ANNUAL LICENSING MEETINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 131, 11 June 1885, Page 4

ANNUAL LICENSING MEETINGS.

City North,

We continue our report from last issue :—

Governor Browne Hotel.—With reference to a remark made at the last licensing meeting in regard to this hotel, the Chairman said that when he used tho word dilapidated ho did not employ a term that exactly expressed his meaning. His colleagues wishod him now to explain that what was meant was that the houte was old, and not up to the standard, but thoy found it clean and well furnished, and had no fault to find with the management. Ho wished to substitute for dilapidated tho word old, and the Committeo did not consider tho building up to the requi.ed standard.— Mr Cottor, for Mossrs Dunningham and King, thanked the Bench for the statement made.

Bmtirk Hotel (Bridget McDermott) — Mr E. Hoskcth in support of the application. Mr Cotter for the trustee of the freehold.—Tho Chairman remarked that it was a singular thing that in threo out of four cases wherein objection was taken to tho renewal of licenses tho liconstes wero widows. If the Bench wero to renow the licenses on this occasion, tho widows woro not to presume upon tho irduhienco of tlio Bonch in future. To take tho liconto away for a lirst offenco mijlit 1 irhnps bo too sovoro a punishment, but tho licensees should distinctly understand that if another conviction for Sunday trading wero locorded tho license would bo withheld. Perhaps the applicant in tbo caso under notico was unduly exposed to solicit tion for liquor by reason of a spare alio; ment at tho back of tho hot 1, through which tho neighbours might got oisy access to the premise. Tbo license would therefore ho renewed on tho exprtss stipulat'oii thai tlie |.'ato to this allotment should bo kopt locked in future frooi Saturday ni'lit till Monday morning.—MrHeskoth pointed out t hat the breach of tho Act referred tj had boon coinniittod inadvertently beforo Mis McDermott became a widow, and boforo the hotol came into her own hands.

Clakincarde Hotel (Annio Lynch).— Mr CoUor, in support of tho application, produced a numerously signed petition, and drew att nlion to the fact that many of the persons who had signed it were settlers of districts to remote as Pukekoho, Wairoa South, etc. Those woro porsons who had been accustomed to stay at tho hotol during their periodical visits to town. —The Chairman inquired bow these signatures had boon obtained, as tho Bench hud received a lot* or stating that in tho cai.o of one such position a settlor had been threatened in ca.o ho did not n'gn.—Mr Cotter loplied that in sevoral instances copies of tho petition had simply been posted to tho districts wherein signatures woro obtained. Evideneo to establish tbe public neod for such an hotjl as tho Clanricardo was then adduood. Thos. Kiloy, for soventjon years a resident of Wairoa South, vouched for tho respectability nnd good conduct of the hotol from a knowledge of it extending over 13 years. Hundreds of settlers besides himself would feel the want of it. George White (storekeeper of the Bombay settlement) gave strong corroboi ative evidence Timothy Hunt (farmer, of Tuakau) tostified to a similar effect.—The Chairman, addressing tho applicant, said that although the police report had b en adverse (and great importance was attached to the report), yet that the Bench had been pleas d to ob.erve a vory notable improvement in tho premises within tho last ton days. They wore inclined to think that tbo fault had been as much the owner's as the licensee's. In renewing the license for this yepr, the Bench wished it staged—though not in tho nature of a threat—that the hotel accommodation in tbe locality wherein the Clanricardo was situated was already more than sufficient. License rerewed.

British Homx (Owon Humphries).—Mr B. Hesketh for tho applicant. —Tho Chair, innn eaij that as the hotel accommodation in tho neighbourhood of the British might bo insufficient, unless the applicant would provido larger accommodation in his house theliconse wouldnotberenewed. Theupstair bar would have to be closed, and the space saved thereby m'ght be converted .into further accommodation for travellers. The Bench wero prepared to adjourn the application for 6even days.—On the suggestion of Mr Heskeih, however, the license was renewed subject to enlarged accommodation being provided to Superintendent Thomson's satisfaction.

Nevada Hotel.—ln answer to a question from Mr Cotter, the Bench said that the licensee might have his bar either in Queenstreet or in Durham-street, just as he pleased.

The Court rose at four o'clock