PUBLICANS’ LICENCES.—ANNUAL MEETING.

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 732, 20 April 1853, Page 2

PUBLICANS’ LICENCES. —ANNUAL MEETING.

Yesterday morning the Annual Meeting of Justices of the Peace for granting Licenses for the year commencing on the Ist of July was held at the Resident Magistrate’s Court. The following Magistrates were present:— Thomas Beckham Esq., Chairman; C. W. Ligar, Alexander Kennedy, and William Young Esqs., and Majors Gray and Greenwood, The Chairman said that the usual course was to renew the old licenses if no complaints were made as to the manner of conducting the houses. There had been no complaint lodged by the Police against any of the houses; the only complaint that had been preferred, came from the Adjutant of the 38th regiment, who, by direction of the Commanding Odicer, had complained of disorderly conduct on a Sunday morning in the neighbourhood of the Wheat Sheaf Inn, which there was reason to believe had originated at that tavern. The letter to this effect was read to the Bench. The Chairman added that the Police were not cognizant of any such occurrence; he believed the house to be one of the best conducted in the town. The following two Memorials which had been addressed to the Bench were then read by the Clerk;—one bearing on the general subject, the other having special reference to the applications for new licenses in Albert-street. To the Worshipful the Justices of the Peace, sitting in Auckland, April I9lh, 1833. This Memorial of the undersigned, being Householders and Residents in the city and suburbs of Auckland, respectfully Shewetii, — That your Memorialists view with deep concern the numerous applications now made ; for new Licenses for Public Houses, inas- | much as (hey regard the number already eslabI lished exceedingly large in proportion to our ; population, and far beyond the real wants of the community. Your Memorialists further deprecate (he increase of Public Houses, because they consider that all properly in the immediate neighbourhood of such places is greatly depreciated in value, especially by the increased risk from tire, etc., | and because of their tendency to promote Sabbath profanation, and furnish facilities for the spread of vice and immorality, particularly among our youth and the native population. Your Memorialists therefore earnestly inlreat your Worships as guardians of the public interests, not to grant any of tiic new applications now before your bench. Your Memorialists would also respectfully call the attention of your Worships to the fact that drunkenness is manifestly on (he increase among (be native population in this place, and (hat the law which prohibits thesaleof intoxicating drinks to natives, must be by some persons grossly violated. Your Memorials(s beg further to call the alteriHUH UT"J out NVUI sliipd to iKo Vik law requiring the closing of such houses during the hours of Divine Service is also violated. Though apparently closed, many- are really open by private entries, etc., and great disorder often exists on the Lord’s day, to the great annoyance of peaceable inhabitants on their way to and from their respective places of Worship. Ixi granting Licenses for (lie ensuing year, we trust your Worships will take the above facts info serious consideration, and your Memorialists will ever pray, etc., etc., etc. To (he Chairman and Worshipful Bench of Magistrates assembled for hearing applications for Publicans Licenses. We (he undersigned householders in Albertstreet, West Queen-street, and neighbourhood, having observed (bat two now Licenses to keep Public Houses in our vicinity, viz.; in Albertstreet, have been applied for, beg your Worships will not grant the same, as we believe the Houses already licensed are more than sufficient for the wants of the inhabitants. We would also solicit your Worships to take into your consideration the fact, that the Houses for which ! these Licenses have been applied, are built of wood, and that (he risk from fire in the neighbourhood of public houses generally is cona siderahly increased when such houses are constructed entirely of inflammable material. We consider our dwellings and property will he placed in great jeopardy, should your Worships consent to grant Licenses for these houses, especially were such Licenses to be granted to persons of irregular and intemperate habits.

The old licenses were then renewed. The following is the list:—

On entering on the consideration of .ij)Kfe new applications, the Chairman suggested the propriety of fixing some principle on which to proceed. There were eleven new applicalions, which, perhaps, might be all equally eligible, lie thought the fairest way would be, first to determine whether any additional public houses were required in Auckland. Mr. Young thought that an increase it\ the number would be advantageous, on the ground that greater competition would secure better accommodation for travellers. If he had been present when the licenses for he old houses were before the Bench, he would have objected to the renewal of some 01 them on account of the very bad accommodations which they afforded. Major Gray said it was quite true that the accommodations in several of the houses were very bad. The greater part of them were nothing morelhan gin shops or taps. Betas he observed that professional gentlemen were in attendance on behalf of some of the

applicants, perhaps something would he stated which might induce the Bench to take individual claims into favourable consideration. Mr. Ligar was altogether opposed to the increase of public houses. For the last year or two, in acting on that Bench, he had been opposed to any increase of the number, and was so still. But perhaps the gentlemen to whom Major Gray referred would be able to show special cause for entertaining the claims of some of the new applicants. At any rale, with regard to the applications for Chancery Lane, he understood it to be a principle formerly laid down by the Bench that no licenses should be granted there ; that if any new licenses at all [were given, they should not be in back situations like that. It was then agreed that the claims should be considered seriatim, taking at one lime, however, those in the same street. Chancery Street. —William Bacon, P McArthur, and John McGrath, applied. Mr. Abraham appeared for W. Bacon, and Mr. Merriman for J. McGrath. The Bench decided that one License should be granted in this street; William Bacon was the successful applicant. Queen Street. —John Hoop and Bryant Vcrcoe applied. Mr. Merriman appeared for J. Hoop, and Mr. Whitaker for B. Ycrcoe. Both were refused, the Bench considering that no additional public houses were necessary in that street. Princes Street.—F. C. Lewis and William IN' icol applied. Mr. Merriman appearing for the latter. Mr. Whitaker appeared on behalf of Mr. Posseniskie of the Masonic Hotel, licensed in the same street, to oppose the granting of either license. Both refused. Sjiortland Street. —W illiam Harkins applied. Refused. Wakefield Street. —Henry Cowan, applied through Mr. Merriman. Refused. West Queen Street —John Henry applied, Mr. Merriman appearing on his behalf. Refused. Albert Street.— Daniel Mills applied. Refused. This completed the List. The following Resolutions were then adopted by the Bench on the motion of Mr. Ligar, seconded by Mr. Kennedy. That the Bench while it refuses to increase materially the number of public houses, is of opinion that if the present holders of licenses were to enlarge and improve their premises, they would be able to afford the most ample accommodalion in lodging to strangers and others requiring to remain in Auckland. That the Bench think it will be desirable not to renew licenses in future to the present holders if they do not afford ample accommodation in lodging to strangers.

Christian Civilization of the Maories.— The seventh annual meeting of the Kaipara Auxiliary Branch of the Wesleyan Missionary Society , was field at the native settlement of Okaro, on the Wairoa River, on Friday, the Bth April, the Rev, James Duller, the resident missionary, presiding on (he occasion. The meeting was addressed by twelve native teachers in short but appropriate speeches, after which the chiefs, Parore, Puke, and Tirarau, made a few observations. The collection amounted to the sum of All. 18s. 2 rf., being an increase of more than 20/. on that of the preceding year. About five hundred natives were assembled from the various tributary rivers and from the settlements on the banks of the Wairoa, and the Kaipara, comprising nearly all the native population of that large but very thinly populated district. Just one-third of the above number are accredited church-members, and they include a leaven of true Christian principle which extends its salutary influence on those around them. Self-gratification rather than religious motives brought many to the place, but the various religious services in connection with the meeting were well attended, and with apparent devotion. Their very comfortable appearance in their numerous calico tents; their extremely good clothing of English manufacture; their Improved diet of lea, sugar, and rice, in addition to their own produce of pork, fish, potatoes, <Sc.; and the amount of the collection, ail bespoke the gratifying results of a hrbk trade in limber and other produce now carried on by Messrs. Walton with Tirarau and his tribe, and by Mr. Atkins with Parore and othcis and their tribes, which trade is greatly improved by the recent introduction of cash payments, instead of the barter system which was formerly exclusively observed. When we consider the proverbially covetous character of the New-Zea-lander. it is pleasing to see them thus readily contributing, according to their means, low aid the spread of the Gospel, from which they acknowledge themselves lo have derived unspeakable benefit. On the following Monday, the subject of a disputed land boundary was intioduced by Tirarau in full assembly; and, as it could not be satisfactorily settled, an unbaplised chief proposed and urged that henceforward the missionary meetings he discontinued. This led lo an appeal to the body of the people—were they prepared lo accede to such a proposition?— Their hearty reply did them credit, —with cnc voice they said “No, never; when we give up our missionary collections, we shall have renounced Christianity. ”

Lectures.— lt will be seen by advertisement Chat a series of Lectures on portions of Church History is alwul to be delivered by Ministers connected with the Auckland Branch of the Evangelicul Alliance, the first of which will be given this evening, in (lie Wesleyan Chapel, by the Uev. Thomas Buddie. The subject is very interesting—The Sepulchral Remains of the Primitive Roman Christians, found in the Catacombs, as illustrating the Christianity of the Second and Third Centuries.

Names. Name of PIousk. ResidenceBrigham, John, Prince Albert, Lower Queen-st. Campbell, John, Union Hotel, Queen-street. Crosbie, David, White Hart Hotel, Queen-street. Currie, William, Aurora Tavern, Victoria-street. Davies, Hosannah, Prince Albert Inn, Epsom. Dennett, Wm., Duke of Malborough, Lower Queen-st. Dignau, Patrick, Clanricarde Hotel, Albert-street. D<: Zestre, A., Crown & Anchor Inn, West Queen-street. Hardington, H., Royal Exchange Hotel, Short land-street. Johnson, Thomas, Windsor Castle, Parnell. Levey, S. H., Russell Wine Vaults, Shortland-street. Lockwood, D., Prince of Wales Hotel, Hobson-street. M arks, Morris, Victoria Hotel, Fort-street. Nicholson, John, Black Bull Inn, Albert-street. Palmer, James, Masons' Horae, Ollicial Bay. Pcsseuniskie, Wm., Masonic Hotel, Princes-strcet. Reynolds, George, Caledonia Hotel. Fort-street. Scott, Walter, Half-way House, Epsom Road. Sheehan, David, Trafalgar Inn, Lower Queen-st. Sims, Frederick, Wheat Sheaf Inn, Queen-street. Smith, George, Greyhound Inn, Qaecn-strccU Thompson, Robert, Osprey Inn, High street. Tutty, William, Royal George, Newmarket.