LICENSING COURTS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1671, 28 June 1879, Page 4

LICENSING COURTS.

ASHBURTON. The adjourned sitting of the Licensing Court was held yesterday before Commissioners F. Guinness (chairman), John Grigg, and H. T. Winter, Esqs. John P. Butler applied for a license for a house to be built near the Now Inn. Mr Branson stated that his clients, the licensed victuallers, who were opposed to the granting of any further licenses in the town of Ashburton, had not come forward that day, and he was not prepared to take any more than technical objections, so that the opposition was virtually withdrawn. Mr Loughnan appeared for the applicant, and submitted a petition in favor of granting, signed by a number of residents. The sergeant of police quoted letters from police officials on the West Coast and elsewhere, testifying to the good character of the applicant. The Bench desired evidence as to the necessity for the house. Mr Loughnan said the house was needed to supply a want that was felt by working men who were now living in the remains of the old house Mr Butler had previously occupied, and who were unable to pay the figure charged by the larger hotels. Mrs Butler, put into the box, said she had an average of over forty boarders, and had on occasions had about eighty. She had twenty-seven beds in the house, and had to make shakedowns everywhere. She and her daughters did their best 1 to accommodate all the boarders, who all said there was not a better kept table in any hotel in The Bench resolved to grant tho license on application at nest sitting of the Licensing Bench, on condition that the house built is satisfactory to the Court. John G. Anatee applied for a license to his private hotel in Tancred street. Mr Ireland appeared for tho applicant, and stated that there was no other public house in the street, that the locality was a thickly populated one, and tho house was built for a public house. In the previous case heard it had been recognised that more accommodation was wanted. The Bench— Of a particular class. Mr Ireland —And this house is for that particular class. Mr Anatee is a man in every way qualified to conduct such a house, and has brought before the Bench the signatures of many respectable men in proof of the application being granted. The Bn eh agreed that the house might be perfectly suitable, but they would not recognise the right any man had to get a license simply because he had built a house for that purpose. They were informed that such was done in Ashburton, and they were averse to granting any further license in the town, as there was great fear that when tho hotels became too plentiful some of them would degenerate into mere taprooms. The Bench would dismiss the application, as also a further application for a wine and spirit license.