The Globe. FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 1882. THE SYDENHAM LICENSING COMMITTEE.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2561, 23 June 1882, Page 2

The Globe. FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 1882. THE SYDENHAM LICENSING COMMITTEE.

The manner in which the new Licensing Act would work oat in Sydenham has, from the first, been a matter of the greatest interest, and public attention has been drawn more strongly to the doings of the Licensing Committee there than elsewhere. Certain principles were supposed to prevail in the borough, and people were curious to see whether, when those principles were put to a plebiscite, they would boar the test. Good Templars mustered strongly in the district, and apparently were prepared to bear down all opposition ; while others claimed that the district was specially protected from much that was undesirable by the fact that there were but three public-houses in it. The platform of the Good Templars was sensible enough from their own point of view; but the other section started with the fallacy that public-houses are not

so much houses for the accommodation of the public as mere drinking shops. Both of these parties, too, labored under tho disadvantage of having to prove that tho theory they upheld could be practically applied in a district which bordered on another one where public-houses abounded. The result of the plebiscite showed the direction in which Sydenham public feeling tended. The residents were evidently of opinion that, under proper management, hotels should not be an evil. They held that the floating population must have places where they could go to for board and refreshment, and that it was only where these places were allowed to degenerate that they became a public nuisance and a scandal. And, having adopted this way of looking at the question, they choose a Committee in whom they could rely to see that theirviews were carried out. We think it may fairly be admitted that the confidence of the Sydenham public has been justified by the result of the Licensing meeting held on Wednesday last. As might have been expected, a cloud of

applications for new licenses were put in, but the Committee kept steadily in sight the object for which licenses ought to be granted, and only entertained favorably the cases in which, by reason of jthe site proposed, the public would be legitimately benefitted by the establishment of a new publichouse. One of the new houses is on the Lincoln road, and will be found most convenient for those attending the saleyards and for the travelling public generally, particularly when the stabling that is to be provided is erected. Another is far down Colombo street, and a want has long been felt of such an establishment there. A hotel with ample accommodation for boarders not far from the hills, and a long distance from any other, will be of great convenience to more than one class of persons. The hotel, moreover, is close to the tramway terminus. In acting as they have done, the Committee have not been moved hy sentimental Good Templarism, nor have they been at all compunctious in refusing applicants when a clear case has not been made out. The “ good accommodation for man and beast ” that should be tho raison d’etre of all hotels has been insisted on, and nowhere in the “ model borough ” will a new public house spring up of which it can be said that the only use to which it can be put is to supply another lounging, place for the thirsty loafer. As for the extension granted to twelve o’clock in the cases of the old licenses, this was forced on the Committee by the action of the Christchurch Committees. However desirous the Sydenham Committee might have been to see how the ten o’clock closing would work in the borough, it is evident that it would be of no use closing early in Sydenham, when thirsty souls could emigrate to the city after that henr. The Sydenham Committee have had a difficult nut to crack, and we certainly think that they may be congratulated on the result of their exertions.

HEAD QUARTERS FOR THE AUSTRALIAN SQUADRON. It would appear that when H.M.S. Nelson changed its projected voyage to Lyttelton in order to go to Auckland, there was some reason for its doing so There is a rumor that Commodore Brskine was under special instructions to examine Auckland Harbour with a view of seeing whether it would he suitable for head-quarters for the Australian squadron. The choice apparently lies between Wellington and the Northern port. If any port in New Zealand is to be chosen Port Chalmers is evidently out of the question, because of the bar at the Heads, while Lyttelton does not seem to find favor with the Imperial authorities. The entrance to Wellington is not perhaps all that might be desired, though, when once in, a ship finds ample accommodation. Besides, Auckland, in view of the large trade that must eventually spring up with the South Sea Islands is more conveniently situated. The depth of water at the entrance of the Sydney Harbour is said not to suit the heavier class of war vessel. So that the case made out for Auckland appears to be a strong one. Should the Home Government fix on that port, the advantages accruing to this colony would be very considerable. Not only would a large expenditure be continually going on in refitting vessels, Ac., but in the matter of defence, it is plain that the nearer the head-quarters may be the better for all. People in Canterbury would, of course, wish to find that Lyttelton was chosen, but if that cannot be, news that Auckland has been fixed on would bo very welcome.