowles : They are yearly tenants. They bad a lease whith terminated on the Ist May this year. They paid £BO a year for rent. Mr. G. F. Jr. White : I believe the house was sublet and the tenant paid £4O a year to Messrs. Walker. Mr. Knowles explained that Messrs. Walker received £4O a year and 4s. a barrel which brought the total to over £SO a year. Mr. Steel submitted that the claim of the tenant for £lOO compensation was only reasonable. He was a man well advanced in years and was not able to follow any employment. Mr. H. Roberts : lam not satisfied as to the locus standi of Messrs. Walker's claim at all. Where does the interests of a yearly tenant come in ? Mr. Steel : I submit that Messrs. Walker need not have gone out until twelve months next May, and that being so they are entitled to some consideration. Mr. FI. Roberts : I would like to be shown that part of the Act which establishes the claim of your client. Mr. Steel : Walkers were the recognized tenants of Mrs. Fraser and section 2 undoubtedly applies to them. Mr. Roberts : But you cannot have two tenants. Does not your second client merge into a manager and as manager has he any claim ? Mr. Steel submitted that the licensee of the house was entitled to benefit by the legislation. After a brief retirement the Bench intimated that they did not approve of the amounts of the claims which they referred to the Inland Revenue Authorities. The question of compensation to the tenants must wait the decision of the Inland Revenue and until then the meeting stood adjourned. Mr. Browne : To save trouble, if any reasonabl3 offer is made we would consider it. The Bench intimated that they had no offer to make and the proceedidgs closed.  Some amusing mistakes made in an essay com• petition on alcohol in Hull are credited to the young essayists in a souvenir which has been lately published. Here are a few of the blunders: "Alcohol is a mocker; at last it biteth like a servant and stingeth like a batter." "To-day mi.ny people are in gaol for committing suicide while under the influence of chink." "A teetotaller is strong and has a better chance to get on in life, whilst a drunkard is weak and fat, and stands at street corners all his life." "It causes liver complaint and consumption, and cities and nations are much more fatal. Shortened lives have been increased." "It ruins many of their families and diseases on the stomach, liver, and consumption." " Alcohol is a dreadful poison which is the root of evilness."  /  a,