THE BAY OF PLENTY TIMES. “ The spirit of the times shall teach me speed." KING JOHN, ACT IV. SATURDAY, AUGUST 1,1874.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume II, Issue 199, 1 August 1874, Page 2

THE BAY OF PLENTY TIMES. “ The spirit of the times shall teach me speed." KING JOHN, ACT IV. SATURDAY, AUGUST 1,1874.

Tfe new Licensing Bill contains thirtyeight clauses. It declares every existing Licensing Court duly constituted, notwithstanding any informality in appointment, either in respect of the Court itself or its individual members. The same clause validates all existing licences of whatever kind granted under the Act, or in supposed conformity with it, and whether granted at times and in manner provided for or not. Provincial Acts passed since last year, not inconsistent with Fox’s Act and this one, are to remain in force. Provision in last year’s Act relating to the appointment of Commissioners is repealed ; but the provisions substituted do not differ materially; the Governor fixes a quorum for each Court, and may, if he likes, remove any Commissioners from office. Holders of licences may be allowed more than one public bar, but for every such additional bar au additional licence fee of one-third the ordinary fee is to be pa’d. Wholesale and packet licences may be issued by the Provincial Treasurer at any time. Brewer’s licences may be issued under any Provincial Act recognising or requiring them. Where licence fees are municipal revenue, the Mayor issues wholesale and packet licences, each of which must have a year’s currency from date. Packet licences may be issued for the colony, and not for the province merely. Wholesale dealers and brewers are still required to take out licences under the Distillation Act. Quarterly licensing meetings, with all powers appertaining to annual meetings, are to be held the first Tuesday in the months of December, March, June, and September of each year, for granting, transferring, and renewing licences ; notice of such meetings is to be given one month before, by at least three advertisements. Applications for licences to be lodged fourteen days before the date of meeting, and when application is made for the renewal of an

existing licence. No householder’s certificate is required. Bottle licences are authorised to be granted. Every holder of a publican’s or bottle licence is to be held entitled to a renewal, as a matter of course, unless it is proved to the Licensing Court that be has lost his good character, and the Court is bound to grant a renewal, unless notice of objection is given, unless such notice, setting forth the grounds of objection have been duly lodged with clerk and a copy sent to the licencee. No applicant for a renewal will be required to attend personally at the Court. Transfers may be objected to in the same way as new licences. Licences issued in June are to date for a year from the Ist July following; those granted at other licensing meetings, from the following month to the 30th June ; a proportionate amount only of the annual licence fee to be paid. The Chairman of the Court may at any time grant a temporary transfer to the purchaser of licensed premises, and the Court itself may authorise the transfer of a licence to different premises. The legal representtives of a deceased licencee may obtain from the Chairman authority to carry on the business. The E.M. in any district

may at any time grant any holder of a publican’s licence an extension, authorising him to sell at Volunteer encampments, races, fairs, games, regattas, cricket grounds, theatres, music halls, or other places of public amusements, for any period not exceeding seven days, and may

impose what conditions be likes. On the occasion of any ball, dinner, or other festivity in a licensed house the U.M. may authorise keeping open up to (after?) midnight. In case of frivolous objection to a licence, costs may be given against the objector, but not against any officer of the police. ISo objection is to be heard unless notice has been given, and no subordinate officer of the police is to make any objection not contained in the official report required from the chief officer of the police. Persons giving false evidence before the Incensing Court may be indicted for peijury, and all orders made by the Court may be enforced by summary proceedings. Forms may be altered to suit circumstances. The scale of authorised Court fees is described. The Minister of Public Works is authorised to grant licences for’ refreshment rooms at railway stations.