LICENSING COURT.

Evening Star, Issue 3751, 2 March 1875, Page 2

LICENSING COURT.

Tuesday, March 12. (Before J. Bathgate, Esq., R.M. (chairman), A. O. Strode, Esq., R.M., J. Fulton, Esq., R.M., and W. Mason, Esq., J.P.) The usual quarterly meeting of the Linanaing Court was held at noon to-day. TRANSFERS. The following applications for transfers of publican’s licenses were granted Job Wain, sen., to Wm. Auld—Royal Hotel, King street j Henry M'Donald to John Haydon— Star and Garter Hotel Albany street; Charles Field to John Golder—Canongate Hotel, Canongate street; Job Wain, jun., to J. F. Jones—Wain’s Hotel, Manse street. Henry Fairbanks (for whom Mr Chapman appeared) applied for a transfer of the license of his hotel at the Peninsula. The police had objected to the renewal, as applicant’s wife was of intemperate habits and not a proper person to hold a publican’s license. The house was now let to a respectable tenant, and he asked that the matter be decided in order to allow a temporary transfer to be'taken out. —The Bench adjourned the case for a fortnight for that purpose. NEW LICENSE. James Forrester applied for a license for a new hotel at Forbury. Mr Harris, who appeared for applicant, said that his client was an old resident, and a man of very respectable character. The house was more than threequarters of a mile distant from any other bcensed house, and in consequence of the license of the Crown Hotel (having been discontinued by the Court it had become necessary that another house of better quality than the one originally licensed should be opened. The large amount of support which the house had already received from the public led to the conclusion that there should be another licensed house in the district. < He presented a memorial In favor of the application, signed by upwards of 100 inhabitants.—Some discussion ensued as to the meaning of the words “present year” in the Act. His Worship held that it meant “ year of grace,” but Mr Stout contended that if such were the case all licenses would end in December instead of in June. If a man got his license in April he would have to pay onefourth fee, but if it was granted in July he had to pay ’■the full amount, therefore the licensing year must terminate on July L—His Worship said that there was no doubt that there was an apparent inconsistency in the provisions of the Act, and that it was caused by the proviso being added in the Upper House. The whole of the?applicationa„for new licenses wore ultimately adjourned till the June meeting.— Mr Harris characterised the action of the Assemby in drafting such an Act as absurd legislation; but his Worship said he could not add a rider to that effect. BOTTLE LICENSES. A bottle license applied for by John Gollar was granted. The following transfers of bottle licenses were granted :—Faoob Fogel (deceased) to Catherine P. Miller, King street; William Smith to William Dawson, Kaikoral A CAUTION. Commissioner Weldon mentioned that several persons holding publicans’ licenses had been cautioned by the police that if they did not conduct their houses better than they had been doing, a formal objection to their renewal would be granted.