Patrick Bolger

Patrick Bolger
Occupation	Publican
Years active	1856-1862
Known for	Clarendon Hotel Commercial Hotel
Home town	Ballarat Bald Hills

Patrick Bolger was a publican in the Ballarat district <1857-1862>.

History

Patrick Bolger became the publican in July 1856, renting the hotel from a Mr. Pringle. He was granted a night license in August 1856.

In June 1857, Bolger renewed his license for the Clarendon Hotel in Ballarat.

Bolger became caught up in the debts of the owners of the hotel, and had his property seized by the bailiff. He took legal action to recover his property in October 1857:

Bolger v. Hayward.-The Attorney General and Mr Ireland for the plaintiffs. Mr Dawson and Mr Wood for the defendant. This was an action to recover £500 damages for an illegal distraint upon the plaintiffs goods...The Attorney General opened the case by detailing the history of the Clarendon Hotel since it had been mortgaged by Mr Pringle to Mr Bland, till the whole property was sold by Mr Hardy to Mr Rainy, on the equity of redemption sold by Mr Pringle to a Mr Tinbury. A non-suit point was attempted to be set up by the defendants counsel, which failed, after which the case was materially altered by the defendant admitting the identity of the premises, as also that the defendant was the party who distrained. The evidence was then proceeded with. Patrick Bolger, sworn-I am the plaintiff in this case. I occupied the Clarendon on an agreement between Pringle and another in July 1856. Cross-examined by the Attorney General. -Evidence elicited showed that a distraint was sent in by Mr Hayward. A bailiff and Mr Cuthbert's clerk took an inventory of the goods when they were sold. When the bailiff was there witness put him out. When he first came, he sat down and enjoyed himself very much, taking care of everything in the house. Leonard Hardy, sworn, examined by Mr Dunne-Proved the purchase of the Clarendon Hotel. Paid £2000 in cash for same. Mr Dawson applied for a nonsuit, on the grounds that the relationship of landlord and tenant had only subsisted between plaintiff and defendants, and were never proved to exist between any one else : or if payment had been made, it was compulsory. His Honor decided to go to the jury. Mr Dawson said that none but nominal damages had been proved. His Honor did not think so. The Attorney General then addressed the jury. Mr Dawson followed in reply. His Honor summed up, and the jury retired to consider their verdict. The jury found a verdict for the plaintiff-damages, £250. At the request of Mr Wood, through his Honor, the jury were of opinion that rent had been paid by Bolger to Pringle & Bland, and no one else.

Bolger later held the license for the Commercial Hotel in Bald Hills. In April 1862 he was fined:

Police v Patrick Bolger, of the Commercial Hotel, Bald Hills, for having an unlicensed bagatelle table on the premises; fined 5s and 8s 6d costs.

See also

A Patrick Bolger was killed in a mine collapse at Cocaktoo Gully, Little Bendigo in May 1864. He was about thirty-six years of age, a native of Carlow, and the son of James and Ellen Bolger. He had been eight years in the colony, and was without family in Victoria.