LICENSING COMMITTEE.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2554, 15 June 1882, Page 3

LICENSING COMMITTEE.

OHBISTOHDBOH SOUTH. To-day, at noon, an adjourned annual meeting of the Licensing Committee for Christohurch South sat in St. John's schoolroom. Present Mr B. J. S. Harman (chairman), and Messrs B. Westenra, J. E. Parker, and P. Cunningham. Inspector Broham waß presont in the police interest. The Bench stated that it had been inadvertently omitted in each oase to ascertain the number of bars required. Bach lioenaee, personally or by counsel, stated that only one bar was required, except in the case of Edward Cookson, City Hotel, application was made for two bars ; J. Hadfiold, Langham, two bars; M. McGovern, Borough Hotel, two bars; and J. O. Shepherd, White Hart Hotel, two bars.—Granted in all cases. Mr Joynt resumed his application for a transfer of license from M. McGovern to J. Barrett, Borough Hotsl, on which counsel hed intimated at tho previous meeting, that £7OOO had boen already expended, it being contemplated to spend £fooo more before tho alterations shall have been completed. At that meeting a renewal had been to McGovern, the question of a transfer being postponed. The committee had then stated that the licensee must be a person approved by tho committee, and suggosted that a withdrawal of the application might be desirable, otherwise Barrett might possibly be subjaoted to a disability for threo years. Mr Joynt subsequently obtained a fortnight's adjournment, objeotion to be stated in writing, and counsel to be at liberty to withdraw the application. Mr Joynt tc-day desired to draw the Committee's attention to the 63 rd section of the Licensing Act, giving them power to pay attention to any objeotionable matter or thing. The 59th sootion dealt with objections made either by the police or the public. These must be of a tangible .oharaoter, such as that the applicant was of bad character or of drunken habits, had previously forfeited a license, had been convicted of selling liquor without a license within three years, or that the premises were out of repair, &o. Clause 4-1, sub-section 15, stated that no objection as to oharaoter should be entoitained unless threo days' notice had been given. Counsel could confidently appeal to every policeman in town, beginning with the Inspector, and

aak in vain for a single fact—not an idle rumor, but a fact that could be urged against Mr Barrett's oharacter as a licensee. It was true tho committee were omnipotent in this matter, and counael was powerless to oontend against their absolute discretionary power. For the honor of the Bench it waa to be hopod they were not going outside the Court reoords. If they were, tney were virtually subjecting Barrett to a secret trial. The purport of the record of the Court, as conveyed in a letter from tho Bench to counsel, was, that, in June, 1880, Barrett was deemed an unfit person to hold a license, was required to transfer the license (then being renewed) to some person approved by the Bench, and should stipulate that Barrett should cease to have control over the houae. On 16th June, 1880, Mr Mel!ijb, then ohsirman of the committee, stated that the lioensee had not taken precautions such as lay in his power to stay a party disturbance. The statement as to the stipulation for Barrett's ceaaing to have oontrol had no foundation whatever. Further, it had been distinctly found that there was no case against Barrett as to being implicated in the riot, and the oase was accordingly dismissed.

The Committee were bound to go upon evidence. On the morning of the riot Barrett was suffering from diarrhoea, but, in spite of that (though, perhaps, many who would have oome forward as witnesses had sinoe left the oountry), Barrett was quite willing to have the matter re-opened, and to endeavor to prove that he had done all in his power. Barrett had at the time sent for the Bey. Father Ginaty, who had sought, but unavailingly, to stop the riot. Though not called on do so, counsel was willing, in the event of the transfer being granted, to furnish a substantial guarantee from highly respeotable men, inoluding one Justice of the Peace, that the house should be oonduoted properly. Should the committee deoline to entertain this, oouneel would then be constrained to ask leave to withdraw the application. He would not run the risk of Barrett's b ring refused a transfer on the ground of not being a fit person to hold a license. The committee retired for a few minutes.

On returning, the chairman announced their decision to be to allow counsel to withdraw the application now, and to renew, at next quarterly meeting, the application for a transfer.

Mr Joynt accordingly withdrew the applr cation.

Applications for extension of the hours of closing wero submitted. Mr Maude appeared for extension for T. J. A ; .ken, Bailway Hotel, Msß ihester street, and Georjje Collier, Boyal George. Mr Loughrey, for J, Ooker, Coker's Family Hotel ; Jesse H. Hall, Eastern Hotel; H. Keane, Scotoh Btores; Edward Ravonhill, the Caversham ; W. Godso, Southern Hotel ; J. Eos, Prinoe of Wales ; D. Bryant, Grojvenor Hotel j 0. Knowaley, Queen's Hotel j and B. Bichardsorj, the Empire. Mr Joynt, for M. McGovsrn, Borough Hotel. Mr Thomas, for E. Cookson, City Hotel; J. O. Sheppard, White Hart; J. Hndfield, the langham ; Elizabeth Fuohs, Wellington Hotol; J. Carl, Al Hotel; aud 0. Louisson, Terminus Hotel. I The committeo retired for a few minutes. On returning they commented on the unpleasant duty imposed on them by the Act in its present form, the intention of which, however, was clear, that the hcur of olosing should, asarule, belOo'olock. The oommittee would be gled to soe the Legislature relieve them of the duty in queition. The restriction imposed was that the extension should be for the benefit aid convenience of the public The Committee would therefore acquiesce in the cases of tight hotels, affording tho best and largest rscommodation to the public. These were :—Collier's Boyal George, Coker's Family Hofel. McGovem's Borough Hotel, Sheppard'a White Hart, Louiseori'n Terminus, Mrs Fuohs' Wellington, Cookoon's City, and J. Carl's A 1, eaoh to have an extension t ) midnight. The Committoa rose at two o'olook. BTBANDINGr OF THE WESTPORT. [By Tbmgbaph.] AEAEOA, June 14,, Thero were six fathoms alongside the rocks whore the Westport struck. She hai.'on board 2700 saoks of wheat from Timaru. Having thrown overboard 800 saoks of wheat, she fbated off the rooks. Her water-tight compartments saved her. She is new beaohed alongside the Akaroa jetty. June 15. The damages to the steamer Westport are a hole on tho port bow, about three feet by two feet, and about nine foet of the lower part of her stem torn away. A number of Akaroa boats, more or less, were smashed by the gale last night.