LICENSING COURT.

Evening Star, Issue 4298, 5 December 1876, Page 2

LICENSING COURT.

Tuesday, i ecember 5. [Before Commissioners J. Bathgate, A. C. Strode, J. Fulton, and J. Hislop.] [The Court was fixed to commence its proceedings at 12 o’clock, but it was sixteen ruinates to one before the Commissioners took their seats on the bench.] APPLICATION FOR REINSTATEMENT. William Imslay, through Messrs A. Bathgate and Aldrich, applied for the return of the licence taken away at last meeting from the London Tavern, Walker street. Counsel affirmed that there was more rowdiness and unpleasantness by far in the neighborhood since toe license had been taken away. Mr Aldrich said the bad characters resident about there now got drink from sly-grog shops, of which there were many in the vicinity. Applicant was a man of very good character and intended putting up a new house. Counsel would ask to be allowed to call the Commissioner of Police and other witnesses as to applicant’s character. The Bench said it was unnecessary to call evidence, as they were unanimous in determining to refuse the application on the ground that the house was noot needed. NIGHT LICENSES. Moss Moss, Ship Inn, Jetty street-re-fused ; William Bastings, Victoria Motel—refused. TRANSFERS GRANTED. James Baxter, Maitland Hotel, Maitland street, to John Joseph Connor (applicant stating in answer to toe Bench that he intends devoting his whole time to the management of the house); Daniel Black, Gridiron Hotel, Princes street south, to James Martin (tinder similar conditions); Joseph Braithwaite, Oriental Hotel, Princes street, to William Gawn; James Cummins to Robert Thomas Waters; John Aikman, Glasgow Arms Hotel, to Michael Murphy ; Thomas Hetherington, Shamrock Hotel, to William L. Philip j James Martin to Dominic Harris ; Thomas Linklater, York Hotel, to George Farrell; Nicholas T. t/tfflejrsj Pertobeflo Hotel, to Ludvig M«yrick. APPLICATION FOK SSTRA BAR. William Edward Couzeas applied for a bar in the portion of the London Hotel facing Jetty street. Mr Haggitt explained the position of the house, which has a frontage to Princes street and one to Jetty street, and said a bar in each part would be a great convenience to its large business connection. — The Bench were against the application, as the shlp Hotel lay between the two parts of the Londttfi Hotel, and they did not wish to encourage bar trade by ersating a number of bars in close proximity to each otherNEW LICENSES. John Lrary, Foundry Hotel, Cumberland Stfeet (Mr A. Bathgate). Refused; the Bench sajdug It had been laid down that no application for new licenses would be received save at the annual meeting of the Court, unless strong reasons were urged. There being no special circumstances in this case, the application would be refused. - James Cfimiffins, Great Northern Hotel. Mr Haggitt, who appeared for applicant, produced plana of the new building in course of erection by applicant. The Bench cautioned enterprising men against spending a lot of money in building fine hotels and then taking the Court by storm with applications for licenses for them. The question would always be first asked whether such houses were needed. At present this application would be refused.—James Russell, Stag Hotel. Mr A. Bathgate appeared for applicant, and stated that he had a number of witnesses who would prove that toe house was much required. The Bench refused the application, without hearing evidence. Mr A. Bathgate then asked if the Bench had had their minds influenced against the applicant, for he understood that some person had been writing anonymous letters to the authorities. The Bench replied that the refusal must be put down to the multiplicity of licensed houses in the neighborhood.— James Scanlan, King street. Refused. - Daniel J. J. Doyle, Mornington Hotel. Mr Haggitt appeared for applicant, and stated there were special circumstances surrounding the case. The license held at last meeting had been taken away from Fogarty, tbe original proprietor, but the present applicant intended keeping the house—which is the ouly one in the district—in a respectable manner. The Bench said the police report was to the effect that the house would prove a great convenience if properly conducted. The application would be granted.- James Forrester, Darley Hotel. Mr E. C. Strode appeared for applicant with Mr F. R. Chapman, who handed in a lengthy and numerously-signed petition from residents in the district in favor of the application being granted. The application was refused.—Thomas Allan, of Allandale, Forbury, applied, per Mr C. C. Kettle, for a license for a large dwelling-house recently turned into an hotel. Counsel stated that applicant did not intend to carry on a bar trade, but simply to serve picnic parties from town and find them accommodation. Abdication refused at this meeting.—James Smit- 1 , for a house near toe Ocean Beach and racecourse. Mr F. R. Chapman, for applicaut/kaffiiecl in a favorable petition from a largh nuigber of residents, but the application

was refused at the present sitting.—Thomas Heffernan, South Dunedin. Mr Stout appeared for applicant; Mr Haggitt and Mr Adams opposed. Mr Stout said that npplicat was the first person who had put up an hotel on the Flat. As to the objections lodged, they came from people at Kensington and the Forbury, and not from residents in South Dunedin. Mr Haggitt urged that the house was not needed, there being a licensed house immediately opposite. Counsel was interrupted by the Bench stating that the application would be refused at this meeting.—Daniel White, Ravensbonrne. Messrs Haggitt and Aldridge appeared for applicant, and stated that he had laid out L 3,000 on the building, application refused, the Bench saying White could turn the building into a boarding-house. BOTTLE LICENSES. George Cornish and Peter Rutherford, of Caversham, applied for bottle licenses. Consideration deferred till next annual meeting. QUARTERLY COMPLAINTS. The Chairman : Before the meeting closes I have to call the attention of licensees generally to the quarterly report of the Commissioner of Police. I will mention the names of those licensees who have got into black books, and have to caution them that they are not forgotten and may come up again. Patrick Fagan, Southern Hotel, fined 20s and costs for Sunday trading—a second offence will Certainly entail forfeiture of the license ; Wm. Basting, Victoria Hotel, and Adam Anderson, Allandale Arms, houses open after hours; Patrick Cottar, Caledonia Hotel, same and permitting people to assemble in his house ; David Carey, permitting drunkenness in his house, and John Colehan same and permitting gambling. Mr A. Bathgate stated that in these cases the constable was actuated by malice, and that the allegations were groundless. Commissioner Weldon denied this and courted full inquiry. The Bench held that it was not necessary to go into the matter and passed over the applicants with a caution.