MASTERTON BOROUGH LICENSING BENCH.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4149, 28 June 1892, Page 3

MASTERTON BOROUGH LICENSING BENCH.

Adjourned Meeting, An adjourned meeting of the Mas* terton Borough Licensing Bench was held in the Courthouse at noon to-day (Tuesday), there being present Messrs Heron (Chairman), W. Perry, J, and J. Williams. The application of Edward J. Searl for a license for the Star Hotel was considered, Mr Pownall appeared for the applicant and stated that Mr Searl had sold out his interest in the hotel to Mr Eastwood, who would take charge as si on as the license was granted, Application would be made for a temporary transfer, and for a permanent transfer at ibe next sitting. The trunsfer was a bona fait one, and <vas consented to by the owner of the hotel, Mr Kibblewhite, He would ask that the license be granted to Mr Searl and that an immediate transfer be granted to Mr Eastwood, Mr Bunny, who appeared for Mr Eastwood, stated that his client was an experienced landlord and one fitted in every reßp«cUo hold the license, There was not likely to be any further difficulty with the Licensing Bench. petition against the granting of % license was here put in,

Mr Beard, who appeared for the police and petitioners, stated that the Benoh had no power to proceed further with the matter. The license had been refused and it could not again be dealt with.

Mr Heron: I do not understand what Mr Beard is speaking to. The application was merely adjourned to allow Mr Bearl to make arrangements which would satisfy the Bench. The minutes of .the last meeting of the Bench were bora perused, but the Chairmau said they were not correct and would have to be altered, Mr Beard maintained that the matter had been dealt with, and that there was no power under tho Act to further consider the application. Mr Poimall stated that this was only an attempt to trap the Committee. The Chairman said the Bench was unanimously of the opinion that the application had not been refused, On consideration that the license was transferred to Mr Eastwood the application would be granted, f Mr Beard: Before the Bench comes to a conclusion regarding the license they miißt cousider the petition. Mr Heron: There is no petition before ns, Mr Beard maintained that the petition had been duly lodged in accordance with the Act, Heron stated that as this was an adjourned meeting the petition could not be entertained, Mr Fownall urged that the petition was not in order, as it did not certify that those signing it were over the age of twenty-one. Mr Beard: I will deal with that question later on. I ask now if the Committee as a whole are resolveQ' no to entertain the petition. On returning the Chairman said they bad decided to hear the petition and requested Mr Beard to read it, This was accordingly done, the text being the same as already published ' in our columns. Mr Beard then proposed to call in sup|>ort of the petition, * Mr Pownall objected as it was unnecessarily dragging tho thing out. ; Some sparring between counsel (Messrs Bunny, Beard, and Fonnall) occurred at this Etage, Finally the Bench decided to hear evidence and the Rev Robert Wood, the first witness called, deposed that he had written out the petition and attestedeeveral signatures, Again and again he had seen men in a state of intoxication quarrelling, fighting, and using foul language in tbestreeti near the Btar EoteL About eight

weeks ago he saw- s person hoisted onto hishorse in anintoxioated state. His ohurch was about 1\ chains from the Star Hotel and the school about ten chains, Sinoe Mr Searl had been in charge of the Star Hotel he had seen a man rand drunk smashing in Mr W, Wi Scott's windows, and beard became from the Star. Children passed in several hundreds about four times a day in the saminer. One day hepassed the hotel at twenty minutes to one, when men' were quarrelling and using foul language. The children would be about at this time. He tried to get corroborate evidence and lay an information at the time. He certainly did nut consider Mr Searl a proper person to carry on an hotel, He submitted that the hotel should be dosed from the way in whioh it was conducted. S. Kingrlon, next called, refused to ako tut oath, but said he" cume to tell tie tnth under a penalty of seven years." One of his chief com|ilnints was that he was disturbed by drunken brawls three or four times a week, W, Alexander, on oath, said that he owned property " unfortunately" situated in the immi'diate vioinity of the back entrance of the "Star Hotel." His property had depreciated fifty per cent through a license being granted to the house, He had seen Chinamen, Maoris and married men going in and out of the house on a Sunday. His wife and family were disturbed by drunken rows. In answer to the Chairman of the Benoh, witness stated that he was a Prohibitionist, Mr Beard said that none of the witnesses came as 'Prohibitionists but merely as objectors. Mr W. Pragnell was next called, but was not present. Mr Beard then addressed the Bench at length, contending that the house should be closed for several ressons, Mr Fownall replied stating that the sale of the hotel to file Eastwood was a really bmajlde one, and that Mr Searl had done everything the Bench required. There was not a shadow »f dommyism, Without retirement the Bench intimatedtbatalicense would be granted on the condition that a temporary transfer was made to J. 0, Eastwood