LICENSING COURTS.

Evening Star, Issue 4065, 7 March 1876, Page 2

LICENSING COURTS.

Tuesday, March 7. (Before Commissioners Bathgate, Strode, and Hislop) NEW APPLICATIONS. John Leary applied for a license for the boarding-house called Bristol House Mr Harris appeared for applicant, and said that the hou?e in question was now respectably kept, and a large number of boarders, mostly, men working at the neighboring foundries, were resident there. A largely-signed petition in favor of the application Would be handed in, showing that the licensed house would be a great acccommodation to the district. A number of certificates as to Leary's good character were also read, and counsel added that applicant had a fourteen years’ lease of the premises.—The regretted that they could not grant this application, Leary might he a very respectable mao,, but.the Bristol House bad attained so notorious character that it required a further period probation

before, being granted a license.—Mr Harris a?ked if the could hold out any hope of its being granted at the annual meeting,—The Bench would not bind the Court in any way or exp:ess an opinion. : , James Uussell npplidd ~fdr a I'cenise jor his freehold house at the coiner of Cumberland and Frederick streets, to. be called the Jw A.’Bgtbgate. appeared ior applicant; Mr Adams, on behalf of D. C. Cameron, ran objector on the ground that it was unnecessary.— ■ Mr Bathgate went at length into arguments in favor df the application, saying that there was f oniy <ne hotel in Cumberland street, that the •.house was already built, and he held in his hand a petition in support signed by sixty-five householders resident in the nei:hb'orhood. 'J he objector, be believed, was a'Good Templar, and would not have public-houses anywhere if he could help it.—Mr Adams said the house was not required, it was situated in the midst of a number of small houses, and theie were hot (as in Leary’s case) any, large manufacturing establishments in the neighborhood whose workm n required aci'ommodat on. He, however, chiefly relied on the statement of the Bo ird at last sitting, that new licenses wou’d not be granted at any but the annual meeting of the Court, except in cases where there were very s'.roog reasons. He, theref-re, would call , no witnesses in support of the objection at the present meeting.— fhe Bench decided that they must adhere to their former ruling, namely, that they would not grant new licenses at quarterly meetings unless very strong reasons ousted. These did not exist in the present case, and the application would, therefore, be refused. James Findlater applied for a license for'the present unoccupied house in Walker street, formerly known as the Royal Exchange Hotel. Mr Harris supported, saying that if granted Findlater would at once erect a good and -substantial building in place of the present one. He bad been twenty-seven years in Dunedin, ami was:well known as a steady, respectable man. The original license had been taken away from the former tenant because the house was not ‘ properly conducted, but ■ this would-•'not now be the case.— The Bnch said the license had'been taken away partly because the police report stated that the house was not required in the slrtet there being already several licensed bouses iu the street. They were of opinion that there was still no necessity for another, and the application would be refused. .

John Outred applied foie a license for the boarding-house in Maitlsuid street formerly licensed udder the name of the Bay View Hotel. Mr HowOrtk supported; Mr Adams appeared for objectors.—Mr HoWorth handed m a petition signed by about eighty residents in the immediate vicinity, and said the license had been taken from the previous holder simply on account of his being a printer by trade, and haring therefore to Absent himself from the hotel during the day. The present applicant was not engaged in business away from home, and he at present kept boarders, having good accommodation. There Wits only one other house in the street, and 'that was'one that had little or no aoconuUodationfor boarders. Counsel said he bad only' received notice of opposition bust night.—Mr A dams said he relied principally on the same grounds as he had urged in the previous case, but at the same time urged that another house was not necessary.—The Bench said that the license was previously taken away because the :accommodation was limited and the house was unnecessary, and the same arguments holding good now the application would be refused. Benjamin Perry applied for a license for the formerly licensed house in Maclaggan street named the Alhambra Hotel. Mr.Harris appeared for applicant, and said the license bad been taken away on account of the landlord being lessee of some cottages occupied by questionable characters, but the applicant intended immediately to demolish them and make additions to the hotel. The new building would be a large and substantial one, ahda great credicto that partof the town.—The Benchsaid they were at present unable to hold but any promise that the application would be granted, but Perry might apply again at the annual meeting, when it would be folly considered. Still there was no hope held out, and applicant had better not go to any expense in the meantime. It was right to say that there were two or, three black marks against applicant’s name.—Mr Harris hoped these would not act as a bar to the granting of a license at the annual meeting. James Forrester, for, whom Mr Harris appeared, applied for a license for the boardinghouse occupied by him at Darley, on the Forbury road. Mr Harris said the population in the district was rapidly increasing, and the house would be a great'convenience. Applicant bore a very respectable character, and had kept his boarding-house very properly.—The Bench would not grant the application at this sitting, and instructed the police to make a special report; on the case if a fresh application was made.

Mis Margaret Carveth applied for a night license ior the Black Bull Hotel, George street. Mr B. Cook supported.—Mr Commissioner Weldon said he thought the night license unnecessary, as the White Horse and Robert Burns Hotels were just opposite, and they both had night licenses.—The Bench said they con d not grant the application. A night license was granted to John Haydon, of the Star and Garter Hotel.

A brewer’s license was granted to Joseph Kiihltz, of the North-East valley. Transfers were sanctioned as follows Supreme Court Hotel, George Stewart Stephenson to Henry Moore Morrison; Oriental Hotel, John Scott to H.- C. Nankurvis; Panama Hotel, Harris Friedlioh to Simeon. Isaacs. In the Snpreine Court Hotel case Mr E. Hay appeared for applicants. Mr Commissioner Weldon said the house was a mere shell and nothing but a drinking shop. - It had also no accommodation, while within a hundred yards .there was a well-conducted house with ample accommodation. As it was like licensing a new person to carry on the business he thought this the best time to lodge his objection. The Bench granted .the transfer np to the next annual' meeting, as there was only a quarter to go : but if steps were not taken to improve toe hotel it was highly improbable that a renewal of the license would be granted.

A bottle license was granted to Bela Singer for his store in (George street; but .similar licenses were refused to Oscar Louis, of Albany and streets, and John Campbell, of Maori Hill. PORT CHALMERS,

The Licensing Board for the District of Port Chalmers held a meeting this forenoon, when the transfer of the license of the hew Port Chalmers Hotel from R. T. Bolton to George Dodson was granted without opposition.