LICENSING COURT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 94, 21 April 1874, Page 2

LICENSING COURT.

Tbe first licensing court was held in Nelson thi§ morning, the Resident Magistrate, and J. W. Barnicoat, D. Rough, and W. Wells, E-qs, J.J.P., Commissioners, on the bench. The Resident Magis< rate said th«t as this tfas the first sitting of the Court the Cowrubsioners w<re desirous that he should say a few vords as to the constitut'on of the Court, and their iatentiens in carrying cut the Act. They were not there as magistrates but as a Court constituted ny the A ssembly to take the entire control of all matters connected with the issuo of licenses for the eale of liquors ia the district, and no img'strate had any right to interfere with them. They should be guided by the character of the applicant, and the consideration whether tin re was any necessity for the house. They should apply this to the new applications more than to others, and ho rauht say that the opinion of ihe Court was that there already existed quite a sufficient number of b-uses in the town, nnd they had mide up their n inds to grant no new license unless a strong and real rccessity for the house for which it was required was shown to exist. The police were directed to make reports on the general conduct of the house, its cleans ness, the civility of the landlord or landlady, «nd the quality of the liquors fold. The effect of the stringent regulatians by which they meant to be bounl would be to increase the value of public-housn propert , and it would be to the interest of the innkeepers to assist the Court in carrying out their views. 1 he following licenses were granted without remark: — Ann Adatn, Anchor Inn; Enmma Atkinson, Custom HouseHote?; Alfred ßrind, Provincial Hotel; Robert Di»h"r, Trafalgar Bote!; W. Good, Pr.nce Albert Hotel; W. G. Jacobs, Albion Hotel; J. McCjnkey, Coach and Horses; Charles Moore, Windsor Castle Hotel; Joseph Morling, Ship Hotel; Mary Ann Potter, Postboy; Caro'ine Rufsoll, Exchange; Frederick Stock. Steamboat; George 'Ihompfon, Wakatu; John Tregca, Commercial; John Tutty, Pier. Hugh Cottier, Mitre Hotel; — The Inspector of Police s»id that serious complaints were made against this house, tsMr Cottier was in the habit of allowing prostitutes to nret there in the evenings, when the singing and noise were a nuisance to the neighborhood. The applicant said that it was untrue and that his application had been signed by the neighboring householders. Pos'poned for a week. John Disher, Golden Fleece: — Mr Fell, who appeared for the applicant, said that he had laid out £600 or £700 upon repairs and fittings, and trusted that a license mi^ht be granted at once. The Commissioners stated that they would willingly do so but that the Act did not allow ofthe license being granted until the Ist of July. They fully recognised the hardship of the c» se. W. H. Gollop, Masonic Hotel —The Inspect- r of Police called attention to tho fact that there were two b irs in the house. Applicant stated that neither of them opened on to the road. The Pc eh warned him of the consequences of breaking the law. H. T. Hall, Ris-ngr Sun.— The Inspector of Police stated that frequent complaints were made that drinking was allowed on Sunday mornings. The spplicant having been cautioned, the license was granted. John Knight, Thistle Inn. — It was stated that the house was small and had no accommodation. The Resident Magistrate sai t the license would be granted for this year on the understanding that proper acoommodation ihouJd be provided. Charleß M'Gee, Nelson Hotel. — Attention was called to the fact that there were two bars in the house. Applicant said be would comply with the Act. John Mears, Bush Tavern. — The Inspector said that complaints wtre made tbat skitt'e playing was allowed up to a late hour. Ihe applicant was cautioned against giving cause for such a complaint. ' William Stnllard, Miners "Arms. — The Inspector said that the applicant was a young hand at inkeeping, and he should like him to be warned ago inst allowing card playing in his house, which was now carried on v it.il a late hour in the morning. Captain Rough said that he was inclined to refuse a license to any house in which gambling was allowed. — After a consultation, the Resident Magistrate said they would grant the license, but should instruct the police to make a very strict report next year upon the manner in wbich the house was kept. George Naylor, Globe Hotel. — Mr Pitt appeared for the applicant William Tibbet, the present landlord, had applied for the license, but wisbed to withdraw his application, and that the license might be made out in Naylor's name. — The Resident Magistrate paid that it would be irreguHr, but as this was the first time the applications were made under the new Act, some slight irregularities might be overlooked, but next year it would j be strictly carried out. James Henry Tregea, of the Royal Hotel, | wished the license to be made out in the name of William Robert Parmenter who had | taken the house from him. No application had been sent in by Parmenter. The Resident Magistrate said that in allowing this they should be very gravely stretching their powers, aB by so doing they were deferring the public of tbe opportunity they had of objecting when the applicant's name was advertised. Several bottle and wholesale licenses were then granted, and the Court adjourned for a week.