MASTERTON LICENSING BENCH.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9112, 11 June 1908, Page 6

MASTERTON LICENSING BENCH.

ANNUAL MEETINGSEVERAL ADVERSE POLICE REPORTS. TEN O'CLOCK CLOSING CARRIED. The annual meeting of the Masterton Licensing Bench was held yesterday morning. Present:—Messrs W. P. James, S.M. (chairman), E. McEwen, F. Bright, F. C. Turnor, J. H. Pauling, and J. Hessey. The police reports on several hotels were unfavourable, but in no cases were license refused. The application of three licensees were, however, adjourned for three months, two to enable the licensees to dispose of their interest and one to give the licensees nn opportunity to improve in the management uf his premises. Ten o'clock closing of hotels in all parts of the district was carried. The following is a summary of the proceedings: — APPLICATIONS FOR RENEWALS. Central Hotel, Masterton (proprietor, F. S. Cooper).—- The police reported that the manner in which this hotel was conducted was unsatisfactory. The death a*- the hotel of the shepherd named Alexander McLennan was referred to in the report. The Sanitary Inspector reported that the premises wera clean and well kept, nnd the surroundings were satisfactory. Sergeant Miller said that a commercial traveller had, last August, been refused food when he arrived by an evening train. A prosecution had not been taken up because the man lived in Christchurch. The hotel was frequented by rough, low fellows. The Chairman said that the Committee considered that the conduct of the licensee did not call for any more than a warning to be more careful in the future, and to say that more attention should be paid to boarders in the hotel —sick persons not to be left to the porter to attend to, and such like. Licensees only prejudiced their positions by inattention to the conduct of their houses. The application was granted. Club Hotel, Masterton (Thos. J. Porter, licensee). —The police reported that the hotel was fairly well conducted. The Sanitary Officer's report contained several minor objections. Mr Pownall, who appeared for applicant, said that part of the report which prejudiced the licensee was founded oil an anonymous letter, and he asked the Committee not to consider objections based on such evidence. The Chairman said he, too, had received an anonymous letter, which he paid no regard whatever to. The Committee were unanimous in renewing the license. Queen's Hotel, Masterton (Mrs Maigaret O'Neill, licensee).—The hotel was reported to be fairly well conducted. The application was granted. Mauricuville Hotel (A. A. Harris, lice is e).-~The police report stated th>j h »use had been conducted indifferently during the past twelve months. Tne Sanitary Inspector reported as follows:—The house is not in a satisfactory condition, but landlord s'a r tti he is making earnest endeavours to effect improvement. Mr Pownall, for the licensee, said an n lvrf»rse report of the Health' Offijar had been grossly exaggerated, and thought it a hardship that the I application should be prejudiced in the ex parte evidence of the Health Officer. He intimated that he would like to call the licensee, who did not propose to comply with the require-

merits set out. The Chairman said there was always a difficulty with regard to getting licensees of this hotel to carry out the recommendations of the Committee. The repairs necessary wore a matter between the licensee and the I owmr. The application would be adjourned for three months, and unI less something were done within I that period more would be heard I from the Bench. Whakataki Hotel (H. M. Rigavd, licensee). —The sitting room was reported to require re-furnishing, and the roof needed repairing, as it was leaking into several bedrooms upstairs. Ceilings ni several bedmoms leq lired re-papering,and other repairs wure necessary, and conveniences required repairs and painting. A kitchen drain was in a dirty state, and required cleaning. The Bench, after' consideration of this report, considered the aDplicant unsuited to have a licensed house, as the report (which was very lengthy) disclosed, according to the Chairman, a very dirty state of affairs to exist at the hotel. The application was adjourned for three months in order to give the licensee an opportunity to dispose of his interest. Tinui Hotel(VV. S. Ban-, licensee). —The police reported as follows: On November 11th out, Peter Hansen, was assaulted by John Condon at Mnsterton. Condon was fined £2 for the offence, and the licensee admitted he paid tin fine, though he denied knowledge of the assault. On December sth the licensee was summoned by Hansen who claimed £2B special damages from him for causingCondon to assault plaintiff. The case was settled out of Court, the licensee paying £lO in full satisfaction of the claim. The licensee admitted to me (Constable Colterton) paying £lO to Hansen, but said he would not have done so oi.ly for the Licensing Court sitting on that day; otherwise he would have let the case go to Court. Mr Povvnall, for applicant, said that the licensee did not want to pay the £lO to Hansen, but counsel advised him to do so rather than have any conflict which might prejudice his application for a renewal. Mr Pownall handed a petition to the Bench signed by residents in favour of the application. The Chairman remarked thu*; perhaps the advice was justified. Atfer retirement the Chairman stated that the Committee had no objection to find in regard to the conduct of the hotel itself, but they thought that a man who would employ another man to assault a person was not suited to hold a license. The application would be adjourned for three months, within which period the licensee must relinquish his interest. Mr D. K. Logan appeared for the owner of the hotel (Mr McHutchon). The police reports contained no objections to the renewuls to the Occidental Hotel, Masterton (J. | O'Meara), Empire Hotel, Masterton (J. Cress), Prince of Wales Hotel, Masterton (R. Barclay). The reports said these hotels had all been well conducted during the past twelve months. The Sanitary Inspector's reports were also satisfactory. An old shed at the rear of the Occidental Hotel condemned some time ago, was drawn attention to. All renewals for these hotels were granted. Mulgrave Hotel, Kopuaranga (Victor Jorgensen, licensee).—The police i report read as follows:—On DecemI ber 19th, 1907, licensee was convicted and fined £2 for Sunday trading. The Sanitary Inspector reported that the present owner had only been in occupation three months, but had effected considerable improvements. The application was granted. Railway Hotel, Eketahuna (John A. Collins, licensee).—The police reported that the house was improperly drained. Constable Grey gave evidence to the effect that he had no complaints to offer to the conduct of the hotel. Mr Prendeville appeared for the licensee. The application was granted. g Club Hotel, Eketahuna (Allan Manguson, licensee), Eketahuna Hotel (Louisa Manson), Ranfurly Hotel, Eketahuna, (D. Hope Johnstone), Alfradton Hotel (W. J. Conder), Hamua Junction Hotel (H. W. Clay). Police reported that all of them were well conducted, and houses generally were in good condition. The ; Sanitary Inspector reported that the Eketahuna Hotel was still improperly drained. Other trivial matters in connection with other hotels were drawn attention to. All were granted renewals of license. HOURS OF CLOSING. Mr Pownall formally applied for an extension of the eleven o'clock licenses. The police objected strongly, Sergeant Miller stating that in Masterton alone 295 arrests ware made for drunkenness between June Ist, 1907, and June Ist, 1908, and in that period 5G prohibition orders v/ere issued. He considered it "monstrous" that Eketahuna should have eleven o'clock license. The Committee retired to deliberate over the application, and on returning the Chairman said that members were unanimously in favour of 10 o'clock'closing. They considered th», time had arrived when licensed houses should close earlier, and the objection they previously entertained —that persons arriving in the town late of an evening would be inconvenienced by 10 o'clock closing—now no longer existed. Ten o'clock licenses were, therefore, made geneal for the district. LIGHTS ON HOTELS. Mr Pownall wished the Bench to exempt the hotels in Queen street, Masterton, from the order which re- | quired lights to be placed outside hotels for the convenience of people seeking accommodation. Counsel mentioned that the street was now brilliantly lit with arc lamps, which were kept burning until a late hour, and the hotel lights were entirely superfluous. The Bench decided that they could not agree with Mr Pownall. They thought a light on a hotel was a guide to thu public, and persons arriving , after the street lamps were extinguished might be inconvenienced if lights were not maintained. The request was therefore declined. WHOLESALE LICENSES. Renewals for wholesale licenses were granted to the W.F.C.A. and Levin and Co., Ltd.,

TRANSFER. A transfer was granted of the license of the Mulgrave Hotel, Kopuaranga, from F. Johnstone to V. A. Jorgensen.