The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 1879.

Kumara Times, Issue 783, 3 April 1879, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 1879.

A motion tabled by one of the members of the Borough Council, the consideration of which will take place this evening, and which is—“ That it is desirable that the Special Licensing District of Kuinara should be done away with, and that the Government be requested to bring the Borough under the ordinary licensing regulations ” —is entitled to more than ordinary notice, inasmuch as the subject has been on several occasions brought most prominently under the notice of the Government. The question of the desirability or otherwise of this special licensing district being abolished is one that may be viewed in two different aspects. For instance, under existing circumstances a transfer or special license can be obtained within a few days should the Licensing Officer consider the applicant a suitable person to conduct the house applied for. Under the ordinary regulations the same applicant would probably have to wait one, two, or even three, months before a transfer or license would be obtainable, even should he (the applicant) scrupulously satisfy every requirement of the Licensing Bench. Taking, however, into consideration the present commercial stagnation in all circles, and also the fact that from the very first this particular line of business has been thoroughly out of all proportion on this goldfield, we can but coincide with the views expressed on the motion of Councillor Hanna that the ordinary regulations should be brought into force within the Borough. In speaking as it were - to the motion we would point into one or two facts in connection therewith that clearly prove that on this subject the Licensing Officer and the mover of the motion are unanimous in opinion. It is unnecessary for us to : recapitulate the whole history of the formation of this special licensing district j suffice it to say that it w:<s created by the Government at the earnest solicitation of the residents at . the first of this rush, to enable the pro- : prietors of hotels to carry on business in j a legitimate manner. This special admuiiitialioo ut the licensing laws under

the officer appointed, (M Price, Esq., R.M.) worked admirably, and afforded the greatest convenience to those desirous of obtaining licenses on the completion of their houses. When, however, the glitter of the new rush had been somewhat dimned aud the licensed houses were found to be sufficient for all requirements, the Licensing officer saw that the ordinary regulations would meet all future cases, and made a strong recommendation to the Government to that effect. A few months after this a circular was forwarded by the Government to the Licensing Commissioners throughout the colony asking for suggestions and recommendations as to the formation of new and smaller licensing districts, and the Licensing Officer here at once recommended that the Borough of Kumara should form one Licensing district and Diliman’s Town another, the latter to comprise all the country outside the Borough identical with the Warden’s district. This suggestion up to the present time has, although requested by the Government, never been acted on aud the matter still remains in statu quo. The motion of Councillor Hanna this evening, it adopted, will simply affirm an opinion expressed long ago by Mr Price the respected Licensing Officer of this district.