ANNUAL LICENSING MEETING.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 13, 22 April 1871, Page 5

ANNUAL LICENSING MEETING.

Monday, April 17(Before J. Woodward, W. Dorset, D. Lewis, and Major Paul, Esqs., J.P.'s). KAEOBI HOTEL. Mr Cheesman applied for a license for the above hotel, formerly known as the Rutland, on Tinakori road, for Wm. Diamond. Application adjourned. COMMERCIAL HOTEL. Mr Cheesman applied for a. transfer of license for the above hotel from John M'lntosh to Wm. Miller. Granted. COACH AND HOBSES. John Barlow applied for a transfer of license from F. Sidey. Granted. The following cases were adjourned till next Tuesday fortnight : —Victoria Hotel, from Robert Somerville to Hugh Bradfoot; Albion Hotel, Courtenay Place, from David Barry to Raymond Power Collins ; Waterloo Hotel, Kaiwarra, from Anne Stine to Wm. Donald ; Globe Hotel, from Mrs Smith to Henry Milward. I The application for transfer of license for the Karori Hotel, Tinakori Road, by W. Diamond, was withdrawn. Tuesday, Apbil 18. (Before J. Woodward, W. Dorset, D. Lewis, C. J. Pharazyn, W. Seed, Esqs, J.P.'s ; Major Paul, and Major Edwards.) Before proceeding with the business the Bench said the usual rule would be observed. If applicants were not in attendance when called upon, they would be placed at the' bottom of the list. Allowance would be made only in the case of those publicans who had to come from the Hutt and other places, and who might be. detained by the bad roads. A special application was made for a license for the" Albion Hotel. The Bench refused to entertain the application owing to its informality, but allowed it to be amended. ALBION HOTEL. The applicant was then put in the box to prove that a person to whom the license had been originally granted had been legally ejected, and that he had refused to transfer the license to him. The house had been sold by the Crown, was purchased by Mr Nathan, and the occupant of the house at.that time agreed to transfer the license on the 17th of April; but on being applied to carry out his agreement, he refused to transfer the license without receiving £ICO bonus. He had been offered a fair proportion of the license money he had paid, but refused it. Application granted to Raymond Power Collins. cotjntey houses. On the representation of Mr N. Valentine the country applicants were to have precedence in making application. The following licenses were then granted:—Albion Hotel, Hutt, to Samuel Death; Aglionby Arms, Hutt, Nathaniel Valentine; Highland Home, Upper Hutt, John Wilkins; Whitewood's Hotel Hutt, Johu M'Donald; Osgood's Family Hotel, Hutt, Richard Forester Petter. With respect to this house, the Bench asked the Inspector if he bad made enquiries as authorised. He had, and found that the instance referred to was a solitary one, and an exceptional case, being on the occasion of a Maori parting. The Bench said they had on one occasion witnessed such a noisy scene as they had never heard before in any house in the settlement. They had thereupon instructed the Inspector to make inquiries, because if such disgraceful scenes were common they could not possibly continue the license to the house; but on the assurance that it was a solitary instance the license was granted. Licenses were then granted to the following other country houses:—Wallace's Hotel, Ngahauranga, James Putter; Travellers' Rest, Taita, Henry Churcher; Ngabauranga Hotel, Ngabauranga, Wm. Clapham. city houses. The following licenses for houses in the city were granted :—The Criterion, Lambfcon Quay; Hercules Burdett. The Duke of Edinburgh Hotel—Mr Buckley appeared on behalf of the applicant. The Inspector of Police opposed the granting of the license. Mr Baker, Clerk of the Court, was placed in the box to prove the depositions taken down by Mr J. C. Crawford in the case " Newton v Hall;" but Mr Buckley objected to the depositions being received, and the witness had to give evidence, from memory, as to certain gross language used by Hall as defendant. The Inspector cited the various occasions On which the plaintiff hacL appeared in the Court. V Mr Buckley admitted the fact that much-of

the conduct of his client had been rather reprehensible, though in the cases in which ho had appeared before the Court the other parties, were not guiltless. He" had no wish to shield his client's character in any way, who he believed was now in the path of reform, but whatever infirmities of temper he possessed, nothing could, at least, be said against his house, which was a useful, well kept, and well appointed establishment. Besides, his client had laid out a great deal of money in the improvement of the property, and had be* come more than half owner ; and to deprive him of his license would prove a great hardship. After some consultation, the Bench said it was with regret they could not refuse to reissue the license in this case ; but such was the state of the law on the matter. They, however, felt so strongly the necessity for the Bench having control in such cases, that they intended to make representations to the Government. They might* say, however, that had they this power they should certainly have exercised it in this case by refusing the license. License granted. Licenses were then granted to—Coach and Horßes, Manners street, John Barlow; Thistle Inn, Mulgrave street, James Richard Browne; the Princess Hotel, Molesworth street, James Cattel; Express Hotel, Cuba street, James Chisholm ; Queen's Head, Molesworth street, George Henry Clapham ; the Branch, Lambton Quay, Sydney Diamond ; Rutland Tinakori road, William Diamond ;' the Union* Hotel, Willis street, Peter Bonecker ; Royal Oak Hstel, Manners street, Wta. G. Emeny; the Royal Hotel, Lambton Quay, Charles Hatfield; The European. Hotel, Lambton Quay: Carl Hausemann ; Kennedy's Hotel, ' Willis street, Mary Ann Kennedy; Mechanics' Club, Willis street, Charles Auguste Kingge ; Wellington Hotel, Molesworth street, John Maginnity ; Pier Hotel, Grey street, G. Martin ; Globe Hotel, Adelaide road, Henry Milward; Royal Tiger, Mount Cook, William Mitchell; Osgood's Empire Hotel; Philip Moeller; New Zealander Hotel, Manners street, John M'lntosh; Commercial Hotel, Lambton Quay, William Miller; Panama Hotel, Taranaki street, Jas. Nesbitt; Galatea Hotel, Thos. Nicholas; Prince of Wales Hotel, Thos North. MELBOUBNE HOTEL. On the application for the Melbourne Hotel by Samuel Parkes, the Inspector of Police objected to the granting of the license, and reminded the Bench of the way in which the house was kept, and placed Mr M'Lean, a next-door neighbor, in the box, who said the noise was frequently unbearable; often he heard something iike comic songs being rolle d out by drunken sailors on Sundays; It was not uncommon to see fighting going on in the house, and occasionally finishing it up out in the street at past one and two in the morning. He had frequently complained to Mr Parkes ; but he said he did all he could to keep the place orderly. Mr Borlase, who appeared for applicant, cross* examined this witness: ; On ;a Sunday morning between one and two o'clock, about five of six-months sinca, a fight was going on in the house, and., the combatants were turned out into the street. -By the Bench: I wish to cOnyey to the Bench the idea that the general character of the house is disorderly. The disturbance was not caused by man of-war sailors. Sergeant Monaghan deposed: I had occasion several times to caution, Mr Parkes for keeping his house open after hours, and the constables have complained of the same circumstance. I have heard of several complaints about the disorderly character of the house. I have seen people in the house not of good character who said they were lodgers, but were not, and who were afterwards seen to leave the house. Mr Borlase contended there was no reason shown to deprive the house of a license altogether, though the Bench might think it right to refuse an extended license. In reply to the Bench, the Inspector of Police said the general character of the house and of a great many of those who frequented it was not good. The Bench that if what had been proved against the house had happened before the hour of ten they would have refused the license altogether; but as it had happened after hours they would grant a short license j even that was done with reluctance, and the house would be subject to a keen supervision. Licenses were then granted to the following houses:—Crown and Anchor Hotel, James Prosser; Provincial Hotel, Molesworth street, Daniel Rivers; Exchange Hotel, Lorenz Reisterer; Victoria Hotel, Abel Smith street, Robert Somerville; Bank Hotel, Manners street, Ellen Sprav ; Foresters'Arms, Ghuznee street, John Valentine ; Nelson Hotel, Lambton Quay, Thos. Wilson ; White Swan, Cuba street, Mary Ann Winkley : Nelson Ale House, William White; Cricketer/ Arms, Tory street, John Albert Chaney; ClydeHotel, Wm. Edwards; Rainbow Tavern, -Kaiwarra, John Herbert Street; Waterloo Hotel, Kaiwarra, Wm. Donald ; Nag's Head, William James Richards; Prince of Wales, John Thompson; Metropolitan Hotel, Thos. Urwin, Molesworth street. Owing to the absence of Mr Isaac Plimmer, the applicant for Barrett's Hotel, the ease was adjourned till that day fortnight., The Bench, however, expressed their dissatisfaction at the discourtesy shown by the applicant not appear- - in g • The Bench then adjourned.