Quarterly Licensing Court.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 205, 1 September 1886, Page 5

Quarterly Licensing Court.

Auckland City East.

nieforo Messrs George Harper (Chairman), (;. Winks. ,1. Newman, and I'apl. Anderson.l Mr Stonky oflieiatod as Licensing Clerk, ami sergeant Pratt represented (he police.

, riie quarterly nicotinic of the City Kosl Licensing Committco was bold at. noon to-day, in the l-.'esideut Magistrates Court-room, when tho billowing business waa disposed of :—

Thames Hotel.—Mr Cot ter, on behalf of Mr Louis Ballin, applied to have his license transferred to Charles Frederick Helander. Sergeant Pratt staled that the police had no objection to Ihe transfer, as they know nothing against the applicant. The Bench granted the application. Ci.oiir Ilo'l'isr,.—Mr Cotter also, on behalf of Mr John Thomas llurroll, licensee of the above hotel, applied lo transfer his license lo Mr Joseph l'arkcs.—Granted, as the police had no objection.

City Ci.t-n ll'otei..—Mr Ooorge applied to have the license of the above hotel transferred from Mrs Sarah .lane White lo Mr Frederick Kdwin Murray. As the original holder of the license was deceased, the lieneh granted the .application.

Masonic Hivi-kl.— Mr George, on bohalf of Mr John Matlheson, applied for leave to transfer tho license of thia hotel to Mra James I ten wick.—Application granted.

Rail-way Kefreshment Rooms.

Mr Cotter sa Id. as die ordinary business hud been disposed of, lie was preparer! to renew his application thai n license he granted to the now llci'rosliiiieiil Ituonis ar the. Auckland Bailwav Slalion. As these rooms had been let by tlii; I b>\ eminent al a price that would not. have boon obtained had it not been thought that a license would be granted by the lieneh, he had communicated with the liovei-nment, as to whether they were of opinion Hint. Ihe Committee had power in grant such licenses, lie had received the billowing reply: •'Sir,—With reference lo our interview in regard to ihe Ilei'reshinent Itoonis. Auckland Kailway Station. 1 have the honor to inform yon in regard 10 the licensing of these rooms, that the opinion of the SolioitorGeneral is as follows: Section i_ of Licensing Act, hSSI, makes provision fur grunting licenses for Railway llcnoshmenl Rooms, The Committee are empowered to make such conditions as they think lit in each case as to accommodation, hours of keeping open, Co.'. iSi-nedl ('. 11l lis,in. District Trallic Muiiagir.' The lieneh would cloarlv see from that what was the ..pinion of Ihe SolicitorUonerul on the question, hulas (lie matter was new to the Bench, he would suggest that, it might lie adjourned for one week, in order that they might consider the application. The only other course open to Ihe applicant would be lor him io apply lo (he Supreme Court for a writ of inninlmnns to

compel the lieneh lo listen to the application. Naturally he (lid not, wish lo pursue such a

course of action. If the lleuoh wore prepared to go on wilh Iho matter he would reuow his application tit Unit meeting. The Chairman intimated that the 11. noli would retire for a. fow moments, ('pon returning to Court, ufler being absent for about ten minutes. Ihe Chnirman said that the lieneh couUl see no necessity fur granting the license, as tlio Wavcriey Hotel was almost next door, but if Mr Hotter wished to bring tho matter before Ihe.in, tliev were prepared to hear him. Mr Colter said lie would still suggest thai Ihe mat ter should be adjourned for ono week, as he would require to consider whether, ufler the Bench's expression of opinion, it would be ad \ isable to go on with the matter. The Chairman pointed out that under section 52, tho Bench could only grant new licenses ut the annual meetings, and therefore it could not bo decided at a quarterly one. Jlr Cotter pointed out that tho lieneh having declined to go into the matter at the annual meeting, because they thought that they bad not the power to grain Iho application, they had never heard the case; but now that they had the opinion of Iho Solicitor-Geiiorul Io Ihe cit'ect that they were empowered by the Act to do so, he felt upon the matter as to whether the Bench could deal with it at a quarterly meet ng. As the Bench were willing now to lis en to the application there would he no necessity for a writ of mandamtix, and the only question that remained was, as be had before remarked, whether it was worth while making the application in the face of the opinion expressed by tho Bench that there was no necessity for the license bein« granted. That opinion the Bench were entitled to hold, and he, would consult with the applicant regarding the matter, and let the Bench know if thoy intended again to bring the matter forward.

The Bench accordingly adiourned the application until Tuesday next, tit noon, Mr Cotter undertaking to notify the Bench it' their attendance was required.