LICENSING COURT.

Evening Star, Issue 4226, 12 September 1876, Page 3

LICENSING COURT.

Tuesday, September 12. (Be£<.p» J. Bathgate, A. C. Strode, and J. Hislop, J.P.s’, Commissioners.)

Moss Mobs, Ship Inn. —The Chairman said that the Court had had considerable difficulty in dealing with this application for reasons which were well urged by the objectors, and to which it was unnecessary to again revert to. The Court had personally inspected the premises, and so far as they go, although somewhat limited in extent,! they possessed the necessary accommodation for the convenience of the public ; and the Court had a statement from the Commissioner of Police that there was more accommodation in the present premises than in the old Ship Inn. Still, with all that a difficulty stared the Court in the face ; bat on the last occasion when the case was before them, applicant submitted plans of his intended house, and the Court then regarded the whole matter as an intended resuscitation of the old licensed house, but under more favorable circumstances. They then did not look into the possibility of another hotel extending its arms on two sides, and coming close up to the new premises. At that time the Court gave an implied sanction to the applicant and led him to understand that if his house was built according to the plan they would be inclined to renew the license for the old Ship Inn. That understanding or implied sanction—it could hardly be called a promise—induced the applicant to spend a large sum of money in building his new promises ; and this weighed very much with the Court in coming to a conclusion to-day. With the difficulty they felt in the whole circumstances they were under the necessity of granting the application, and they did so with the hope that one publican would buy ont the other, and th&pnblic thus have the convenience of a large central hotel in an excellent situation. License granted accordingly. . Matthew Fogarty, Momington Hotel. - The Commissioner of Police having reported that applicant was of intemperate habits, of violent conduct, and an unfit person to be entrusted with a license, the Court regretted its inability to grant this license.—Applicant said he had intended leasing this hotel for five or seven years to a respectable mao.— The chairman said that in no case would the Court make promises or be bound by anything that had taken place at a previous sitting of the Court. No plans must be produced of intended buildings, and no intentions expressed; every application must be guided solely by the facts brought before the particular Court assembled. They hoped that henceforth no attempt would be made to get a promise or sanction, as it would have no effect in a future Court.

Transfer. —The adjourned application for a transfer of the license of the Supreme Court Hotel from Henry M‘Morrison to Cornelius Driscoll was considered.—Applicant was informed at the last quarterly meeting of the Court that it was an absolute necessity that something should be dene towards renovating the premises. Some difficulty had occurred as to the transfer of the adjoining land, and nothing was yet done.— Mr Bathgate, who appeared for applicant, stated that an arrangement had been come to, and promised that the repairs should be effected immediately. The license was granted, the Commissioner of Police to report specially at next quarterly meeting whether the place had been put in a proper state of repair. Ur- WEST TAIERI. The quarterly meeting of the Licensing Court was held on Monday in Outram, the Commissioners being Messrs James Fulton (chairman), Allan, and Todd. There was only one case before the Court, viz., the application of Mr James Wilkie for a license for a new hotel at Greytown, Mr Adams opposed the latter, presenting to the Court a numerously signed petition from the residents in the district against the granting ef a license. After healing argument the Court decided that the house was not required, and refused the license.