AUCKLAND LICENSING COURT

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 55, 7 March 1899, Page 5

AUCKLAND LICENSING COURT

The quarterly meeting' of the Auckland Licensing' Court was held at noon I to-day in the Magistrate's Court. There were present Mr H. W. Brabant, S.M., Messrs J. J. Craig-, J. T. Julian, J. Paterson, and C. Wrig'ht. Transfers. —United Service Hotel, from J. B. Howard to Martin Ryan; Carpenters' Arms Hotel, from S. J. Smith to J. Nixon. POLICE REPORT. The report, of the police on the hotels stated in every ease that the houses were clean and well furnished. With regard to the following- hotels the police report complained that on certain occasions when visits were paid there were indications of tradingafter hours—contrary. to,the promises given when licenses were extended to .11 p.m.:—Anchor, Clarendon, Carpenter's Arms, Criterion, Governor Brown, .Market, and Gleeson's. Sergeant. Clark said those reports were furnished by the police in accordance with a circular issued by the Clerk of the Court. Whatever was staterl in the report just read they had evidence to prove if the Committee ; wished to hear. Mr Julian: Should we have the evidence now? Mr W. J. Napier: I suppose you will hear the answers from the licensees referred to, Mr Chairman. The Chairman: The police are merely making- the statutory report. 'Mr Napier: But they have no statutory power to slander people. If an allegation is made we ought to be allowed to answer it, otherwise the Committee may form opinions upon what are not facts. Mr Paterson thought they should hear the evidence from those charged. Mr Julian: Perhaps it would be better to do that at the annual meeting. Mr O. Nieolson said,f>s representing one of the hotels referred to, he I thought an opportunity to answer' should be allowed. 1 Mr Napier said his client only | heard of the adverse report in his j case by telephone that morning-, and then it was three ' months old. Mr Baume said as no absolute, defined chai'ge had been ' made, would j it not be as well to notify those who : had been mentioned that if further f similar charges were made before the annual meeting- they would be dealt with at that sitting. The Committee then retired to consider the matter, and upon returning into Court the Chairman said: With regard to the police report that] has been read, the Committee has! instructed the Clerk of Court to in- j form the licensees complained of that the allegations contained in the report will be considered at the next annual meeting. The Committee wish me to say, further, that if at the. annual -meeting the Committee have reason to believe that the assurances which were made to them about Sunday and after-hour trading have not been adhered to, as they have reason to suspect by this report, they propose to revert, to the ten o'clock licenses, which were in force before the assurances were given. Fire Escapes. —Sergeant Clarke submitted a circular from the Cominis- i sioner suggesting additional precau- ' tionary measures in the shape of lire escapes from each bedroom in the ( hotels. Mr Baume said if the Committee would point, out what was required it, ! would, if possible, be done. He thought that even now no city in New Zealand was better provided with fire . escapes. Mr Julian said fixed iron ladders were the best thing. Mr Wright considered the hotels in Auckland were well supplied with fire escapes. Mr Brabant said in Wellington some hotels had a rope at each bedroom but he did not think any woman could get down it in case of fire. Sergeant Clarke said the Commercial Hotel had a rope for each window. He said the Inspector had also asked him to mention the question of hotel lamps being extinguished after hours. The public arriving late had great difficulty in finding where the hotels were located, and the darkness also favoured burglary. The Chairman said both matters could be considered at the annual ; meeting. ' ■