LICENSING COURT.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1072, 4 December 1877, Page 2

LICENSING COURT.

CHKISTCHURCH (quaeteely sitting.) Tuesday, Decembee 4. [Before G. L. Melliah, Esq., R.M., Chairman ; H. J. Tancred and G. L. Lee, Esqs., Commissioners.] HOTEL LICENSES. Messrs Buckley and Marshall applied for a hotel license for a new building at the corner of Manchester street and South Town Belt. Mr Cowlishaw appeared to support the application, and said the house was let to Mr Wearing, of Kaiapoi. Inspector Buckley told the Court that the house was a very suitable one, but was not furnished when he inspected it about ten days ago. Mr Cowlishaw said he was aware that arrangements were made to furnish the place at once. License granted.—J. M. Fitz Gerald applied for a license for his house in Harper street, Sydenham. Mr Joynt and Mr Thomas appeared for the applicant, and Mr Wynn Williams to oppose. Mr Joynt handed in a memorial signed by a a large number of residents in favor of the license being granted. He said if the people there did not think a licensed house was necessary in the district, they would not be likely to sign a memorial quarter after quarter. He (Mr Joynt) understood there was only one hotel at present in Sydenham. His friend Mr Williams represented a small section of the community who represented extreme views, and though he (Mr Joynt) was a total abstainer himself, he still thought that well-conducted hotels were as necessary in a community as courts of justice. He did not think that this small section should be allowed to override the desire ©f some hundreds of the residents, as shown by the memorial he had put in. The applicant had conducted a house in a respectable manner for some time past, and he would also point out that the notice stating objections had not been served as required by the Act. In reply to the Court, the applicant said the memorial handed in had been signed when the previous application was made. Mr Joynt said he would ask the Court to consider irrespective of private feelings—whether it was not thought from the population in the district that a hotel was necessary in the neighbourhood. The chairman said he observed that a number of publicans had signed the memorial who did not live any way near the place. Mr Joynt said he was prepared to lead evidence that the memorial was signed by bona fide residents in th« district who were anxious for the accommodation. The seeming objection of the Bench forced him to assume that the Court were not desirous of granting an application for a hotel license to anyone, no matter how much the inhabitants might desire it. If the case were adjourned for a fortnight he would be prepared to produce undeniable evidence to show that a large majority of the residents desired that the house should be licensed. After consultation, the Court decided to adjourn the application for a week, those opposing to have an opportunity then of appearing.—John Hughes applied for a license for a building at i the corner of the North belt and Victoria j road. —Henry Q.ualmer applied for a license ! for a building on the NortlT-east belt. These i applications were heard together. Mr Joynt appeared for Mr Qunlmer. Plans of the proposed buildings were handed in. Mr | Joynt pointed out that his client's I house would be at the junction of four roads, i and the nearest public-house on the town side was the Foresters' Hotel, a distance of three-quarters of a mile, and on the New Brighton side the nearest hotel was the New Brighton. The suburb was rapidly becoming populated and important, and he held a largely signed paper by the inhabitants in favor of Mr Qualmer holding a license. The ; house was not in the vicinity of any church, and would prove a great convenience to the travelling community. In reply to the chairman, Inspector Buckley said he could not say there was a great deal of traffic in the ; locality at present. Mr Thomas, as a resident in the neighborhood, said he could speak positively of there being a good deal of traffic along the roads there. Mr Joynt said it was probable a bridge would be built over the river there, and that would largely increase , the traffic. Mr Hughes remarked to the ! Court that if the bridge were built his house I would be the most convenient. The Chair- | man said he noticed that both the house 3 ; would be immediately opposite the cemetery. i Mr Joynt said that though opposite the cemei lory reserve, the entrances were a long distance away in Barbadoes street, and his client's place was opposite the ground which would not he used for many years to conie. Besides he would mention that during the last days of Provincialism an endeavor wa3 made to get a large block of land some distance from town for a cemetery, and no doubt a piece of land for such a purpose would bs acquired in a little while. Besides the ground fronting Mr Qualmer's house would not require to be used for years, if it ever was required for that purpose. Mr Hughes pointed out that the road opposite Mr Qualmer's place wan only half a chain wide, I while it was a chain wide in front of his place. 'After consideration, the Chairman said the Court were not quite satisfied that a house was required in the neighborhood, and would prefer to wait and see what course the traffic would take through the locality. They also had an objection to grant a license in the neighborhood until they saw whether it was intended to retain the present cemetery reserve for its original purpose. II at a future time this objection weio removed, and the course of the traffic determined, the Court would be willing to again consider the applications. Both applications would be declined. - John Mumford applied for a hotel license for his premises at corner of Madras street and South Belt. Mr George Harper appeared to support the application, and said at the present time the applicant held a wine and oeer license. He had erected a substantia! house of seventeen rooms, and had ample ground to extend the building when required or if desired. Ho was informed that during the race week the hoxxse was. full. In reply to the Court, Inspector Buckley said the house had one more room than was required by the act for public accommodation. The house stood upon an ae-re of ground, and thore was ample room for additions. Mr Harper snid there waa a passenger platform at the rear of applicant's place, and it was intended to have a crossing over the railway in the line from Waltham. The chairman said the Court would prefer to allow the matter to stand over until next meeting to see what the railway arrangements as to the traffic would be also what extensions applicant would determine on making during the next twelve months. The application would be declined for the present.—J. W. Smith ap« ili.i fcr » Utesjc's fox hie hotel tit th?

corner of St. Asaph street and the East belt. Mr Wynn Williams supported the application, and handed in a plan of the building, which is completed. It would be remembered that the Court had expressed an opinion that a house of a suitable kind wa3 required in the neighborhood, and if such a one were erected they would be inclined to grant a license. His client had gone to very great expense in building the premises. In reply to the chairman, Inspector Buckley said the house was a very excellent one, but was not quite furnished on the 20th November, when he made his inspection. The applicant told the Court that the furnishing was now completed. License granted.—John Morgan, Country Hotel, Halkett. No appearance of applicant. WINE AND ISEKB. William Pengelly applied for a wine and beer license for his boarding house, corner of St. Asaph and Durham streets. Mr Slater appeared for applicant. The application was opposed by Eev. T. E. Fißher and others. The Chairman said the Court did not see the necessity for a license being granted in the neighborhood. The application would be refused. TEANSFEKS. The following transfers were confirmed : Warwick Hotel, from W. J. Simmonds to W. B. Smith. The applicant stated that he intended building a new house. —Eising Sun Hotel, Caledonian road, from Charles Turner to E. Freeman. —Courtenay Hotel, Halkett, E. Dearsley to J. Morgan. SIGNATUBES TO MEMOBIALS. The Chairman said the Court would decline for the future to entertain any memorials where the addresses were not clearly set forth along with the signatures. It was evident that signatures were often obtained from persons who did not reside near the house sought to be licensed, and the Court would decline to accept such signatures for the future. The Court then rose. LYTTELTON. [Before W. Donald, Esq. (chairman), and H. E. Webb and T. H. Potts, Commissioners.] TEANSFEES. The license of the British Hotel was transferred from John Elvines to J. Baldwin, and that of the Canterbury from T. Bailey to A. Macdonald.