LICENSING BENCH.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 131, 4 June 1901, Page 2

LICENSING BENCH.

AUCKLAND CITY,

The, annual meeting of the Licensing Court for the City of Auckland was held at noon to-day in the S.M. Courtroom. Present: Mr H. W. Brabant S.M. (chairman), A. Rosser, P. E. Cheal, J. J. Craig, M. Casey and Graves Aickin.

Amongst the audience were a number of well-known temperance workers, including the Revs. J. Clark, Dewdney, and C. Lyon, Messrs Speddin«- and Dewar, and several ladies. Inspector Cullen and Sub-Inspector Mitchell represented tbe police. WINE LICENSE. Mr Armstrong applied for a New Zealand wine license for A. Trevethiek. The matter was adjourned owing to some technical point requiring tbe existing license to lapse before a fresh one could be issued. FIRE ESCAPES. The Chairman said the Committee had decided to appoint a sub-committee to inspect all hotels, with a view of looking into the matter of tire escapes. Inspector Cullen said the police felt that in case of fire many of tbe fire escapes, such as ropes and wire ladders, would be of little use. in some cases the escape was in front of a hall or a window, where, if the flames burst out, escape would be cut off. Tbe Chairman said he had heard many kinds of fire escapes advocated at different times. Inspector Cullen suggested that gas j jets should also be kept alight in each corridor so that people might see \ their way to the fire escapes. Unless the police, were satisfied as regards fire escapes the matter would be mentioned when the case was called.

Mr J. R. Reed said the proprietors of the houses for which he appeared would be willing to do anything in reason suggested by the Committee in the matter, of fire escapes. He thought it would be wise if the City Council would appoint a competent inspector to state what form of fire escapes should be used in hotels and boardinghouses, and then pass a by-law so as to compel them to be put up. The Chairman said that waal all very well for the future but in the meantime the responsibility rested on the Committee and must be attended to. REMOVAL OF AN HOTEL LICENSE. Mr IL Campbell said he appeared in the case of an application to transfer the license of the Fitzroy Hotel to Glenalvon House, Symonds-street. As there were a large number of witnesses he asked that the case be not heardl until after 2 o'clock. Mr T. Cotter and Mr 0. Nicholson, who appeared for objectors to the transfer, agreed to the application, which was granted, the Chairman remarking it would probably not be taken until later on. ELEVEN O'CLOCK LICENSES. Mr J. R. Reed said he also proposed to apply to have the hours extended from 10 to 11 o'clock during the Royal visit. He understood similar applications would be made in respect to other houses.

The Chairman said the Committee would deal with the whole of the ap-: plications later on. RENEWALS. . The following renewals were granted:—A. Hill, Suffolk Hotel; John Creedon, Freeman's Hotel; Charles Murcott, Albion Hotel; D. O'Connor, Shakespeare Hotel; J. J. Donovan, Aurora Hotel; S. Coombe, British Hotel; J. Verrall, Bricklayers' Arms Hotel; W. M. Cook, Prince Arthur Hotel: Lindsay Cook, Albert Hotel; H. H. Dyer, Alexandra Hotel; A. J. Tapper, Anchor Hotel; H. G. Keith, Star Hotel, Albert-street; C. J. Callaghan, Wynyard Arms; M. H. Walsh, City Club; W. H. Brown, Queen's Head; F. P. O'Dowd, Criterion Hotel; F. G. Raynes, Ponsonby Club'; J. Molloy, Britomart Hotel (granted subject to the licensee endeavouring to still further improve the character of the bouse); Thomas R. Nixon, Carpenters' Arms; John Suliivan, City Hotel; Alfred Kidd, Commercial Hotel; W. Lynch, Clarendon Hotel; R. Evans, Gleeson's Hotel (granted subject to an addition to fire escape recommended, by police); Francis " Little, Globe Hotel; Alexand Schultz, Governor Brown (permission was granted on the application of Mr Hugh Campbell to change the name of this hotel to the Grosvenor); Alexander Johnston, Grand Hotel (Mr 0. Nicholson stated since the application was lodged the hotel had been destroyed in the late disastrous, fire. Permission was granted to carry on business in temporary premises pending re-erec-tion of the building); Michael Foley, Hobson Hotel; W. H. Pierce, Imperial Hotel; A. R. Dunn,jun,Market Hotel; Other renewals were granted as follow:—J. W. Russell, Occidental Hotel; D. Walker, Park Hotel; Charles H. Dodge, Prince of Wales; W. Stifnpson, Queen's Ferry; J. Vollemere-, Railway Terminus; E. Luks, Thames Hotel; H. Ellison, Thistle Hotel; M. Ryan, United Service Hotel; T. O'Connor] Victoria Hotel; M. O'Connor, Waverley Hotel; John Endean, Waitemata Hotel; H. McVeagh, Swan Hotel; Alfred Drake, Metropolitan Hotel; Jas. Rolleston, Central Hotel; f. J.Buxton, Shamrock Hotel; W. McManus, Caledonian Hotel; A. R. Hardie, King's Arms; R. Fawcett, Naval and Family "Hotel; M. Preston, Newton Hotel"; J. C. Dunn, Rising Sun-Hotel; James McLeod, Star Hotel, Karangahape Road; Charles Bernhardt, Queen's Hotel, Symonds-street; P. Quinlan, Edinburgh Castle; D. Stewart, Empire Hotel; W. Mahoney, Oxford Hotel; W. Regan, Rob Roy Hotel, Franklin Road; Charles E. Stone, Robert Burns Hotel. ROYAL MAIL. R. Scott applied for renewal of license.

Mr Casey said he had heard reports of after-hours and Sunday trading at this house. The police said they had a suspicion, but could not prove any offence.

Mr Rosser said it was a serioas matter when one licensed victualler complained of another.

Mr Nicholson said they could not meet indirect charges, which might be made from personal motives only. No notice had been given.

Mr Casey said he simply gave the parties who made the statement a chance to speak as they were in court.

There being no response, the license waa renewed.