QUARTERLY LICENSING COURT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 509, 15 December 1881, Page 2

QUARTERLY LICENSING COURT.

ASHBURTON— To-Day. (Before Messrs 0. P. Cox (Chairman), J. Ward, and R. Alcorn, Licensing Commissioners.) Wheatstone Hotel. —The police reported that this house was very poorly furnished. The bedrooms were all but empty, and tho bar and sitting-rooms contained nothing but a few chairs, etc. Mr Oliver, the licensee, admitted that the house was not furnished, and Sergeant Felton explained to the Bench that Oliver had taken over the house from Esc )tt, the previous licensee about three months ago. He had imagined that the furniture was included in the agreement, but had very soon found out his mistake. Under the Publichouse Ordinance of 1870, licensees of hotels wore required to provide ten bed-rooms, two sitting-rooms, public room, bar, etc Mr Oliver said that he had understood the furniture was in* I eluded in the agreement when he took the I house, or he would not have gone there. I

Could their Worships give him any time in which to get the place furnished 1 Me had no doubt Mr Benson, the owner of the house, would see that it was furnishea. The Bench said it would give Mr Oliver one month in which to comply with the

ordinance. _ . Methven Hotel.— Sergeant Melton said that this house was very poorly furnished. In his opinion, at least four bedrooms ought to be made comfortable. At present the house was only likely to be patronised by swaggers and working men. The Bench said the four bed-rooms must be properly and comfortably fitted up as suggested. They would allow until- the end of January for the completion' of the work. Central Hotel, Ashburton.— Sefgt. Felton said that last quarter’s report had not been favorable to the above house, aisd a number of complaints had been then made to the police respecting it. During the past quarter, however, the house had been much better conducted, and the complaints not nearly so numerous The police had taken uo action re the former complaints, partly bewonse the evds complained of had been lessened, and partly because a principal witness had been unable to appear owing to his having broke Extension of Lic?ense Wanted. Mr Compton, of Rakaia, applied for an extension of his license for tne Bakaia sports day, which was granted. There being no other business, and no further complaints on the part of the police, the Court then rosd.