PACKET LICENSES.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 942, 15 July 1903, Page 2

PACKET LICENSES.

WANGANUI PACKET, LICENSES.

(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. The Wanganui packet license case was before the full Bench of the Supreme Court to-day. The question involved is whether liquor could . be sold while a river steamer was ay the picnic ground. One side argued that this ground was the terminus of the trip, and liquor could only be sold on the voyage, and tfie other that the voyage was not completed till the vessel returned to Wanganui. The Court raised a further point whether such a trip, came within the scope of the license at all. Later.—Judgment in the first packet license case was reserved and ’another case then came before the Court, on a motion for a writ of certiorari to quash a packet license ■granted by the Wanganui Licensing; Committee tq Murdoch Stuart, applying between CastlecM and Whenuatere. The grounds of the motion were :—(1) That the packet license was taking effect within a block or ' area of native 'and proclaimed by the Governor under the Act of 1881, and was therefore unlawful ; and (2) that the committee refused a proper opportunity to objectors who had given due notice of their intent’on ta object, to. be heard by their witnesses arid counsel in opposition to the granting of licenses. The Court raised the point whether a river can be regarded as native land, and subject to the section of the Act on which the case turns. Judgmont was reserved.