MASTERTON BOROUGH LICENSING BENCH.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4133, 8 June 1892, Page 2

MASTERTON BOROUGH LICENSING BENCH.

The Annual Sitting. The Star Hotel License. On the Licensing Bench resuming at two- o'clock yesterday, Gouaia'ole Uoohe, of Eke.ahur.a, de;x>3ed to having visited the various hotels in the town on the nigbt of ihe 19th May in company with Soigeent MoArd'e. At the Star Hotel tbev were asked to dunk, but relused. He saw amongst others present in tlw hotel a suspected Ihief. his whole expedience io t'uo force he had never been Seated as he was that nigh'. He considei ed himself grossly inbii'ied by bnirg hooted, He thought it would oe impossible to gain n con>< viction for a bleach of tiie Licensing Act with such mon in the house as those lie Lad seen. Mr Pownall: Did not the Sergeant say something i.o those in the hotel 1 Witness: Yes, he said " You'll know me again when yon see me,' 1 Mr PownaH: Have you not expressed ao opinion that you would like to gel p.t Seavl ? WiiDew : I L'ava not.

Serjeant MoArdle: Why did I make use of the expression" You'll know wbei you see me?"

Witness; Because you were betag followed about the hotel by a mob who hustled you.

ConsiaVe Foresee O'Leary da« posed to having had the door of the Star Hotel shut in Ins face when seeking io gain tdmission, and to arresting a oien who had visited tbe hotel on a chaige of larceny. Be should eay the hotel was not very well couduciwl.

Mr Powna'l : Beyond the charges Drought in theR.M, Court do 70a know anything against ike hotel ? -

Witness: I know nothing, Mr Pownall: Have you, in the course of your beat, heard any vow in the boiel f Witness: I have not.

Seigeanii 41'A 1 die: Do you not know ibafc there brs, since Mr Seari took tile hotel, been a night-waichman to witch the po ice ? Witne-B: There has been anightwavobman,

Constable Cashion deposed that he had attested criminals who bad visi;ed she bouse and persons under tbe influence of liquor on Sunday evenings, He had been lefused admission to the house.

It was quite impossible for the police 10 enier the hotel with safety. The Bench would remember mat Searl at tbe l?st siding of the Bench had stated 1 hat be would give £SO to get lid of Bergeact Hann.ni and himself. This bed since been denied by Mr

Seirl in tbe R,M, Couvt, Mr Heron: Tne Benoh remembers

the occurrence qtii'.e well. . Sergeant M'Ardle: This is all the evidence I have to adduce.

Mr Powuall: Are there any furthei obji'dions?

The Bev. B. Wood stated that he had an objection to make, He obi jeoied to the liceu&e on tbe giound that it was not required in tbe neighbourhood, and that by the hotel being licensed the peace oi the neighbour-

hood was disturbed: Forty peieons in the viciniiy had Bigned a declaration that tbe hotel waß not re* quired in the neighbourhood. Mr Qerou: We cannot take that statement, as it is praclica'ly what appears in the informal petition, Mr Wood; Very well, I object to the lioense, because the quiet of the neighborhood bas been disturbed, He had seon persons coming out of the hotel who had used the most obscene language. He had, since Mr Searl became the licensee of the hotel, frequently seen drunken men on tbe verandah when (school children were passing, Mr Pownall: Are you tbe writer of the articles appearing under the beading of "The Prohibitionist" in I the Waibham. Times, dictating to the! Benoh what they should do I Mr Wood: I rei'use to answer. If this bus to be pioved the editor of the paper should be summoned. Tbe Bench; Mr Wood cannot be compelled to answer tbe question I Mr Wood: I will not answer the question because I think it does not bear op tbe case. William Alexander, a resident in tbe immediate neighborhood of the Star Ho'ei, objected to the license being granted on tbe ground that it was not required in the neighborhood, He had seen seventeen persons sign a petition objecting to the house, Mr Heron; We only want your evidence.

Mr Alexander: I have seen persons going in and coming out of the hotel on Sundays by tbe back way, William Prajgnell objected to the license bebg granted on the ground that his peace had in the past been

'disturbed. He had never seen a'house worse, conducted, fie had several times bad t j get up at late hours to roll off his verandah tbe instruments of the hotel.

MrHeion: What do you meanl Mr Frangnell: I mean drunken men. I have also seen ichool teachers insulted from the veraudah of the hotel, ' v

Mr Pownall; Why did you not in' form the police 1 Witness: What was the good? The men went into the hotel and could not be fished out,

Sergeant M'Ardle; The matter was reported to me, Mr Pownall! Hon far is your; house from the botel ? •

Witness: About a chain, »B the oiow flies.

Mr Pownall: You are a prominent Prohibitionist are you not? Wilncss ; I am, but I come here

to-day as a private resident, ; Mr S. Ifrngdon objected to the granting of the license, not because lie was a Prohibitionist, but because he lived opposite the hotel, In his opinion the housa was cot required, He strongly objected to beiug disturbed at all hours in themorning by drunken rows, as he had been, Mr Pownall; You cannot say where these men got their drink 1 Witness: I could not, but I hare my own opinion. George W.Woodroofe Btated that he had property next the Star Hotel, und he objected to the license being granted on the grounds that his tenants had complained, Mr Pownall ; : ?ou. think. if the license was not. granted ,thero would be s better show.Mthe watej; supply and pump? (laughter.) ' Mr Wopdroffe: There would; Sergeant pojpte'i flijt that the memorial in favour of the granting of the license to Mr Searl 'was signed principally by these ffbo.yisited the hotel. : Mr Pownall stated that when siftpd there was nothing jn tjie evidenpe given in opposition to. t|ie application for the license. Re woul4 firing etU dence to show that tto Ijpengß was required in the neighbourhood. The

certiGcaLe of twelve of the nearest neighbour bad been procuied to the effect (hat Mr-Scad was a fit nod proper person io bold a license, • Mr Heron: I would like to point out that one of those who have signed jour oe?tiGc;its is the tenant of an objecio!'.

Mi' Powna'l: I cannot help that, Landloids and tenants will differ,

George JobuUon : storekeeper, deposed that he lived on the right hand side of the Star Hotel, He could honestly s: ate that be had beard noises, out be did not think they were norsa than at; other hotels. Most of

ihe rows had been caused by persons seekicg to gain admission. He belie-

ved tbe bote! wes as well kepi as when Mr Kibblewhiie had ii, which was saying a good deal. He had on i several occasion* been disturbed 'oy rows- in tbe lic'el- but he Bnpposed disturbances took place in all licensed bouses.

John Rose, builder, staled that he had been a regular boarder in the ho el since it bad been creeled, and bad seen nothing wron* Voontit since Mr Seat 1 had been the licensee. He

bad found tbe "fighting men" living there quiet and civil. Sevgeant M'Ardle; What hour have you made it a practice of retiring to bed?Wiißess: About tea or balf.ppat ten. f Sergeant M'Avdle: Did the rest of the people in the hotel retire at the sameiime? Witness: I could not say. Seigeant M'Ardle; You do not know what took place after you went to bed. Witness; Ido not, Sergeant M'Ardle; Then you can : not te!l us much. (Laughter;) William Sbe.w deposed that he had seen nothing objectionable about the Star, aUbougii be passed it three or four times a day. He woo'd just as soon go into it as into any bote'. Sergeant M'Ardle: How many

times do you go inio the bote! a day ? Witness: Not very often. Igo h occasionally and sometimes am there at night, Sergeant M'Ard'e: What time do you generally leave?

Witne-is: A'joufc nine o'clook.

Sergeant M'ArJ'e: Then you do not mow what tookpleos after that hour. Wi.ness: I do not!

Edward J. Sear', the applicant, deposed tbac since tbe last sitting of the Coart bo had made certain improve, mints recommended by the Bench. On i he night when Sergeant M'Ardle and Constable Koohe visited the hotel

he was playing a game of dranghta with Mr While in the Oddfellows Hall. Oalyons "fighting man" had Btayed at his hotel, and he was working for a surveyor. The "fighting men" when at his house were very orderly and left at on early hour. He had never refused admission to the police. Hiß neighbours bad never complained to him about the rows. Sergeant M'Ardle: What was the benefit derived from removiug the bell ? Witness: It is now under the light, Sergeant M'Ardle: Where does it give the alarm ? Witness: Under the stairs. Sergeant M'Ardle : Where did it jive it before? Witness: Opposite tbe public bar. Sergeant M'Ardle: How is it you are always away when anything happens at your hotel. Witness! Well, I cannot say. Sergeant M'Ardle: Are you not aware that you are responsible for what ocours on your licensed premises. Witness! 1 am; but I cannot help wbat happens when I am not there. Sergeant M'Ardlo: I suppose you have on your memorial all the steadiest men in the town? (Laughter.) .

Witness: Some of thorn arc Pro* hibitionists I (Laughter;) Mr Pownall: Those who have signed your memorial are your nearI est neighbours] i Witness i They are, George Butler, pork butober, who resides near the Star Hotel, stated that as far as be could see the hotel was conduoted as it should be, He had been in tbe hotel, but had seen no objectionable characters there. Sergeant M'Ardle: Who's your landlord 1 Witness: Mr Woodroofe. - Mr Pownall; you have never been disturbed sinco yeu'have lived where you do?

Witness; I have not. Sergeant WoArdle: Perhaps it takes a lot to awaken you ? Witness: It does, (Laughter). This ooncludcd the whole of the evidence,

The Bench, after a retirement of twenty minutes, intimated that they bad concluded that Mr Searl was not a suitable person to hold a license, and therefore.suggested to Mr Pow. nail that the application be adjourned.

Mr Pownall: I would ask for an adjournment till next sitting, Mr Heron : We cap only adjourn for twenty-one days! The Olerk; The license expires at the end of the month. Mr Pownall: I will ask then that the matter be adjourned till the '3Bth, The Bench: Very well. . .

PahiatuaTownLieming Committee,

The annual meeting of the above Committee was held at the Pahiatua Town Hall on Monday the 6tb inst. Present—Messrs J. Dawson (Chairman), J. Vile, A.Tuekey, H, Futcher, and A, W. Sedeole.

*" THE EMPIRE HOTEL, MrO. H. dmith applied for the issue of a licenso to Mr John Spillane in respect of the house opposite to the Post Office to be known as the Empire 1 Hotel. Mr Tosswill opposed on behalf of tbe signatories to a memorial to tho Comiuitteo to that end,

The police report, was good., Evidence of the necessity and suitability of the house was adduced. Mr Tosswill called no evidence but contented himself with somewhat severely cross-examining the applicant and his witnesses.

Tbe Bench intimated that they would give their decision ia all the cases at 7.30 p,m, OCCIDENTAL HOTEL, Application was made for a licence for a house to be known as the Occidental Hotel, at present occupied by Mr Cotter as a boardinghouse. Mr •Smith appeared for applicant and. Mr Tosswill again opposed. "

Mr A. H. Rusae!!, of Palpierflton North, rose and stated that of Ilia wile (tj}6 owuer 'of tbe building) !)e ojjpose<| tbe issue of a license. ifr Bpitfi submitted that Mr Rjiseell'e objection could not be sustained, a; tbe Licensing Act required (lie owner pf a bujldiog so desiring to object so in pefspii; Bench upheld this view, Evidence as in the previous case ffas !hsn gone into and tbe decision of tbe Pencil reserved. A aomewhafc '*e|n'gular feature of the police report iu this icßtauoa vas that thi house wu des»

crihed as having tweaky-two rooms whits the Applicant stated it contained nearly forty. THE COMMERCIAL HOTEL, Application was liade for renewal of the license of ihe Commercial Hotel, Mr Tosswill represented tba applicants 15. Sullivan, TEE CLUB HOTEL. ,WThe application of Mr P. T. Spil» lane i'or a permanent transfer of the. license of the Olnk Hotel to A. Weir was next considered, together with an application for a renewal of th'» license of the Club Hotel, < Mr .Tosswill appealed for the applicant THE ONION HOTEL. Application for renewal of the, license to the Union Hotel was made, . Mr Tosswill appeared for the appli« cant, In the cases of the last three'appli* canis.il was stated by llieircounseltbat if the Bench considered it neceasary further sleei.i'g accommodation would be provided. , • The Benoh then adjourned until ; 6.30 p.m..

DECISIONS. Upon resuming, the Chairman gave the deoiiion of the Bench, * Mr Spillane's application would be granted, subject to alterations to tho building which the Benoh considered necessary. Mr Smith said they would be,--*; feiiht'ully carried out. ' The Chairman said it was his privilege to make a lew remarka on the merits of iho application, and hewould now say that Mr Vile and himself bad opposed the issue of Mr Spillane's > license. He Mmsel( considered that the applicant was identical in effect with . the late licensee of .the Olub Hotel, . ' fthd that a" mean action" bad -been done to Mr Weir in thus enteirihg into opposition to him. This aort of.thing should be pot down. (Applause far . tiie hall,)' Hr Spillane's counsel endeavoured to combat this statement, but tbe Chairman said he would permit no reply to his remarks. The further consideration 9? Mr Cotter's application would be ad« journed until 8.30 on the following evening, anda decision would then be given,

The remaining applications were granted, 10 o'clook licenses in all cases being issued.

Tbe Chairman remarked thai it Was somewhat marvellous that in the case of tbe Police report upon the Com* mereial Hotel tbe conduct of the

house for the last year was therein** pet out as "good," whereas a report to the centrary bad been presented nine months ago,