ANNUAL MEETING OF LICENSING COURT, AKAROA.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 93, 8 June 1877, Page 2

ANNUAL MEETING OF LICENSING COURT, AKAROA.

Tuesday, June 5.

The Commissioners present were J. Aylmer, R.M., (Chairman,) E. C. Latter, G. H. Saxton, and W. G. Inman, Esqrs.

RENEWAL OF LICENSES.

The following renewals of licenses were granted :— W. Adams, Criterion Hotel, Akaroa. W. M. Ashton, Pigeon Bay Hotel. Mr. Inwood appeared for the applicant. Thepolicestated that the stabling accommodation was not what it ought to be. It was stated that Mr. J. Hay, the proprietor, intended to build a new and larger hotel more suitable to the requirements of the travelling public. The license was granted on the understanding that the furnishings in the house, and the stable accommodation be improved. John Beecher, Bruce Hotel, Akaroa. Granted.

T. W. Barker, Head of Bay Hotel. _ Mr. Inwood appeared for the applicant. The police reported that the house was well conducted. License granted. Robertßailey, Waeckerlie'sllotel, Akaroa. The police reported that the house was the most orderly in Akaroa. License granted. George Franks, Lake Ellesmere Hotel, did not appear, and as no notice had been given of withdrawing his application, the consideration of granting this license was adjourned till 19th inst., to enable applicant to be present. Susan Haines, Garwood's House, on Hill Top. License granted. Thomas Parsqns, Little Akaloa. License granted. Henry Wagstaff, Family Hotel, Akaroa. License granted. NEW APPLICATIONS. Antonio Rodrigues, Madeira Hotel, Akaroa, applied for an Hotel license, having previously held a wine and beer license. Mr. Inwood appeared in support of the application, and stated that he was prepared to prove, that the man Geoghan whose case had recently been before the Court, did not obtain the liquor from his client. '■'_»'.■ The police stated that there was sufficient accommodation for an • Hotel, and that they would rather see the bouse licensed as an Hotel, as wine and beer licenses as a rule were only a cloak for sly-grog-selling. The granting of the license waß adjourned till 19th inst. J. F. Stanbury applied for a Hotel license for a house newly erected in Little River, near Lake Forsyth. Mr. Inwood appeared in support of the application, and said that.the .want-of a house of the description sought to be licensed by his client has long been felt by travellers, cattle drivers and others whose business or pleasure took them by way of Little River. Travellers were compelled to ask for private hospitality, and Mr. Stanbury was well known as an entertainer in this way, and now that Frank's Hotel was to be shut up, as reported by the police, the necessity for a licensed house would be greater than ever. Mr. J. G. Joblin appeared along with the Rev. Mutu, the Maori missionary, on behalf of tlie residents of Little River to object to the granting of a Hotel license in Little River, and presented a petition praying that no license be granted, signed by upwards of 150 residents in the district. Mr. Inwood inquired if the fees had been-paidj and also whether if the objectors had given notice of their intention to oppose the license as requested by the 29th section of the Licensing Act of 1874. The Bench said that they had agreed to receive the petition, although the 2s. 6d. fee had not been paid before that morning. The matter of notice as required by the Act was different, and they would be acting illegally if they allowed the objectors to appear without notice. ; Mr Inwood remarked that the petition was only signed by the Maoris, the millowners, the Joblins, and the Reynolds's. He would call evidence in support of the usefulness of a licensed house at the place in question. J. McFarlane, driver of Cobb , and Cos. coach, examined by Mr. Inwood, said he knew the Little River road well,'and also the site of the proposed hotel, and knew for certaiu that a hotel at the River would be of great use to the public. He know the locality was one that cattle drivers between Christchurch and the Peninsula often camped at. At present there was neither accommodation for man nor beast and they had to camp out all night. Examined by Mr. Joblin: He did not think sportsmen would camp out if there was a hotel. He could always get to.the site of the hotel with his coach even if the lake was up. In the event of only one license being granted, he would prefer Stanbury's house to Frank's. When cattle get as far as the big lake there was plenty of camping ground and they were clear of the bush. „; By the Bench: It would not affect the coach ; it would, he should think, still have to stop at Frank's. There should be a house between Haine's and Little's at Tai Tapu. From Haine's to Shakespeare's was 32 miles, and from Haine's to Stanbury's about 7 miles. _ P. O'Connor, stock-driver, examined by Mr. Inwood: He frequently drove stock over the Little River range. It would be a great convenience to have a house at Stanbury's. If there was a house at Stanbury's we would always camp there for the night. Peninsula cattle were difficult to get thro ugh the Little River bush, and he had often been late. at .Stanbury's, where, by his kindness we were allowed to put cattle in the pound all night. .. .- Examined by Mr. Joblin: It would quite depend upon circumstances if a driver could reach Franks' before night His experience was that the distance was too far, and that drivers were generally -be* nighted at the River. / The Bench resolved to hear the Rev. Mutu, one of the objectors. He said he was very much opposed to a licensed house in Little River, because the Maoris here had formerly been teetotallers, and if |

a license was granted, it would be a great temptation to the native race. Schools and everything were going on well at present at Little River, but it was difficult to prevent the natives from being a drunken people. If liquor was sold there would be no end of drunkenness and waste of money, and consequently wives and children wandering with nothing to support them. He was much afraid this, if granted, would be the means of breaking many of their good rules. Mr. Inwood remarked that the same line of argument might be used in regard to the opening of a chemist's shop, as it would give opportunities for the purchase of poisons. It was absurd that the mere fact of a native settlement being at Little River should stand in the way of the whole community.

Mr. Joblin wished it to be understood that he did not object to an unlicensed house. It was the sale of spirits that was objectionable. The Bench adjourned the further consideration of granting tlie license until the 19th instant, and in the meantime instructed Sergeant Eamsay to ascertain what proportion the names on the petition bore to the population of the district. . SLAUGHTER-HOUSE LICENSES. _ The following slaughter-house licenses were granted, viz., J ule Lelievre, Long Bay road ; J. B. Barker, Little Akaloa; J. Bell, Wainui; James Hay, Pigeon Bay; Henry Barnett, Le Bon's Bay ; A. D. Allan, Little River; W. Pawson, Head of the Bay ; G. R. Joblin, Little River, two licenses. The question was put, how the fees would be paid, as they were due on Ist July. The Bench instructed the Clerk of the Court to telegraph for the necessary information.