Tuapeka Licensing Committee.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 358, 19 March 1903, Page 5

Tuapeka Licensing Committee.

SHAMROCK HOTEL, OPHIR.

(" Mt, Benger Mail.";

The quarterly meeting of the above body was held at the Courthouse, Roxburgh, on Thursday last. Present— F.'J. Burgess, Esq., SI. (chairman), and Messrs Elder, and Rivers.

Application for transfer from Jos. Miller to Ellen Sinclair, Shamrock Hotel, Ophir.—Objected to by the police on the ground that the applicant was oddicted to drunkenness, and that the house was in a very dilapidated and dirty state. Mr Haggit ior applicant, and Mr Hutton for the owner of the house (Mr Pitches). Hugh Ohisholm, constable, said he knew the applicant, and was stationed at Ophir when the applicant took charge there. Had seen the applicant drunk several times—on sth December at 10.30 p m.; on 26th January and on 27th January. The respectable inhabitants of Blacks were greatly annoyed over the matter. Inspected the house in February and found it in a very dirty condition ; also the bedrooms and bedclothos in a filthy condition. There was no chair or toilet set of any description in the bedrooms. The floors were very bad throughout, and the rain seemed to be coming down the walls. The drain was a very bad one, there not being sufficient fall. There was no urinal. The building was re-1 pairable. To Mr Haggit: Before Mrs Sin-1 clair went into the hotel, th 9 building was kept clean. To a member of the Committee : Did not know what her position was. Jsmes Kennedy, constable at Ophir, said he had seen ihe applicant several times drunk—but on two occasions he took the dates. She was not a fit person to have a license. No respectablp people would visit the house; the smell inside was unbearable. It mostly frequented by a verv low class. bedrooms and bedding were filthily dirty. The kitchen was also fil'hilv dirty; pieces of stale bread and jam were lying about and the pots were v*ry dirty. The bar was also dirty and leaking, and the cellar had a lot of rotten straw in it; was 'like a manure heap. The drain at the back was very bad, and the water from the house was not being carried away. The stables were also in a very bad condition and dirty. The building could be repaired.

To. Mr Hutton : He had found men drunk in the .hotel, and had seen several men serving behind thejtiar. He anticipated serious trouble if she remained in it, as it was" frequented by men from the Otagp Central —mostly of the criminal class.

Ssrgsant Bogsrs, of Clyde, said the need of accommodation at Ophir was up and down, He had found it difficult to . obtain accommodation several times. There was need of the hotel, but no one would go into it at present.

To Mr Haggitt: There was need of extra accommodation at Ophir. After considering the evidence, the Chairman said that a majority oPthe Committee had decided that /they would have to refuse the application for a transfer to Mrs Sinclair.

Mr Hutton then made application for a temporary license to enable the owner to put a man named Donald M'Rae into the house until the June meeting. - The committee decided that they had no power to grant it, as by their refusal to grant the transfer the license reverted to the former licensee (Miller), and as he had not had an opportunity to refuse to take possession they could not grant the application. TRANSFERS. . G. W. Spooner to James Martin, Ormond's Hotel, Roxburgh.—Granted J Mi'ler to J. Milne, Bendigo Hotel, Alexandra.— Granted. Thorn s Sp°ars to T. J. Jollins, Railway Hotel, Heriot.—Grmted. CONDITIONAL LICENSES were granted to Mrs Boyd, for races at Roxburgh, on 17th March; to I George Leslie, for sports meeting at Lawrence on 17th March. REPORTS Caledonian Hotel, Alexandra.—Th' The polic" report was that the older portion of this house be repair' d before the winter to render it fit for habitation. Mr Hutton said the contract for repairs had already been put in hand. The committee were of opinion tha' something more than scrim and parer should divide the rooms, and ordered that the rooms be separated by rough lining above the dado. Goidfields Hotel, Roxburgh.—The police asked the committee to warn the licensee that she would have to be more strict with regard to allowing offensive persons about the hotel, and also allowing persons to be there after hours.—The. Committee decided to warn, the licensee that she would have to infrrm the police if anyone created a disturbance in the house or refused to leave when the place was closed. COMPLIMENTARY. Before the committee rose, . Mr Jeffery said that as this would be the last meeting of the committee, he desired to bear testimony to the good feeling that had always existed between the committee and their chairman. They had in Mr Burgess a chairman who was able to keep them on the right track and steer them clear of difficulties, which otherwise they were almost certain to have into. It was therefore a great pleasure to him-to express the good feeling which I had always existed between them. Mr .Michael also spoke in a similar etnaim '

'. Mr Haggitt, asa member of the bar, that he would also like to express his high appreciation of Mr Burgess' conduct of the licensing business. He might say that in that particular line Mr Burgess was an enthusiast. Mr Burgess thanked the committee and bar for their kind and unexpected remarks, and hoped they woud return, to work together in the public interest.