LICENSING COURT, Hamilton.

Waikato Times, Volume XI, Issue 897, 23 March 1878, Page 2

LICENSING COURT, Hamilton.

(Before W. N. Searancke, Esq., R.M.— Chairman, —S. S. Graham, and John Runciman, Esqs., Commissioners.) COMMERCIAL HOTEL. William Walker applied for a transfer of the license of the above hotel to W. H. Pearce. In granting the transfer, the Chairman took the opportunity of remarking that he had seen a great deal of drunkenness lately (especially on Sundays), though not knowing from which hotel the drink had been procured. He trusted the police would caution the publicans. Sergeant McGovem stated that, possibly, His Worship, the R.M., was referring to a glaring case on Sunday l;isb. If so, he wished to inform him that the transgressing publican would shortly appear before him. PIAKO HOTEL. Edward Missen applied for a license , for the Piako Hotel. | A memorial was presented from a nun*'

ber of the householders objecting' to the . issue of the license. : Mr Hay appeared for the opposition, and—in refei'onos to the memorial, signed by 60 persons, stating that a second house was not required in the district—contended that the 60 names appended to the petition, against the granting of the license, contained. many of the most influential men in the district.

The Court ruled thaJt, as a memorial, it could not be receivea, as not containing the names of two-thirds of the resident householders, but would simply receive it for what it was worth.

Mr O Neill, for the applicant, showed that the house contained more than the requisite accommodation required by the jLOt. It was admitted by all that the applicant was, in all respects, fitted to keep a hotel, and that his character was irreproachable. Mr O'Neill contended that the want of opposition left the public too much at the mercy of the enjoyer of the monopoly. Edward Missen (sworn) stated that he was the applicant, and believed that there wag a necessity for a second house, and that it would tend to the selling of better liquor. t

Cross-examined: In a measure, the benefit of the public led me into the speculation. I would not say Mr Wood sold the best glass of beer in the country.

To the Court: . I believe there is a living for two houses it the Piako. There are a number of persons constantly passing through it. I am not pre Dared. to state that persons, travelling, have not been able to obtain accommodation at the Nottingham Castle Hotel. Mr Hay contended that there was no necessity for a second house in the district, and that the granting a second license would reduce the class of accommodation already furnished, arid induce disorderly conduct and intemperance; also, that the accommodation, provided at the proposed hotel, was inferior. Mr Hay called for the defence—

William Steele, -who deposed that the accommodation afforded at the Nottingham. Castle Hotel was quite equal to that of any hotel he had stayed in in the proyince. The attention was good, and every civility -was afforded. The food was good, and so was the stabling; the beds were the best he had ever slept in; and the charges were the same as paid elsewhere, He had frequently visited the district and hotel. Mr Woods' is a better class of house than the Piako Hotel, but I consider Mr viissen in every way qualified to receive a lioense. Cross-examined : I have been out there dozens of times. On three occasions, I did not see more than a few shillings spent in the house. I don't think, if a license wera granted to >vlr viissen, it would lead to disorder and crime, but I am sure that it would have the effect of deteriorating the accommodation afforded at the present hotel. I am sure Mr Missen is a proper person to have a license, but not at the Piako, as there is not business for two houses. To the Court: I don't think a second house would tend to cause the M,aoris to drink more freely. I don't think there are ten houses within a circle of three miles round the hotel.

Charles Ewen and Joseph Cochrane gave similar evidence as to the merits of the present house, but the latter did not think the public Avould be losers by the granting of a second license. John Turn bull, also a settler at the Piako, gave evidence as to the excellence of the present hotel, and the manner in which it is conducted, and the absence of necessity for a second hotel. Sergt. McGrOvern, chief of the police in Waikato, deposed that no complaint had ever been made against .vir Wood's house. Cross-examined: I believe Mr Missen to be a very proper person to receive a license, and one who wo uld attend to 1 he wants of the public. Mr O'Neill replied to the arguments contained in the objection seriatim. The Commissioners, after a short adjournment and consultation, returned into Court, and the Chairman stated that the Court saw no grounds for granting a second license in the Piako district. The Government, he might state, intended to reduce the issue of licenses considerably, and, in a short time, there would be an appointment of new commissioners.