LICENSING BENCH.

Gisborne Times, Volume XII, Issue 1065, 5 December 1903, Page 3

LICENSING BENCH.

The quarterly meeting of the Waiapu Licensing Bench was held yesterday. Present: The Chairman (Mr Barton, 8.M.), and Messrs J. Macfarlano, D. Hopbum, Charles Gray, and Captain Tucker. Reports were received from Constables Kelly, Waipiro; McLeod, Tolago Bay ; and Farmor, Ormond.

Sergeant Siddelis reported:—“During tho past quarter the following licensees have been convicted for breaohes of the licensing laws : —William Law, licensee of tho Kaitaratahi Hotel, was fined *£lo for Sunday trading. This was a very bad oase. C. Neenaa, lioensee of the Ormond Hotel, C. O’Connell, licensee of the Wae-renga-a-hika Hotel, and Maurice Hogan, licensee of the Makaraka Hotel, were each fined 10s for Sunday trading. These were not serious breaches of the law, and were evidently the result of not understanding the strict reading of the law. The various licensees in the town of Gisborne still appear to be observing the laws, and are conducting their houses in -a proper manner. The improvements ordered to be made to the Lake House at Tiniroto are well under way, and will be completed in a few days. No complaints have been made to me during past quarter.” The Chairman said the report with reference to town houses was very satisfactory, but not so, the Committee regretted to say, in regard to country houses. The Bench would like to see Sunday trading discontinued altogether. It would be better for everybody if that were done. Transfers were granted as follows: Tiniroto Hotel, James Henry Harvey to Alexander Robinson Molntyre. Mr Arthur Colfipan appeared, and stated it was desired to obtain an extension of time owing to tho building being larger than expected. It was expected that it would bo finished by December Ist. The Chairman said that where improvements were ordered to be done within tho specified time they should bo done, unless some satisfactory excuse could be made, but as the work waS so noar completion an extension of time was not necessary. Seaviow Hotel, James Smith to Thomas James Wright (Mr A. W. Rees iD support). Murewai Hotel, William Christopher Francis Maokay to William Currie (Mr Arthur Coleman). The following conditional licenses were granted : —Matawboro ealevards, Decomber 10th, from 10 a.ro. to 5 p.m., J. H. Aislabie. Makaraka ruceconrso, January Ist, 1903, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., J. H. Aislabie ; outside booth, same place, date, and hour, J. J. Martin.