RAUKAPUKA LICENSING COMMITTEE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2513, 8 June 1893, Page 2

RAUKAPUKA LICENSING COMMITTEE.

The annual meeting of the above was held yesterday at noon. Present—Messrs W. M. Moore (chairman), R. Thew, and G. J. Dennistoun. APPLICATIONS POE RENEWALS. No. 1, Rangitata Bridge Hotel (W. Wheelband, licensee) ; application for renewal of license. Police report : “ Manner in which house is kept, well; no objections to renewal.”—Renewal granted. No. 2, Star of the South Rangitata Station Hotel (John Wendelkin, licensee); application for renewal of license. Police report“ There was one complaint for selling liquor to a drunken man, but the case was dismissed in court. Owing to family troubles, objection might be made to the renewal.”—The chairman stated that with regard to this license he had received an anonymous letter objecting to it; also a petition from 10 householders in the district stating that John Weudelkin is a fit and proper person to conduct the house.—Mr Dennistoun spoke spoke strongly against the practice of anonymous letter-writing. He con sidered it one of.the most contemptible things in the world. It was like striking a man behind his back, and he had a mortal dislike for such letters. He thought it shouli be put in the fire and not read.— Mr Thew agreed with Mr Dennistour, and said tiiat a man that wrote an anonymous letter to the bench must be “ an ass.”—lt was agreed not to read the letter.—Mr Dennistoun produced a letter which was not anonymous, and asked that it should read before the bench.— Mr F. Wilson Smith, who appeared for the licensee, objected to any letters being read with respect to the conduct of the licensee. The bench, he contended, had no power to hear any evidence but legal evidence on oath.—Mr Dennistoun did not agree with Mr Smith. The man who had sent the letter could not possibly attend the meeting that day, and the committee could use their discretion and read the letter. Mr Dennistoun also stated that one man who had signed the petition had since told him (Mr Dennistoun) that the house was not kept in a fit state ; 'but he had signed the petition so as not to do a man a bad turn. He (Mr Dennistoun) had also heard of the ill-conducted state of the house from no less than 15 different persona. He thought for the licensee’s sake, he should be removed from the hotel. —Mr Smith drew the attention of the bench to the fact that Mr Wendelkin had recently been elected on the school committee in his district at the head of the poll, and was subsequently elected chairman of the committee. This showed that he claimed the respect of the ratepayers,—Mr Dennistoun said thei bench were there to use their own judgment as to whether Mr Wendelkin was a fit and proper person to hold the license, and he, personally, considered that Mr Wendelkin was not a fit person.—Mr Smith referred to the recent judgments with respect to licensing matters in Dunedin and Christchurch, and maintained that thei bench had no right to use their own judgment, unless it was by taking judicial evidences and passing judgment on that. In their capacity the licensing bench was. like a judge in the court; they sat to hear evidence and adjudicate thereon.—Mr Dennistoun said he did not object to the renewal of a license to the hotel; he only objected to granting it to the present licensee.—Mr Thew proposed; “ That as there is no definite charge before tlje bench to deal with judicially tfie meeting be adjourned for seven days, to give Mr Wendelkin an opportunity of defending himself.” Mr Thew considered that the charge should bo brought iu the ordinary way on oath.—This was not seconded, but, Mr Smith applying for an adjournment, one was granted for 14 days. The bench then rose,