LICENSING COURT.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 145, 7 December 1877, Page 2

LICENSING COURT.

Tuesday, Dec. 4.

(Before the following Commissioners:— J.-Ayhner, Esq., R.M., and E. C. Latter, W. G. Innian, and Gr. H. Saxton Esqs.,

J..P.) Thomas Adams made application for a hotel license, for the Criterion Hotel. The police entering no objection the license was granted. John Olphert applied for a publican's license, or, should that be refused, a wine and beer license, for a hotel at Little River. The Bench stated that petitions had been received both for and against the application, and called upon any representatives of the latter present to state the objections.

The Rev. P. Mutu said he was deputed by the Maoris at Little River to oppose the license. Intoxicating liquor had worked great evil among the Maoris both in the North and this Island. They were in the habit of spending large sums of money in drink, especially on the occasion of any death amongst them. He was glad to say, however, that of late they had been endeavouring to drop their drinking habits. Public-houses were a great source of harm and temptation to them, and jiarticularly would one be so at Little River, where it would be so close to their residences. The site of this public-house was just opposite their fishing ground, and when they were wet and cold, the temptation for them to get a drink to warm themselves would be too strong for them, and one thing would lead on to another until great evil was wrought in their midst by the liquor. He believed there was a law against supplying the natives with liquor, but, as instanced in two or three cases at Kaiapoi where Maoris had been locked up for drunkenness, no notice was taken of that law. On these ground's he wished to oppose the license, and would suggest that the granting of a license be held overuntil the railway came to Little River, when, perhaps, there might be some necessity for such a house. But the accomodation it would afford to the few who travelled now, was insignificant compared with the harm it would work to the many. After all their endeavours to teach the Maoris sobriety, it seemed an utter contradiction to set up a public-house in their very'midst, and all their good work would be thrown away. Mr E. W. Morey appeared on behalf of the Good Templars to oppose the license. He objected to many of the signatures on the petition for the application, stigmatising some of them as being those of " loafers," while the majority were the names of the ta\elling public who did not care an iota about the good or the evil which their signing such a petition might effect. After considerable discussion, the Bench decided that a licensed hotel was necessary for the travelling public, and accordingly granted the license, which will take effect from the Ist January, 1878. slaughtering license. B. Mora and H. Mcintosh made applications for the above, which were granted, the police offering no objection.