NELSON GOLDFIELDS LICENSING ACT.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 988, 19 July 1872, Page 2

NELSON GOLDFIELDS LICENSING ACT.

A new Publicans' Licensing Act for the Nelson Q-oldfields was passed during the late session of the Council. The Licensing and any unexpired license issued thereunder shall be deemed to be a license issued under the new Act. Licenses are now divided into three classes Ordinary, Accommodation, and Bottle License. Every house for which an ordinary license is granted must contain in addition to the apartments used and occupied by the holder of the license, at least two moderatesized sitting-rooms, and three sleep-ing-rooms constantly ready and fit for public accommodation, and, if not within a town, sufficient stabling and provender for four horses. All licenses now issued must expire on June 30th or December 31st, and it shall not be granted for a longer period than twelve months, nor less fian six months. The fees payable are as follows:—For ordinary yearly licenses, £3O; for half-yearly, .£l7. Yearly bottle licenses, .£2O ; and half-yearly, £l2. Quarterly, in the months of March, June, September, and December, the Justices shall hold a licensing meeting at Westport, Cobdeu, Ahaura, Charleston, and Reefton, to consider transfers and renewals of licenses. All applications for granting or renewing ordinary or bottle licenses must be made in writing seven days prior to the bearing ; notice posted outside the Court House and the premises to which the application refers, and advertised in a local paper. On payment of a fee of 10s, a special permit may be granted to holders of ordinary licenses to sell liquors at places of public recreation, at a racecourse, ball, or other entertainment.

Any room connected with a licensed house, whether detached or otherwise, shall be deemed part of the licensed bouse, and subject to the provisions of the Act. The following clause is an important one to the holders of bottle licenses:—"lf the holder of a bottle liconse Bhall noil any spirituous liquors, ale, beer, porter, or wine, in less quantity than two gallons, unless the same shall be in bottles corked and sealed, capsuled and wired, or shall permit any liquor sold by such persons to be consumed upon the licensed premises, shall bo liable to pay for every such offeneo any sum not exceeding fifty pounds "