LICENSING COURTS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1650, 4 June 1879, Page 3

LICENSING COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. The annual meeting of the Licensing Bench was held at the Resident Magistrate’s Coixrt yesterday, at noon, when the following commissioners were present;—G. L. Mcllish, Esq, R.M. (chairman), R. J. S. Harman, H. J. Tancred, G. L. Lee, Esqs. Inspector Hickson appeared on behalf of the police. Mr R. D. Thomas appeared for the Licensed Victuallers’ Association. NEW HOTELS. Applications for the following now hotels were made; — J. E. Coker, for an hotel, to ho called Coker’s Hotel, corner of Bath and Manchester streets. In granting the license the Court said it was gratifying to see that a better class of houses were being built, more fitted for the accommodation of the public, F. J. Ditford, for an hotel situated at the corner of Fourth street and tho Gasworks road. The application was supported by Mr O’Reilly, who stated everything was in readiness to commence building operations, and that there were no other houses near the locality. The Bench could not see the necessity of granting a license for that district, and they were not satisfied with the kind of house contemplated as being too much bar and too little hotel accommodation. They would not recommend the applicant to incur the expense of building, as he had net commenced. Refused. Elijah Gadd for an hotel half-way between Christchurch and Heathcote. Mr O’Reilly also appeared for this applicant. Ho said there was no house nearer to the proposed site than a mite and a half. There was a large population of hrickmakers, and there was no opposition to the application. Inspector Hickson said the requirements of the Act were not complied with, and there was not half tho accommodation required. Refused. Stephen Lawrence, fer a honse to be called tho Cyprus Hotel, Colombo road south, There were petitioners against this application, as well as to every one applied for in the Borough of Sydenham. The applicant supported his application with a counter petition containing 200 signatures in his favour. The Bench s»id the matter had been duly considered, and, without feeling bound to state any reasons, they could not hold out the slightest encouragement to commence building a house in that locality. Refused.

Alfred Piper, for an hotel to ho called the Addington Hotel, in Selwyn street. Eefnscd. The application for renewal of his present license was then entertained, and he told the Bench he had only taken the house on the understanding that a renewal would he granted. He was willing to carry out any improvements in the way of enlargement that the Bench might suggest. The Bench said that at the last licensing meeting it was clearly understood that the license would only he renewed on the understanding that the house should be enlarged and improved. The Bench held that the stipulation had not been complied with, and that, therefore, the license would not he renewed. Henry Qualmer, for an hotel in the Bingsland road, at the corner of the Stanraore road. Mr Slater appeared in support of the application, and Mr Flesher opposed it. A petition largely signed was put in in favor of the applicant. Mr Flesher informed the Bench that the population was a cottage one, that a licensed house was not needed there, and that if one was established it would only have the effect of drawing away men from their homes. Mr Slater reminded the Bench that on a previous occasion thep had held out encouragement that a license would be granted. That had however fallen through, and the license now asked for would replace the one that had been contemplated. The Bench said thov could not hold out the slightest hope of any license ever being granted to flimsy wooden|houses of the description applied for, and declined to express any opinion as to the chance of any house ever being licensed in that locality. John Somers, for an hotel in road South. Mr Izard appeared for the applicant, and said that the house was already built and furni°hed. There wore two lengthy petitions put in, one in favor of and the other against the applicant. Mr Izard put in a plan showing the existing houses in the borough, by which it would appear that there was not one in any degree of proximity to the one that the license was asked for. Mr Izard objected to the petition against the license, on the ground that it contained no valid grounds of objection. The Eev. J. S. Smalley said that the petition against the license had been handed in more than a week ago, properly signed and sealed, and with all due legal formalities complied with, which was not the case with the other petition. With regard to the legal aspect of the question, that was in the present state of the law an invidious one, as in point of fact Sydenham was a portion of the Christchurch Licensing District, and was not a licensing district of itself at all. Mr Izard said, speaking from that text, there were fifty-three licensed houses in Christchurch, and three in the Borough of Sydenham, and he considered that the teetotallers had no right to dictate to a community of nearly 8000 how many houses there should be in the borough. If a fourth house were not required in so large a population as that of Sydenham, surely a fifty-fourth house, which had just been licensed, was not needed in Christchurch. The Eev. Mr Macfarlane addressed the Bench in opposition to the application, on the ground that the house was not required. The Eev. Mr Smalley asked the Bench to express an opinion in favor of not hearing any fresh applications for the house in question, as it entailed a large amount of anxiety and trouble to the League and friends of temperance to attend at the Licensing Court every quarter in opposition. Tho Bench said it was not in tbeir power to interfere with the law on that point. Mr Packer opposed the granting of the license, on the ground that it would lead to a mere bar trade, and would be no convenience to tho travelling public or those who lodged in hotels. The application was refused. Mary Ann Eulc, for the Cave Eock Hotel, Snmner. Eefused, hut the Bench renewed the license for selling wine and beer. Henry Scrimshaw, for an hotel at the corner of Third street and Harper street, Mr Williams appeared for the applicant. This application was also strongly opposed by the temperance party, represented as before by the Eevds. Macfarlane, Smalley, and White. Petitions for and against were also put in. The Bench declined to grant a license. RENEWALS. Tho following applications for renewals were granted Henry Allen, Golden Ago; J. W. Anderson, Prcbbleton Hotel; J. Ackermann, Waltham Arms; C. Amyes, Papanni Hotel (this applicant was cautioned as _ to tho manner in which ho conducted his hotel

for the future); J. Barlow, Albion Hotel; J. Barrett, Borongh Hotel; V. Berti, Foresters; W. H. Bennett, Garrick; B. Belgrave, Crown; George Beatty, Palace; W. T. Baugh, Collms; J. Blake, A 1; J. Carl, Empire ; W. A. Collier, White Swan ; George Collier, Royal George; Joseph Coles, Wharf; J. Carpenter, Albion ; E. Cookson, Commercial; J. Dann, Oxford; C. Deal, Eotherfield ; Charles Dunford, Royal (subject to some necessary repairs) ; John Pox, Prince of Wales; John Franks, Talbot, >’ aid hurst,; Elizabeth Fuchs, Wellington; S. Freeman, Southern Hotel. The applicant asked permission to change the name of the hotel, but the Bench declined to accede to the request. In granting a renewal of the license, the Bench cautioned tho applicant, as several complaints had been made about Sunday and after hour selling. John Garland, Railway Hotel. Before granting a renewal of this license, the Bench severely censured tho applicant on tho execrable quality of the liquor sold. The Chairman said a case had come under his notice where a person after drinking one glass of ale purchased in the hotel, had been perfectly atupified. Ho had no doubt that if a chemical analysis of the beer had been made at the time thjit the presence of some deleterious drug would havo been detected. Mr Inspector Hickson said that frequent complaints of a similar nature had to his knowledge been made, and in fact they were more frequent than in any other honse in tho city. He also wished to bring under the notice of the Bench the case of the man Murray, who about a month ago hid died in the Hospital; whither he had been conveyed in an unconscious state, after sleeping for several days in a loft belonging to the hotel. Tho conduct of the landlord he considered had been most reprehensible in allowing the man to have been so neglected. The Bench, while granting the renewal, expressed the very strongest dissatisfaction at the way the house had been conducted generally, and wore of opinion that in tho case of the man Murray, the conduct of the landlord had evinced an extreme want of discretion. They recommended him to exercise tho strongest caution for tho future, as if any more complaints were made the license would be summarily cancelled. Henry Garland, White Horse, Tuam street; Jesse Hall, Eastern Hotel; R, Hamilton, Marine Hotel, Sumner. Mr Inspector Hickson objected to tho renewal of tho license, on the ground that the landlord neglected his business while ho went away to work at his trade, leaving tho hotel to be looked after by a boy fourteen years of age. The Bench granted the application upon tho understanding that the applicant made over tho license to a person to he approved of by the Bench within the next three months. J. A. Hansman, Feathers Hotel, Addington ; H. Haddrell, Market; R. P. Hill, British; E. Hiorns, Central; F. Innes, Caledonian ; J. Johnstone, Kingston Hotel, Colombo road ; W. H. Kiddey, Golden Fleece; C. Lewis, Riccarton Hotel; Mary Martin, Black Horse ; J. T. McKendrick, New Brighton Hotel; J. Morling, Victorian ; J. Morgan, Halkett and Courtenay ; D. McGuinness, Britannia ; J. H. Morton, Morton’s ; J. J. Mumford, Grosvenor. Objection was made to this license on tho part of tho police on tho ground of the landlord permitting excessive drinking and Sunday traffic ; numerous complaints have been made. The application was granted, accompanied with a caution. M. H. Oram, City, contingent on certain small repairs ; H. Piper, Wharf H otel ; W. H. Porter, Shades ; W. Savage, Scotch Stores; E. Eavenhill, Caversham; this applicant was also warned that a continuance of Sunday trading would jeopardise his license. T. Richmond, Terminus ; W. Seabrigbt, Zetland Arms; W. R. Smith, Queen’s ; A. Stenning, Junction ; J. Scott. In granting this license the Bench said it had come to their knowledge that young men were enticed in to drink and gamble, and also that a great deal of selling went on during prohibited hours. Attention would have to be paid for the future that these practices were discontinued. W. T. Smythe, Rolleston Hotel; J. 0. Sheppard, White Hart, The applicant was warned he would be obliged to keep his side bar more orderly for tho future, as it was a perfect nest of loafers and bad characters; in other respects the hotel was excellently conducted. Mary Schluter, Sumner Hotel. This application was refused, as tho conditions imposed at tho last annual meeting had not been complied with. At the same time the Bench said that a license for a really firstclass hotel at Sumner would he likely to bo favorably entertained. T. B. Thompkins, Provincial ; B. Wallace, Criterion ; J. S. Wagner, Clarendon; John Wild, Sawyer’s Arms, Papanui. COUNTRY HOTELS, Robert Fenton, Heathcote Arms, Ferry road; George Hutchings, Wheatsheaf, Shand’s track ; J. Judge, Ellesmere Arms, Tai Tapu; W. James, Bridge Hotel, Selwyn; T. C. Mullins, Junction, Spreydon; J. Marsdcn, Valley Hotel, Heathcote. REMOVAL OF LICENSE. G. Simmons, George and Dragon, Templeton ; J. H. Sluis, Perthshire Arms, Lincoln; H. Smith, Courtney Arms, North road; S. Treleaven, Bridge Inm, North road; H. C. Webb, Bush Inn, Riccarton. WINE AND BEER. J. E. Bashford, Colombo street; James Boot, High street; E. Brinkmann, Kendal House; Alfred Gee, Colombo street; J. Hirons, Suffolk Restaurant; G. P. Kissel, Templeton ; C. Klingenstein, Provincial Larder (adjourned); W. H. Messenger, His lordship’s Larder, and J. Paynton, New Brighton. RANGIORA. Tuesday, June 3. [Commissioners : 0. Whitefoord, Esq , E.M. (chairman), A, H, Cunningham, J. C. Boys, and S. Haywood, Esqs.) Report.— Tho report of the chief officer of police was read. The main points were : —Club Hotel, well conducted; patronised by tradesmen. Junction Hotel, well conducted ; house requires extensive repairs ; patronised by all classes and a deal of bar drinking. Masonic Hotel, well conducted ; extensive improvements made, but stable still wanted ; patronised by all classes. Red Lion Hotel, fairly conducted ; patronised by all classes; persons in a half drunken state frequently allowed to loiter about the premises. Plough Inn, well conducted ; patronised principally by the farming class. HOTEL LICENSES. The following were granted renewal certificates to become holders of hotel licenses ; J. Roberts, Club Hotel; F. Marsland Hadfield, Junction Hotel, the applicant’s solicitor (Mr Gresson) stating that tho plans were already in preparation for extensive improvements; S. Green, Masonic Hotel, Southbrook ; H. Moody, lied Lion Hotel, applicant, who was cautioned, said the drunkenness complained of was caused a barman, whom he had dismissed ; H. Walsh, Plough Inn. EXTENSION. An extension was granted to J. Roberts, from 11 p.m. on the 12th to 1 a m. on the 13th, for a Masonic banquet.