LICENSING COMMITTEE.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2701, 4 December 1882, Page 2

LICENSING COMMITTEE.

CHRISTCHURCH SOUTH. The quarterly meeting of the LicensingCommittee for Christchurch South was held at St. John’s schoolroom at noon to*, day. Present—Messrs C. A. Pritchard, W. H. Lane, J. Anderson, and J. P. Jameson. In the absence of Mr TVestenra, the chairman of the Committee, Mr C. A. Pritchard was elected chairman of the meeting. ~ i y- TRAJS"SFEB. . Mr E'. H. Thomas for a transfer of the license of the Gloucester Hotel from \ Mr Tombs to Mr P. O'Shannassy. pVt-ftc . ■ In answer to the Chairman, Inspector V Pender said tliat the applicant was a verjnl - respectable man, and had always conducted his house well.

The transfer was granted. Mr Thomas applied on hehalf of Mr O’Shannassy for an extension to eleven o’clock, under the new clause in the Licensing Act. He desired to point out that the house would have been licensed till eleven o’clock had there not been an alteration in the law. The extension to eleven o’clock had been granted by the Legislature in deference to a very generally expressed wish in Canterbury, that the monopoly granted by the midnight licence should be equalised somewhat by the giving of eleven o’clock extension. Mr P. D. Thomas also applied for aneleven o’clock license to Mr Arena’s Cafe de Paris, and pointed out the disadvantages to the public which resulted from the closing of the cafe at ten o’clock. Mr W. H. Messenger, His Lordship’s Hotel, applied for an eleven o’clock license, and stated that he had frequently to refuse dinners, because he had to shut at torn o'clock.

Mr Stringer applied for an eleven o’clock license to Hr Klingenstien’s Hotel, and also for an extra bar.

Sergeant-Major Mason was called and deposed that the alteration proposed by Mr Klingcnstein would be of great convenience to the x>nblic. Mr Loughrey applied for an eleven o’clock license to Mr Bryant, of the Grosvenor Hotel, South Belt. Mr Xioughrey also applied on behalf of Mr Havenhill, of the Caversham Hotel, Ferry road, for a twelve o’clock license ; and on behalf of Mr J. Fox, Prince of "Wales Hotel, Colombo street, for an eleven o’clock license.

Mr Godso, of the Southern Hotel, applied for an eleven o’clock license.

Mr Maude applied on behalf of the widow of the late Mr T. B. Thompkius, of the Provincial Hotel, to carry on the business of the hotel until the probate was

granted. The requisite permission was granted. Mr Maude then applied for an extension to eleven o’clock for the Provincial Hotel.

The clerk read a letter which had been written by the Coroner with regard to theinquest held on a man named Bradburn, and forwarding the verdict of the' jury in the matter.

A letter was also road from Mr Inspector Pender, stating that the jury in the case of John E. Bradburn had passed a very severe censure on the licensee of the WhiteHart, Mr J. O. Sheppard, Mr Malet said he appeared on behalf of Mr Sheppard. That gentleman had not received copies of the documents, so that he did not know what he had to meet. The Chairman said there was nothing before the Committee at all except that tho Coroner, by request of the jury, had forwarded them copies of the evidence taken at the inquest, and also the verdict arrived at. At present Die Committee had really nothing to do with the matter except to receive the documents.

Mr Malet said that Mr Sheppard was unaware what view the Bench might take of it, and ho (Mr Malet), had therefore attended to watch the case on his behalf.

The Chairman said that this was not an application for a transfer or granting of an annual license. The committee would hand over the documents to their successors, who would deal with them as they thought fit. Mr Malet said he desired to ask whether he could have copies of the documentssupplied. The Chairman said that tho documents were public property, and Mr Mulct could obtain copies of them if he desired. Mr Malet said he would take steps to obtain copies. Tho committee deliberated, and on the Court being re-opened. The Chairman said tho following decision had been arrived at, viz.—No twelve o’clock extensions would be granted at all. Tho following applications for extension to eleven o’clock would be granted, viz.—J. Fox, Prince of Wales ; IV. Godso, Southern Hotel,-and E. Eavenhill, Caversham. All the other applications would he refused. Inspector Pender said he desired to lay before the Committee a list of those houses in which special fire-escapes had not been provided. In several the proprietors had complied with tho Act, hut there were still many who had not. The houses in winch the special provision did not exist wore as follows: —Klingenstein’s Hotel, Queen’sHot el, Provincial Hotel, Eastern Hotel, Gloucester Hotel, A 1 Hotel, Langham Hotel, Borough Hotel, Kailway Hotel, Terminus Hotel, Grosvenor Hotel, Prince of Wales Hotel.

The Chairman said he was sorry to see that so many proprietors of licensed houses had not taken that notice of the provisions of the Act they should have done. The Act was very particular upon the point, and it might result at the annual meeting in the Committee refusing to grant a renewal on.

the ground of non-compliance with the Act. , , , Mr Inspector Pender said that many ot the licensees were unaware of what was required. The Chairman said that of course was a matter for the police. It was their duty to report to the Committee whether the requirements of the Act in this respect had been duly complied with. Mr C. Knowsiey, licensee of the Queen’s Hotel, said he had attended there that day purposely to learn from the Committee what was required to be provided in the matter of fire prevention. The Chairman said that of course the Committee sitting there could not be supposed to possess a knowledge of the special requirements of each licensed house. That information should be supplied by the police. Mr Knowsiey said all he wanted to know was whether his house possessed the necessary exits in case of fire. If it did not then he would at once be prepared to provide what was required. The Chairman said that ho desired to call attention to the clause of the Act bearing upon the provision of suitable and sufficient exits in case of fire. [Read.] The licensees would see that this was very stringent, and that at an annual meeting if such were not provided the Committee might decline to renew a license. Mr R. D. Thomas said that in respect to many licensees for whom he appeared, the difficulty was this that they did not know what was required. In many instances, such as Mr Arenas, there was two very large and wide staircases, so that it was scarcely necessary to have any further appliances for exit. If the Committee would state what was required the licensees would •undertake to have it provided. The Chairman said the Committee themselves could not undertake to do this, but they would ask Mr Inspector Pender to Inspect all the licensed houses, and report as to what was necessary for safety in case of fire.

Mr Inspector Pender said that he would do this.

The Committee then adjourned.