AKAROA LICENSING COURT.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 249, 6 December 1878, Page 2

AKAROA LICENSING COURT.

Tuesday, Dec. 8

The quarterly meeting of the Licensing Court for Akaroa and surrounding district was held on the above date, the commissioners present being Justin Aylmer, Esq., Chairman, H. H. Fenton, and A. C. Knight, Esqs. Henry Macintosh applied for a license for a house at Little Akaloa, the license for which had been cancelled at a previous meeting, on the ground of its possessing very deficient accommodation. The police reported that great improvements had since been effected. License granted. Thomas Adams applied for a transfer of the license of the Criterion Hotel, Akaroa, to Wilfrid Johnson. No objection was offered by the police, and the transfer was granted. PIGEON BAY HOTEL. It was reported of this house that the furniture was in a bad condition, and that the outside offices were not kept clean. The licensee explained that the house was in such bad repair that he could not put good furniture in it. Mr T. Hay, one of the proprietors, was also in attendance. The Court intimated that a former decision of the Commissioners would be strictly adhered to, viz., that the license would be cancelled at the expiration of the present lease unless very material improvements were effected. Meanwhile, a new closet must be erected at once. SOMERSET HOTEL, HEAD OF THE BAY. Complaints had been lodged against this house which resolved themselves into three heads—l. That the bedrooms were dirty. 2. That the exterior of the house was dilapidated. 3. That travellers had met with incivility and inattention. With regard to the first point, the police reported having inspected the house carefully. They found tho placo thoroughly clean and well furnished. The licensee explained that the broken windows complained of had been caused by the late gale. On the third point the Court had two letters before them—one from Mr B. Shadbolt, and one a complaint which had been made to the police by the Rev. A. P. O'Callaghan and other gentlemen who had called at the house for refreshments. Mr Shadbolt stated that his reason for writing the letter was that numerous complaints had been made to him by travellers in the habit of using the house. The facts stated did not come within his own knowledge. The Chairman said it would be much better for those who had complaints, to make them direct to the police.- The Court could not take cognizance of charges made on hearsay evidence. The licensee denied having shown inattention or incivility. He had always been most assiduous in doing his best for the accommodation of his guests. With regard to the case of the Rev. Mr O'Callaghan and his companions, it happened that j he had nothing in the house at the time ! which suited them. He had offered to I cook them some ham, but they could not j wait. He might have spoken more sharply j than was right, and was sorry for it. I The Court hoped there would be no more complaints of incivility. It appeared that a sale-yard had been erected close to tho hotel. This must be kept, clean or removed. HAINES' HOTEL, HILL TOP. A condition formerly imposed on the licensee had not been complied with. The case was adjourned f a week to enable this to be "done, otherwise the license .would be liable to cancellation. FORSYTH ARMS. VVjth reference to this house, the police reported that a five-stall stable, which had been provided in accordance with a former order of the Court, had been appropriated to the use of the coach horses, and consequently the house was deficient in stable .accommodation for the public. The Court adjourned the case for a week. In the meanwhile the stable accommodation for the public to be restored. . . ...."! OKAIN'S BAY HOTEL. In this case, the police reported that the .licensee did not reside, on premises, and applied that the license should be transferred to some person* so residing. Adjourned for a week, arrangements for the transfer to be made in the interim. The remainder of the hotels* in the district were favorably reported of. An anonymous letter had been received

complaining of one of the hotels in Akaroa, but the Court decided that they could taka no cognizance of such a coimuuication* If people had complaints to make, let them come forward openly and do so. The Court then adjourned' till Tuesday. Dec. 10. ' - ' . i