LICENSING COMMITTEE.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2475, 13 March 1882, Page 3

LICENSING COMMITTEE.

CHRISTCHURCH SOUTH.

The first meeting of the committee for Christchurch bouth took place at St. John’s Schoolroom at noon. Present —Messrs R, J. S. Harman, O. A. Pritchard, R. Westenra, P. Cunningham, and J. 35. Parker. The clerk to the committee, Mr W. G. Walker, announced that Mr Harman had been elected as chairman of the committee.^ The report of the police on the hotels in the district was handed in by Mr Superintendent Broham. EXTENSIONS. Mr Thomas, on behalf of Mrs Eaohs, of the Wellington Hotel, applied for an extension of the hours till midnight. He urged that as a number of societies met at that house, it was very difficult to get the house clear by eleven o’clock. Under these circumstances he desired to ask for an extension of hours until midnight. The Chairman said that perhaps if this question were pressed the committee might feel themselves bound to consider the whole question of the ten o’clock licenses. The Chairman said they would like to hear the list read. The list comprised Messrs Louisaon (Terminus), Oookson (City), J. 35. Coker (Coker’s Hotel), J. O. Sheppard (White Hart), Hadfield (Langham Hotel), T. B, Thompkins (Provincial Hotel), G. A. Keane (Scotch

Stores), B. Eiohardson (Empire). Mr Thomas urged that, in connection with Mr Louisson's application, the strong point was that there were trains arriving and dedeparting at and from the railway station twice a week after eleven o’clock. The station itself was not open till just before the train left, hence the publio had to remain in the street whatever the weather might be. This, he thought, was a strong reason why the committee should grant the extension required to the Terminus Hotel. With regard to the White Hart, Oity and Langhan Hotels, they were very centrally situated, and it would be for the convenience of the publio to allow them to keep open till midnight, so as to enable those going to the theatre, 4c., to come in without contravening the law. The Committee intimated that they would consider the applications and give their decision at a later stage. BXTBA BAB. Mr Thomas applied for an extra bar to be granted for the Wellington Hotel, opening on to the commercial room. The Committee granted the bar. TBANBFBB. A transfer of license from Morton’s trustees to Joseph Hadfield for the Xjangham Hotel was granted, subject to Mr Thomas satisfying the clerk committee that the requisite advertisements had been inserted in the newspapers as provided by the Act. WHOLESALE LICENSES. Wholesale licenses were granted, as under : Messrs Frank Egan, Edwards, Bennett and Co., Eckersloy and Maofarlano, D. Caro and Co., J. Inglis, Maling and Co., Montgomery and Co., Wilson, Sawtell and Co., Now Zealand Giain Agency and Mercantile Company. B Sutherland, A. B. Preston, Partridge and Buddie. Mr H. J. Milsom, who had applied for a wholesale license, applied to the committee for information whether ho was obliged to take out a wholesale license for the sale of ginger wine, cordials,s &c. There was no special mention in the Act of his having to do so, but he had thought it better to apply. There was only sufficient alcoho in the cordials, &0., to keep them. The Chairman said the Act would not apply wore the applicant selling wines produced from fruit grown by himself, but in this case it was clear a license must be obtained. The exemption as to under 20 per cent, of alcohol only applied to New Zealand wines, which these were not. The applicant would have to take out a license. The wholesale license would be granted. ■ The Chairman said that Mr Walker would have to satisfy himself in all oases of these wholesale licenses that the parties did not_ hold auctioneer’s licenses. The Chairman said he might intimate that the whole of the foo for a wholesale license must bo paid, though running only to June next. The committee had no option in the matter. The application of Mr A. Empson stood over on the ground of want of information, THE TWELYB O’CLOCK LICENSE. The Chairman of the committee, after consultation, announced that they would not grant any extension to midnight. For the information of licensed victuallers, however, the committee might state that at the annual meeting in June they would be prepared to consider the applications for extension, but they would require that the applicants should be prepared at this meeting to bring forward evidence on the subject such as satisfy the committee. They would also deal with each application on its own merits, and applicants must be prepared to bring forward evidence either by personal attendance—-which would be preferable—or outside evidence. The licensing committee also desired him to repeat the warning given by the committee of Christchurch North to those licensed victuallers who neglected their hotel trade for the purpose of fostering that of their bare. Those would be dealt with at the annual meeting, and they would therefore have to be prepared to know why they did not afford the accommodation to the publio they were bound to do under the new licenses. With respect to the requirements of the Board of Health, the committee to have them enforced with regard whole of the hotels in the district. local option polling. The Chairman said the following days had been fixed for the polling under the local option clauses, viz.:—Christchurch North, April 12th j Christchurch South, April 14th ; Christchurch East, April 18th ; and Christchurch West, April 19th. The committee then rose.