ANNUAL LICENSING MEETING.

New Zealander, Volume 4, Issue 301, 18 April 1849, Page 3

ANNUAL LICENSING MEETING.

Yesterday, being the third Tuesday in April, there was a numerous ai tendance of the Magistrate* of this Disitiict at the Resident Magistrates' Court to tyrant licenses to Publicans, uudtr the au hority of the Ordinance. Present: P. Bcrrcy, Esq., Resident Magistrate Mdjor Matton, Captain Laye, J. Coat's, W. Gieborne, A. Kennedy, C. W. Ligar, L. McLach!an, J. Scott, and W, Youiifr, Esqis. The first name called wai Samual Norman, who applied for the " New Leith Inn," Onehunga. A memorial from forty-six settlers, amongst wnom were the names of the Rev. Geo. Kissling and other clergymen residing at St. John's Collvgc, was read, praying the Bench not to grant additional licensei on the Epsom or Keniuera Roada, nor at the villages of Panmure oi Onehunga; and Captain Kenny, who was present, addressed the bench, oojeeting strongly to the increase of public houses at Onehunga. He read, as hii grounds of objecion, a memorandum of his own addressed in November last to Mr. George, who then applied for hi« support to obtain a license at Onehunga, in which he (dptain Kenny) refused his tupport, upon the grounds that the establishment of public houses at Onehunga would be fraught with much evil, not only to (he inhabitants of the Pensioners village that had been placed under his care and authority, but would also retard the successful formation and pioiperity of that settlement. For the same reasons he requested the bench not to sanction more than one public house at the village ; if more were granted, he thought that it would require a greafer number of police to preserve the peace in the neighbourhood. He th light that if one bouse were to be licensed, that Mr. George should have the preference, as he had hitherto conducted his house with regularity. Of Mr Norman he knew nothing, but of the house he could say, that one of the pensioners had died drunk there some time ago. The majority of the bench being inclined to think that as Onehunga was the great outlet from. Auckland towards the western coast, two houses were not an over abundance, and. after the Report of the Inspector of Police had been referred to, the licenses were granted to Messrs. Norman and George,— Messrs. Berrey and Gisborne declining to vote, S. A. Wood, Royal Masonic Hotel, Princes street granted. H. Hardington, Royal Exchange Hotel, Shortlandstreet, granted. J. Brigham, Piince Albert Inn, Queen-street. Mr. Coates said that this had been one of the best conducted houses in Auckland, and he should vote for the renewal of the license. At the same time he would suggest that the bench should intimate to applicants that next year preference would be given to occupiers of stone or brick building*. The bench were unanimous in favour of the pro priety of this »u£gestion, and the Chairman gave intimation accordingly. On reference to the Police, Report, a note appeared relative to Mr. Brighams hou->e, that the rooms sveir small and inconveiiicni ; the license was gianted, however, with an intimation that the bench would require that every licensed houte should in future be rendeted commodious and comfortable for the reception mid good accommodation of travellers. W. McDonald, Caledonian Hotel, Fort-street. — GrantedW, \ u Rojns, Greyhound, Queen-streat.— Granted W. Dennett, Duke of Murlborough, Quesn-strcet.

The bench hesitated before granting thin license, on account of the bud accommodation it affords for travellers' horses, there only beiug an entrance by sufferance to the rear, besides other evident disadvantages. Mr. Giiborne, in particular, was opposed to such houses being licensed, owing to the greater risk of fire breaking out in their neighbourhood than in, other localities* Ultimately the license was granted, with tin intimation that the bench were determined that publicans should improve their houses or become disqualified for holtlititF licenses. John CmipbdU, Union Inn, Qusen-Btreet.— Granted, with similar intimation. Robert Thompson, Osprey Inn, High -streetGranted, night license refused. C. Fulton, Auckland Hotel, Qneen-strect. The Police Report noted (hat accommodation in the rear of. this hotel was defective. Mr Coates stated lint the Inspector lud informed him that, with the exception of the Masonic Hotel, the rear of every public house in Auckland was in u most filthy state, none of them posses -ing the necessary cleanly app«nddges which weie indispensable 10 such houses. Tde application was granted, on condition that improvements in cleanliness should be made before the license would be issued ; and the bench gave a general notification to the same effect to all the others whose license* had been granted. T. Johnson, Windsor Castle, Parnell. — Granted, with the unanimous cjneurrence of the bench, owing to the great improvements made on the prtmises, and the benefit confentd on (he nei^hoourhood hy the erection of a blacksmith's forge and bake/s shop, by the applicant. W. Tuity, LonJon Tavern, Shortland-atreet.— Refused, in compliance with the r< quest of a memorial presen ed to the bench Irom sixteen householders in the neighbourhood. H. Nathan, Russell Wine Vaults, at fint granted, but upon reconsideration refined, owing to the premises applied for not being completed. S. H.Levey, Victoria Hotel, Fort-street, Refused, the application not having been put in on or before the first Tuesday in April, and, when putin, being informal the signature not being that of the proprietor, but of his wife. H. Hayr, Half Way House, Epsom, Granted. Rose Anne D<mi, Piiuce Albert Inn, Epsom, Granted, unanimously, having, as recommended by the bench lust year, greatly improved her house and pierowes. The bench being about to proceed lo the consideration of the New Applications, Mr. Coates suggested that the names on the list should be read over. The names were read accordingly; upon which Mr. Coates said that he felt inclined to go upon Lord Brougham's principle and grant licenses to the whole of them indiscriminately. Mr. Gisborne objected to such a course. The more numerous the temntatuns to diink became, the greater quantity would be consumed. He thought that the bench should be guided by the necessity existing for each house, the character of the applicant, and the quality of the tenement. Mr. Ligar thought that the bench could not jit in. judgment upon the character of the applicants, as the Magistrates knew but litile of many of the names juit read ; their duty to the public would be better performed by having due regard to the accommodation the housei applied for weie capable of affording. It was agreed to take the names seriatim and commence with J. Bddkm, Pan mure Inn, Epsom Road. A memorial from the itev. Mr. Purchaj, on behalf of his lord* ahip the Bishop, and signed by other inhabitant! o£ the neighbourhood, objecting to a licence being granted, for this house, was then read ; and also a letter from Captain K-illy, in favor of Badkin's general characte r. The Bench were divided in opinion, and on it being put to the votd the license was granted,— Messrs. Berrcy, Giaborue and Coates voting against, and Uvz Kennedy declining to vote on either side. W. M'Garvie, Trafalgar Inn, Qjeen Street. — Grants ed, with intimation to make improvements. W. Belliiigham and W. Smilhaon, Wyndhara Street/ and P. Dignan, Albert Street, were considered together,, the houses for which they applied being contiguous to each other. Dignan's application granted, owing to his being a brick house. The others were refused. E. Crowe, liobson Street, Refused. E. Donnellan, Cbancery Street, — Refused: P. Sheehan, P. Lorrigan, and J. Grimley, applications for West Queen street, were taken into consideration, and the lormer only granted, owing to his application being tor a brick building. W. Gordon, Hobson-street. — Refused, in compliance with the prayer ot a memorial from the lloinan. Catholic Clergy, and other householder! in the neighbourhood. T. Hill. Chancery- street — Thii was an informal application, having no signature attached to it. J. Hoop, !• Stuart, G. Partington, and C. Madden, applicants for Queen-street were taken into consideration ; Maddens granted, the others refuted. W. Twohey, Blue Bell, Queen-street —,Mr. Gisborne objected to any further increase of licenses being granted for that street; uuless, indeed, the bencii wished to make a complete Pandemonium of Auckland. There were now too many houses licensed, and he was sure that numbers of lives would hi lost in con* sequence of the increase of drunkenness that might be expected. There were seven licenses granted in Quesnstreet already, and he believed there were only fortysix householders, exclusive of publicans, in the whole street, being about one public house foi c\ery seven families. If more were gran ed, the street had better be called Public House-street, instead of Queen-street. Messrs. Ligar, Scott, and Young believed that the Blue Bell had go>>d accommodation, and capacious stabling in the rear, and were consequently in favour of a license being granted. Testimonials of Twohey's character from Messrs, Lynd, R. F. Porter, and the Rev. Walter L>wry were then read, the latter of which was especially flattering. Mr. Coates observed, that alter hearing such high, recommendation of the applicant as was given by Mr. Lawry, he had only to be assured that the application wai not made for the purpose of transfer, but that the house was to be conducted by the applicant himself, and he should vote for a license to be granted. He did not believe that drunkenness was on the increase in Auckland. Twohey staled that he had not applied for the purpose of transferring the license if be should get it. The bench divided ; and on it being puc to the vote, the liceuae was granted. A. C, Joy, Mason's Hotel, Official Bay.— Gi anted, Messrs. Gisborne and Coates voiini; iigxinst. E. Ke y, Cliff Inn, Shetland Street,— -Refused in compliance with the request of sutitu houbchuldux in the neighbourhood. A. Mitchell, Chancery Street, Refused. J. Nicholson, Albert Street, J. Weavell, Reoiuera, and James Johnson, High Street, %eie ltlu&ed, t he latter owing to home being too small, aud bad accommodation on premises. The list having been gone through, it appeared that only two were granted in addition to the number of htensed homes of last year, alttiougU there were tweutyo)ie fre»u applicants