MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 437, 21 September 1877, Page 2

MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

A special meeting of the Municipal Council was held last eve-'ing at the Council Chambers. There were present—His Worship the Mayor, Councillors Booth, Procter, Gibbs, Liddle, Mainland,. Spcuee, and Headland. TENDERS. The tenders for the new gasometer were opened, when that of Messrs. M'Nab and Aimers, J.SoO, was accepted, on the motion of Councillor Booth, seconded by Councillor Spcnce. NEW BUILDING. A letter was read from Mr. Johnston, architect, applying for permission to erect a building at the corner of Thames and Neu streets, according to the plans enclosed.— Permission was g< anted. LETTER FKOM THE GARDENEI?. A letter from the Corporation Gardener (Mr. Kidd) was read, enclosing a letter from Mr. Abbott, of Christehureh, with reference to the price of hollies. The letter also pointed out that hollies could be obtained from Nelson at a much lower price than that named by Mr. Abbott. A lengthy discussion took place on the matter, Councillors Booth and Liddle opposing the expenditure of money in the purchase of trees. Councillors Procter. Mainland, and Gibbs supported the purchase of the plants. Eventually, on the motion of Councillor Procter, seconded by Councillor Gibbs, i" was decided that a number of hollies should be ordered from Nelson in accordance with Mr. Kidd's suggestion. SLY-GIOG SELLING. His Worship the Mayor read the resolution under which the meeting was held for the purpose of considering the best method of putting a stop to the practice of persons selling liquor without licenses. He said he hud considered the matter carefully, but had scarcely been able to come to a decision as to the best manner in which the Council could act in orcUr to put down the practice of sly-grog seeing. He thought the only

method which the Council could take would be to use its position for the purpose of bringing the matter properly under the notice of the police, with a view of stimulating them to vigorous action and putting down the nefarious practice. He did not think that any fresh legislation was necessary on the subject, as the law was already sufficiently stringent if properly carried out. Councillor Procter thought th«t it would he well to ask the Minister of Justice to suggest to the Magistrate to inflict the full penalty. It was simply a farce to line a man L 5 for such breaches of the law. Councillor Cibbs sad he believed the reason for the fines being made so small was in order that the fine should not be sufficiently large to warrant the defendants appealing and getting the decisions upset, as had frequently been done. Councillor Liddle thought the evil would lie 1-ssened were the Licensing Bench to grant a larger number of licenses in town. The present number of licensed houses in < lainaru was inadequate to the requirements of the town.

Councillor Headland did not think that an increase of licensed houses was necessary. He thought the Act should be so amended as to prevent the possibility of persons fined for selling liquor without licences being able to get the decision set aside on trivial technical obj ctions. Some further discussion of a conversational nature took place, during which several of the Councillors mentioned the fact that many of the houses had bars lifted up in them in contravention of the bye laws under the Common lodging house Ordinance, while one house had actually a bagatelle table fitted up It was suggested that the Inspector of Nuisances should enforce the bye-laws. KventaUy, the following resolutions were carried :

"'J he C"line 1 having had brought under it* notice the fact that a system of sly-grog-selling exists to a huge extcit in Oaniaru, is anxious that steps should be taken to put down this illegal tratlic in intoxicating liquors, and the evils resulting therefrom, licsolved, therefore

"1. That representations be made to the Minister of Justice, respectfully pointing nut that hith'Tfco, when proceedings have been taken against persons for In each of the Licensing Act, and v here such cases have resulted in the imposition of anything like a substantial fine, it lias generally happened that the convict i. ns have Ikch quashed, on appeal ; and urging that the law be am nded in such a way that no conviction for sly-grog-selling shall be liable to be qua-hed for want of form, or upon any technicality, when the Court to which the appeal is carried shall lie satisfied that the offence was actually committed, and that the conviction is good on the merit i.

" 2. 'I hat the Minister be also respectfully requested to direct that the police department shall take some special ine;>ns to put down lhe offence complained of, the Council venturing to suggest that for this purpose special detectives'should be employed other than the oiiic rs stationed in the town, and who, being known to the offenders, are therefore not able to en fore the carrying out of the 1 w.

" 3. That a copy of the last resolution lie a 1 so furnished to t'-e Commissioner of Police. "4. That the Inspector of Nuisances bo directed rigidly to enfotce section IX of the Lodging-houi-e lbgulaLions, which the Council have reason to believe is infringed in more than one instance."