LICENSING COURT, KIRI KIRIROA. [Before the Commissioners, H. W. Northcroft, Esq. (Chairman), S. Graham, Esq., and John Runciman, Esq.]

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1199, 4 March 1880, Page 2

LICENSING COURT, KIRI KIRIROA. [Before the Commissioners, H. W. Northcroft, Esq. (Chairman), S. Graham, Esq., and John Runciman, Esq.]

WAIKATO HOTEL. This was an application by William Buck for a license for the new hotel at East Hamilton erected by Mr P. Le Quesne. In answer to the Court, Sergeant McGovern stated that all the rooms were not furnished. Mr O'Neill (of Whitaker and O'Neill), who appeared for the applicant, stated that as soon as the lease was signed the house would be furnished. He also stated that the two fire escapes had been fixed. The Chairman stated that the Commissioners had determined to grant the license, but that it would not be issued until the house was furnished. When that was reported to have been done, Messrs John Runciman and Graham would go over the premises and satisfy themselves as to the Act being complied with before the license issued. He would himself take the opportunity of having his say. He had left the whole matter of granting the license or otherwise with his two brother Commissioners ; but had he had his way he would not have granted it. The hotel had been built more than a year ago ; Mr Le Quesne had applied for a license, and could have had it, but all the subsequent time the house had been kept closed. If the house was required at all, the public had been made to suffer the inconvenience of there being no second hotel ; for Mr Le Quesne by his action had kept any enterprising person from building a house for that purpose. The public had been unjustly dealt with if a second hotel was really required ; and if it was not the house ought not to be licensed at all. Houses were licensed, not for the convenience of the owner, but for that of the public ; and if men like Mr Le Quesne could keep a house closed for twelve months for his own convenience, why should not one publican, where there were two, buy the other out and close the second house, thus creating a monopoly. He would not himself have granted the license, but had simply let the matter be decided by the other Commissioners. This concluded the business.