PUBLICANS' LICENSES.

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 628, 21 April 1852, Page 3

PUBLICANS' LICENSES.

Yesterday, being the Annual Licensing Day, the following Justices assembled at the Resident Magistrate's Court to take into consideration applications for licenses'for the twelve months, commencing the Ist of July next : — Thomas Beckham, Esq., Resident Magistrate, Chairman ; E. Mayne, A. Kennedy, L. Maclachlan, C. W. Ligar, W. Gisborne, W. Young, J. Mahon, and J. O'Neill, Esqrs. The Chairman said he had received several memorials addressed to the Bench against the increase of licenses — some of them were applicable to individual cases, and should be read to the bench when the applications to which they especially referred were brought under consideration ; but there was one of a general nature which he thought should be read before the bench proceeded to consider any of the applications on the list. The following memorial with the signatures attached to it was then read by the Clerk of the Court: — To the Worshipful the Justices of the Peace to meet at Auckland the 20th day of April, 1852, for the granting of Publicans Licenses. The Memorial of the undersigned, being householders in Auckland and the vicinity, Humbly Sheweth, — That your Memorialists regard the number of Public Houses now open for the sale of intoxicating drinks in Auckland and the vicinity ns being far beyond the real w ants of the population, and highly prejudicial to the general interests of the Colony. They furnish facilities for intemperance which greatly lend to incrense this evil and seriously militate against our social progress. They withdraw a vast amount of capital from the ngricultural interests and from general commerce, destroy a vast amount of available labour, and exert a very destructive influence on health and life. They adect, moreover, very deeply the interests of education, morality, a ml religion, invariably perpetuating ignorance,

spreading vice, and destroying the best energies of a community. Your Memorialists therefore look with deep concern at the large number of applications now made for new Licenses, and most earnestly entreat your Worships, as guardians of the public interests, no . to add another Public House to the number air .ily oO disproportioned to the wants of the communiLv, but rather to take into consideration the propriety of reducing the present number, and thus arrest an evil which is so extensively affecting the commerc* 1, industrial, educational, moral, and religious interests of tin's Colony. And your Memorialists will ever pray, &o. This memorial was signed by His Lordship the Bishop of New Zealand, nearly all the ministers of religion resident in Auckland, including two Roman Catholic Clergymen, the Colonial Surgeon, and several medical men, the Mayor, and many of the Commercial men and Householders of the Borough. The Chairman then proposed that the whole of the old licenses should be renewed. He had no police complaint to prefer against any of them. The houses already licensed were then taken in order as they stood on t e list, and the licenses renewed. "William M'Garvic, of the Trafalgar Inn, and John Campbell, of the Union Hotel, both in Queen-street, were informed that in order to secure a favourable consideration of their applications for a renewal of their license next year, it would be nee i,sary for them to improve their premises, which were considered very much dilapidated and incommodious — the bench intimating that buildings erected of substantial material would be desirable. M'Garvic stated that in three years he would have a brick house erected. Alter a consultation on the subject of nighthouses, and the just complaints made against the practice of skittle playing at unseasonable hours, the Chairman said it was the decision of the bench that in future it would be required that all skittle-alleys be closed at ten o'clock. The police would report any kept open after that hour, and such non-compliance with the regulation would operate against a renewal of license. The new applications were then taken into consideration, commencing with Shorlland- street. Ashcr Asher and William Harkins applied for licenses in this street, Mr. Whitakei appearing for the former. On the question being put by the Chairman, " Is there another public-house required in Sliort-land-strcet ? ' — there were six noes, and one aye. The applications were refused. For Chancery-street there were two applications — William Bacon and John M'Gr.ith. Mr. Mcrriman appearing for the latter. Both were | refused. George Russell's application for a license in Queen-street, was then considered. A memorial to the Bench from merchants in ad- [ joining premises was read, praying that a license might not be granted, as the establishment of a public liouso in their neighbourhood would be attended with evils which they enumerated — one was the great risk from fire in the vicinity of such houses. A reply to the memorial by the applicant was then read ; Mr. Abraham appeared for him, arguing for the granting of the license, which the bench refused, by a large majority. David Sheehan applied for a 'house in West Queen-street, but was refused. David Crosbie applied for a hotiso in Wynd-ham-strect. His application was backed by a recommendation from William Smithson, and several other householders in that street, for a licence to be granted on account of the convenience the lamp over the door would afford to the inhabitants of the street. Refused. John Hoop, Queen-street, refused. Jerry Waite, Queen-street. It appeared this applicant had erected a brick house in hope of obtaining a license, as the bench had on former occasions expressed a determination to give such houses the preference. Last year his, house would have been licensed had it not happened that his application was informal. Mr. Whitaker appeared for the applicant ; and the license was granted. Eliza Lockhead and James Matthews applied for licenses in Wakefield-sti-eet. A memorial to the bench from a majority of the householders in the neighbourhood against the granting of licenses for these houses was road ; and the applications were refused. Mr. Merriman appeared for Mrs. Lockhead, John Nicholson and Daniel Mills applied for houses in Albert-street. The bench considci'ed (hat a house wns required in that street and granted Nicholson a license. William Currie, Victoria-street, granted. Daniel Lockwood, Ilobson-street, granted. Mr. Abraham appeared for this applicant. Isaac James Millh, Parnell, refused.

The Band of the 58th Regiment, by psnmSsion of His Excellency Lieutenant-Colonel Wynyard, C.8., will perform the following selection of music, in the Grounds of the Old Government House, to-morrow (Thursday), between the hours of 3 and 5 p.m.

PROGRAMME. Overture Op.— "The Fair Maid of Perth." Wnddell. Selection Op.— "The Daughter of St Mark." Dalle. Cnviitma Op. — " La Donna del Lago.'\ . . . Jlossin . Rr>cit c Cay Op. — •' Sonnambula." Bellini. Waltz " La Mandolina-" Buller. Ballad — " The La^t Adieu." Perry. Quadnlle — "The Massanitllo." Jullien. Ballad — " Gloomy Winter's now Awa." .. . Scottish Melody.