ANNUAL LICENSING MEETINGS

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 130, 3 June 1899, Page 3

ANNUAL LICENSING MEETINGS

MANUKAU

The annual meeting of the Manukau Licensing Court was held yesterday afternoon, there being in attendance Mr T. Hutchison, S.M. (chairman), and Messrs It. Hall, W. Gavin. I). Ne.U J son. and 10. Burden. Sergeant Greene represented the police. . Application for a. Wine License. — John Mason, of Reimiera, applied for a. wine license. The Chairman ruled that the application could not be en- ' Tertained, as.a license to retail wine Iby the bottle could only be issued ! within a borough. Absolute transfers and new licenses were granted as follows: —From J. M.. Eraser to Susan Sarah (Mr McVeagh), Kaihvay Terminus Hotel, Queen street, Onehunga; from J. C. Dunne, to S. Keogh, Manukau Hotel, Onehunga;" from S. Caulton to T. W. Mayson (Mr McVeagh), Helier's Bay Hotel, St. Helier's Bay, Mrs Winton. In both the above cases the police report was favourable.

Mrs Winter applied for a transfer from herself as trustee to herself as owner of the license of the Junction Hotel, Epsom. With reference to complaints of Sunday trading at this house, Mrs Winter stated that she never knowingly served any but bona-< fide travellers. The Chairman said the license would be granted with a caution, and if the complaints continued the applicant would be severely dealt with.

With reference to an application for transfer of license from Johu Charles Dunu to Stephen Keogh of the Manukau Hotel, Queen street, Onehunga, the police reported that the applicant had been convicted of a breach of the Licensing Act during the month of May last. Apart from that the report was not unfavourable. The Chairman expressed doubt whether anyone would be justified, in view of the police report, in signing a certificate to the effect that the applicant was a fit and proper person to hold a publican's license, but the certificate was signed, and the license was granted.

Applications for renewals were dealt with as follow :—Alfred Pick j rell, Ellerslie Hotel (Mr Whitaker). The police report being favourable the renewal was granted. John Walters, Epsom Hotel (Mr McVeagh). The police reported complaints of trading after hours. The applicant had recently been summoiied on three charges, each of which was dismissed by the Auckland Bench. Mr McVeagh said the magistrate who heard the recent prosecutions against his client was so satisfied with his innocence that lie never even called on the defence in two charges. Mr Walters said he never permitted either drunkeness or gambling on his premises, neither did he keep dice. The Committee agreed to grant the renewal, provided a transfer was applied for at once. This being done, the license was granted.

Charles Augustus Cooper, Exchange Hotel, Princes street, Onehunga: Sergeant Greene reported that this hotel was often fully lighted until nearly midnight. On one occasion he found three Onehunga residents in an upper room after half-past eleven p.m. He had seen a light in the bar at elevenp.m. Mr Cooper said he did not suplily liquor after hours, but some of his visitors ordered pipi suppers in the kitchen. The Chairman said the renewal would be granted this time, but he warned the applicant against giving the police cause for complaint in the future.

The following applications were not objected to, and were granted: — Charles Cowan, Harp of Erin, Ellerslie; Robert Ternahan, Hibernian Hotel, Queen street, Onehunga; Arthur Ernest Bennett, Marine Hotel, Howick; Donald Urquhart, Eoyal Hotel, Princes street, Onehunga-; Thomas Keogh, Prince Albert Hotel, Queen street, Onehunga; Herman Schmeidel, Royal Oak Hotel, Onehunga; George Samuel Budge, Panmure; Nicholas Brown, Victoria Hotel. Grey street, Onehunga.

Mr McVeagh applied for an eleven o'clock license on behalf of Mr Cowan, of the Harp of Erin Hotel, and also for the same on behalf of Mr Pickrell, of the Ellerslie Hotel. Mr Whitaker made a similar application on behalf of Mr Ternahan and Mr S. Keogh. The applications were afterwards amended to apply to all the hotels in the electorate. Sergt. Greene said he did not consider the extension of hours necessary. ■ Constables Walker (Otahuhu), Mackle (Newmarket), and Sherman (Ellerslie) expressed a similar opinion. A good deal of evidence was taken, aiter which, the Committee retired. On returning into Court, the Chairman sta.ted that the question of extending the hour of opening was entirely one of public convenience, and that therefore the public should have a fair tmderstanding of the intention of the licensees to apply for such extension, and that the public may have an opportunity of being represented to express their views on. the subject the Committee.had agreed to adjourn the further hearing of the application until the next quarterly meeting.

Mr Whitnker applied for permission to extinguish all outside lights at 10 p.m. in the hotels situated in Onehunga. The application-was granted.