LICENCING COMMITTEES.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2625, 5 September 1882, Page 3

LICENCING COMMITTEES.

OHBISTOHDBOH BAST. The quarterly meeting of the above Committee was held at noon to day at the Orange Hall. Present —Messrs B. Westenra, O. A. Pritchard and J. Anderson. Mr Westenra was voted to the chair. The Chairman said that there was one remark that ho desired to make, and that was with regard to the transfer from M'Goverin to Barrett. He was reported in both papers to have said ihat Mr Harman had told M'Goverin that he should apply at next quarterly meeting for the trans fer. What he said was that Mr Harman had told MoQ-overin that he “ could ” apply for the transfer at next quarterly meeting The facts are that the application for a transfer had been withdrawn, and it was then that Mr Harman stated that Mr MoGoverin could apply again at the next meeting if he so desired, He had thought it only right that ho should make this statement, as the public might have an idea that he had stated what was not correct, and it was due to Mr Harman that it should bo made. EXTENSIONS.

The following applications were male for extension* to midnight: Patrick Burke, Victorian Hotel; Joaeph Dann, Oxford Hotel (Mr Loughrey); W. Daniels, Albion Hotel ; Patrick Gillan, Garrick Hotel (Mr Thomas) j H. Hardeoke, Golden Fleece Hotel (Mr Loughrey) ; H. Haddrell, Market Hotel (Mr Thomas) j W. H. Kiddey, Star and Garter Hotel (Mr Maude) ; Benj. Searle, Foresters’ Hotel (Mr Loughrey) ; Bobo t Wallace, Criterion Hotel (Mr Stringer) j Mr Beatty, Palace Hotel.

transfer. Mr Loughrey applied on behalf of the transferer, Mr Borti, for thegtransfer of the license of the Palace Hotel to Mr G. Beatty. , The Committee deliberated, and on the public being re-admitted, The Chairman eaid that all the applications for the midnight ex'onsions would be granted except that to Patrick Gillan, of the Garrick Hotel, who had been fined for permitting drunkenness in the house, and on Sunday, He desired to call attention to the fact that in very many cases the hotels did not provide for the necessary means for escape from fire. If this haa not been done, the licensees not complying with the Act wonld have a chance of losing their licenses, Mr Thumas pointed out that the pnblioans he represented were only too willing to meet any suggestions of the Oommittoj in thiszuatter if some inspector ooald be appointed who

, might lay before the publicans some sohem . or give an idea of what was wanted, s Mr lioughrey also endorsed the remarks c i Mr Thomas. i The Chairman suggested that the publ , cans might convene a meeting to discuss th ( matter, and then the Committee might la; i the result arrived at before tho Uity Oounoi. Mr Thomas said that he desired to obtai; | the opinion of the Committee as to th i necessity of a publican who had ob [ tained an extension to twelve o’olocl keeping his house open till that hour i Could he, in the opinion of tho Committee if ho felt so disposed, close his house at say, eleven o’clock P Tho reason why hi asked the question was that he saw a' Timaru they had decided that it was no' necessary for a publican who had obtained an extension to keep bis house open till mid night unleis he felt so disposed. The Chairman, after consultation wit! the other commissioners, said tbal the Committee were of opinion that ai a publican applying for an exteniior to midnight received it on tho ground ol public convenience, he was bound to koof the house open till the time allowed him bj the law. He had applied for and paid a fee to obtain an extension, so that it must be taken that he desired it. Under these circumstance the Committee were decidedly ol opinion that anyone holding a midnight license was bound to keep open until that time. The proceedings then terminated. LYTTELTON. The quarterly meeting ol this Committee was held on Tuesday morning. Present— The Chairman (Mr Adam Chalmers), and Messrs Beed, Smith, Webb, and Forbes. The Chairman read the police report, which showed that nearly every hotel was now provided with fire escape ladders. With respect to the Bailway Hotel, the report stated that no improvements had been made to it since the annual meeting. The license had been granted conditionally upon these being done. The licensee, Mr McQuilkin, was present, and stated that there was a dispute between himself and the owner, Mr Mutton, who had now agreed to give him a lease. Mr Nalder appeared for Mr Mutton, and stated that no such agreement or promise had been made. Mr Mutton was perfectly willing to make the improvements, but the fact was that the licensee, Mr McQuilkin, whose lease had expired, would not go out of the house. Mr McQuilkin rt iterated his statement that the promise had been made. The Chairman spoke of tho fset that during the past twelve months drunkenness had decreased by 30 per cent., and during the past two months by 37i per cent. The Committee retired to consider the case of the Bailway Hotel. On returning they decided not to interfere, it appearing that the dispute would come into Court. No midnight licenses were granted. POET LEVY. The quarterly meeting of the Licensing Committee was held at the Boad Board office, Head of the Bay. Present Messrs J. Gebbie, W. D. Gebbie, B. K. Bradley, and H, Fleming, The report ef the inspector of licensed houses was read, and the license of the Whiteoliffs Hotel at Governor’s Bay, which had been granted conditional that a new building ba erected, was now considered. Mr Milburn, the licensee, said tenders had been called for tho work, and the committee decided to adjourn the meeting in order that proof might be got that a tender had actually been accepted. Just as the adjournment was decided upon, a letter arrived staling that a tender had been accepted, and the new hotel would be proceeded with at once. ABHBDETON. The quarterly meeting of the Ashburton Borough Licensing Committee was held in the Court House on Monday, there being on tho Bench—Messrs H. T. Winter (chairman), Alcorn, Bullock, Grigg and Saunders. Mr Branson, on behalf of T Quill, of the Somerset Hotel, applied for an extension to twelve o’clock. Mr Branson urged that it was important that the house should be kept open till twelve o’clock for the convenience of

the many travellers and business men who came by the last train, and also for the convenience of those attending the meetings that were frequently held in the hotel. Ho objected to the putting in of petitions or memorials by the temperance societies. After hearing the evidence of Mr Quill and Sergeant Felton, the Bench declined to grant the extension. Five petitions from the temperance societies against the granting of the extension were presented and received by the Bench.

Mr Branson then made a similar application on behalf of F. L, K. Hill, of the Somerset Hotel. Sergeant Felton stated that at the last sitting of the Bench the licensee had pledged himself to keep a side door leading into a bar in the hotel closed to avoid payment of a license for a second bar. The door, however, had not been closed, notwithstanding a warning from the police. Mr Branson said an application for a ruling on the point had been made to the Resident Magistrate. The Bench commented upon the conduct of Mr Hill in not closing the door after having ob tained a renewal of his license without paying the extra £lO, on the distinct understanding that the door in question was to be closed. Mr Branson said he had himself advised the keeping open of the door, in order that the question of what constituted a second bar might be tested. The application for the extension was refused, and the Bench stated that unless Mr Hill complied with their decision on the question of the second bar, the license for the house would be cancelled.

An application for a transfer of the license of the Ashburton Hotel from Duncan McKenzie to Elizabeth Mitohell, of Christchurch, was made by Mr Branson. The Bench decided to allow the application to stand over till the police had time to report. In reply to Mr Crisp, the Bench said no extensions of licenses after ten o’clock would be granted.

The Bangiora Licensing Bench have refused to grant a midnight license, on a petition presented by four ministers being received. A transfer to Mrs Carpenter, Plough Inn, was granted. The Eyreton Licensing Committee have cancelled the Sneyds’ Arms license, to take effect from to day, in consequence of complaints against the manner of conducting the house.