THE LICENSING COURTS.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 269, 1 May 1874, Page 3

THE LICENSING COURTS.

DUNEDIN. The annual meeting of the Licensing Bench, under the Licensing Act of 1873, was held at the Resident Magistrate's Court on the 21st. ult Mr. Bathgate occupied the chair, with .Messrs. Strode, Fulton, and Mason as Commisioners. The public mustered in unusual torce, the approaches to the building being crowded during the entire day. The Chairman, in opening the Court, stated that it wa,s the first licensing under "the new Act of last ."Session, and that most- material alterations had taken place since last year. In future the Licensing Bench should consist of a permanent Court, the Resident Magistrate ; being Chairman, with three Oomvnissioifers appointed by the Government. That would be a safeguard i from, —as it had been alleged, whether truthfully or not—the Bench being packed, with a view to swaying the decisions either way! It also now lies in the hands of two-thirds of the residents of a district to memorialise against the granting of any .license. , No license will in future be granted to an unmarried man, the law,assuming that hotels are for- the convenience of travellers, and that no house can be properly managed unless under the supervision of a matron. ' A list of persons I thrice convicted of drunkenness will be made up by the police, and supplied to licensees, and any licensees supplying liquor to confirmed drunkards would have their licenses refused at next application. The other restrictions are of an equally stringent nature.

TOKOMAIRIRO

There were twenty-three applications for general licenses, twenty of which were granted, and three, refused. There were fifteen applications for bottle licenses, one of which was refused. There was one application for a brewer's license, which was granted, and one for a bush license— James Lees, Catlin's Iliver—which was refused on the report that the, house was only conducted as a drinking shanty. Before granting any ol the licenses the Bench intimated that under the new law it was evidently intended that/ great strictness should be exercised in the granting of licenses, and, therefore,' they would take that opportunity of saying that they were determined in all cases where there were valid complaints made as to badly conducted houses in future to refuse licenses:' Publicans were reminded that the licenses were not merely granted for their' own profii, but also for the accommodation of the public, and that if instead of being a convenience they became a nuisance, they might rely upon it they would not get their licenses renewed. The Bench were determined also to refuse licenses in all cases where it was shewn to them that men were encouraged to hang about a house drinking) or where drink was in the habit of being supplied to drunken men.; Unless . decency and the comfort of the public were looked to licensees might not expect any sympathy. Another point the Bench dwelt on in several cases was, where another business was carried on in connection with and under the same • roof as the hotel. : They had decided that, excepting under very exceptional circumstances, they would in future refuse all general licenses in such cases, and warned those in that position at preseut.either to arrange their business under different buildings, or make up their minds to lose their licenses at next sitting. In one

case which was-granted, the Bench remarked that' they had not received a very goad-report as to the habits of the applicant, but that the'house was well conducted anil managed by his thrifty, industrious wife. < They warned him of the risk he ran of having his license refused, and recommended him to undeavoi- to reach his ■.'»'' wife's , standard." There being r*o other house - in that particular , district, it might too greatly inconvenience the public: to deprive him of-the-:license. at this*time.—' Herald.' TVAIKOUAITI. There having been no objections lodged or opposition offered on the part of'the police, all the applications were granted, ex cept that of Barnard O'Neill,, for a bottle license at Palmerstoni: which was put in too late. Mr. Catoinore, who appeared in support of the application, contended that as there was no mention made in , the Act as to the mode of procedure for bottle licenses the application was quite formal under the Provincial Ordinance. On the refusal of the Commissioners to grant the license Mr. Catomore announced his intention of appealing to the Supreme Court.— ' Star.' LAWRENCE. On Tuesday there was a large muster of publicans fronv the surrounding parts, who came for their first application under the new Licensing Act. In all cases except two, when the applicants appeared personally, the licenses . were granted. One person was represented by Mr. L. G. Holmes, as agent, but the Bench determining to assert the time honored privileges of the gentlemen of the long robe, concluded not to hear any but professional gentlemen, who mustered on the occasion in full force. Thisis another death blow to the " bush lawyers."—'Star.' OAMARU TOWN DISTRICT. ' All the licenses applied for were granted .with "the'exception of bottle licenses Applied for' by Mr. W. Bee and Mr. \V. Hilliker, which were refused, as their, houses were in close proximity to stores previously, licensed. KAKANUI DISTRICT.; ■ Gilbert M'Nicol was refused a license for the Wheat-'sheaf Hotel, Awamoa, on the ground that no new licenses shouid be granted unless an absolute necessity for such was shown. The other applications were granted. 1 MAEREWHENTJA DISTRICT The following. applications for publicans' licenses in this district were granted, viz.:—-W. Carling, Commercial Hotel, Ramsay ; James Craig, Iloyal Hotel; Thomas Gallaghar, Victoria Hotel; and G. A. Harris, Maerewhen'ia Hotel, Maertjwhenua. OTEPOPO DISTRICT. With the exception of the refusal of a bottle license applied for by James Baptiste the Bench granted the other licenses applied for. HAMPDEN DISTRICT. The Bench granted all publicans' and bottle licenses applied "for.' The Oamaru Licensing Bench has laid down the rule that one conviction under the Act should be regarded as an act of misconduct on the part of the licensee, disqualifying him as holder of a renewed license. In one matter the Timaru Licensing Bench is stricter than our Commissioners. In one of the cases that came before them, they intimated that they would only grant the license on condition that .the applicant should be married within a fortnight, to which time the matter has been ad--journed.