QUARTERLY LICENSING MEETING.

Evening Star, Issue 3287, 2 September 1873, Page 2

QUARTERLY LICENSING MEETING.

(Before I. N. Watt, Esq., R.M, ; B. ff. Ward, Esq, J.P.; and J. Black, Esq., J.P.)

The following was the business transacted at the Quarterly Licensing Meeting, which was held to day at noon. Michael Boland applied for a general license for the Eagle Tavern, Stafford street. Mr Stout (instructed by Mr Harris) in support. This was one of a batch of houses from which a previous licensing bench had withdrawn the license, but as in two or three of those cases the licenses had since been regranted, Mr Stout contended that Boland was in justice entitled to have his.—Mr Watt : 1 am aware that a new licensing measure is now before the General Assembly; and speaking for myself, I think it inadvisable to grant any new licenses at the present time.—MrStout pointed out that the Colonial measure was permissive in two ways. It did not become law until the Provincial Council adopted it} and it was just possible it might never become law in Otago.—Mr Watt s There were a dozen magistrates on the bench when the license wai refused before ; but it being English mail day to-day, there is a very small bench, —Mr Ward: On the last occasion I was in favor of granting this license ; and I was the only one out of about twelve or thirteen. After consultation, the Bench decided to refuse the application.

W. S. Douglas (for whom Mr Stout appeared) applied for a general license for the vestibule of the Queen’s Theatre. Mr Watt : The Bench feel disposed to grant the application, as the Commissioner of Police says doing so is likely to clear the streets of the people. At present a great nuisance is caused at night by their either standing on the pavement or crossing over to public houses.—The application was adjourned till Monday, when it was intimated that if additional accommodation was provided, it would be granted. Henry Hawker (for whom Mr Stout appeared) applied for a general license for the premises in Stuart street, known as Muir’s Old England Motel. Mr E. Cook opposed on behalf of Mr Feuwick, an adjacent publican, on the grounds that there was no necessity for another public-house in that locality, and that the license had been taken away from the previous holder for reasons well-known to the Bench. —Mr Watt stated that the Bench, by a majority, had decided to refuse the application. Peter M‘Laren (for whom Mr Stout, in structed by Mr Harris, appeared) applied for a license for a house at Brighton ; and Bernard Wasserbrenuer (for whom Mr Wilson appeared), made a similar application. The latter applied at the last sitting, when his

application was refused, because bis bouse lid not possess thenecessa-y accommodation. Petitions in favor of borh houses were handed to the Bond), and the Cun-nissioner of Police suggested that in view of the district bung visited by faraiius, and used as a summer resort, it would be well for the Bench to consider the propriety of granting both applications, which was accordingly done.

James Scanlan’a application for a night license for the Rose. Thistle, and Shamrock Hotel, Great King street, was refused. James Bardie applied for a general license for a house situate at the corner of George street and Forth place. Mr A. Bathgate referred to the fact that there was no publichouse in the afreet from the White Horse to the Water of Leith ; and that the petition in favor of the application was signed by the landlords of the three nearest public-houses in the adjoining street--Mr Watt: Before going any further, Mr Bathgate, your license is granted. The applicator for bottle licenses of James Lindsay (Cargill street), James Watson (Cumberland street), and George Drydeu (Russell street), were refused, on the ground that there was no necessity for such a licensed place in the several localities named. Transfers of the license of the Royal George Hotel, George street, from Guy Bennett to Malabar Cuthbertson; and of a bottle license for premises in Walker street from M. S. Watt to Edward Sheedy, were granted. James Heron applied for a bottle license for premises in Walker street, Mr Stout supported the application ; and Mr E. Cook opposed it, on the grounds that it was net wanted, as there were already nineteen licensed premises in the locality, to supply the wants of some 400 penons; and that these bottle stores were greater encouragements to intemperance than all the hotels.— Mr Stout said such a line of argument would come well from his learned friend if he had been retained by a lodge of Good Templars, instead of by the publicans in the neighborhood.—The Bench decided to grant the application.