LICENSING COMMITTEE.

Press, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5365, 5 December 1882, Page 3

LICENSING COMMITTEE.

CH&ISTCHTTECH SOUTH.

The quarterly meeting of the Licensing Committee for Christchurch South, was held at St. John's schoolroom at noon yesterday. Present—Messrs C. A. Pritchard, W. H. Lane, J. Anderson, and J. P. Jameson. In the absence of Mr Westenra, the chairman of the Committee, Mr C. A. Pritchard, was elected chairman of the meeting. \ ■ ■■ TRANBFE3. Mr Eu D.Thomas applied for a transfer of the license of the Gloucester Hotel from Mr Tombs to Mr P. O'Sbannassy. ■ In answer to the Chairman, Inspector Pender said that the applicant was a very respectable man, and had always conducted his house well. The transfer was granted. Mr Thomas applied on behalf of Mr O'Shannoßsy for an extension to eleven o'clock, under the new. clause in the Licensing Act. He desired to point out that the nouse would have been licensed till eleven o'clock had there not been an alteration in the law. The extension to eleven o'clock had been granted by the Legislature in deference to a very generally expressed wish in Canterbury, that the monopoly granted by the midnight licence should be equalised somewhat by the giving of eleven o'clock extension. Mr E. "D. Thomas also applied for an eleven o'clock license to Mr Arena's Cafe de Paris, and pointed out the disadvantages to the public which resulted from the closing of the cafe at ten o'clock. Mr W. H. Messenger, His Lordship's Hotel, applied for an eleven o'clock license, and stated that he had frequently to refuse dinners, because he had to shut at ten o'clock.Mr Stringer applied for an eleven o'clock license to Mr Klingenstien's Hotel, and also for an extra 4?ar. Sergeant-Major Mason was called and deposed that the alteration proposed by Mr Klingenetein would be of great convenience to the public. Mr Loughrey applied for an eleven o'clock license to Mr Bryant, of the Grosvenor Hotel, South Belt. Mr Loughrey also applied on behalf of Mr Bavenhill, of the Caversham Hotel, Perry road, for a twelve o'clock license; and on behalf of Mr J. Pox, Prince of Wales Hotel, Colombo street, for an eleven o'clock license. Mr Godso, of the Southern Hotel, applied for an eleven o'clock license. Mr Maude applied on behalf of the widow of the late Mr T. B. Thompkins, of the, Provincial Hotel, to carry on the business of the hotel until the probate was granted. The requisite permission was granted. Mr Maude then applied for an extenr sion to eleven o'clock for the Provincial Hotel. The clerk read a letter which had been written by the Coroner with regard to the inquest held on a man named Bradburn, and forwarding the verdict of the jury in the matter. . A letter was also read from Mr Inspector Pender, stating that the jnry in the case of John E. Bradburn had passed a very severe censure on the licensee of the White Haiti Mr J. O. Sheppard, Mr Malet said he appeared on behalf of Mr Sheppard. That gentleman had not received copies of the documents, so that he did not know what he had to meet. The Chairman said there was nothing before the Committee at all except that the Coroner, by request of the jury> had forwarded them copies of the evidence taken at the inquest, and also the verdict arrived at- At present the Committee had really nothing to do with the matter except to receive the documents. Mr Malet said that Mr Sheppard was unaware what view the Committee might take of it, aad he (Mr Malet), had therefore attended to watch the case on hie behalf. ■-■ ■..■. ; '-• .-. ■... "'. •■■ .-... ■;"". .■ : } The Chairman said that this was not an application for a transfer or granting d an annual license. The committee would

hand over the documents to their successors, who would deal with them as they, thought fit. Mr Malet said he desired to ask whether lie could have copies of the. documents supplied. , . ■ The Chairman said that the documents were public property, and Mr Malet could obtain copies of them, if he desired. Mr Malet eaid he would take steps to obtain copies. The committee deliberated, and on the I Court being re-opened, The Chairman said the following decision had been arrived at, viz.—No twelve o'clock extensions would be granted at all. The following applications for extension to eleven o'clock would be granted, vis. — J. Fox, Prince of Wales ; W. Godso, Southern Hotel, and E. Eavenhill, CaTersham. All the other applications would be refused. Inspector Pender said he desired to lay before the Committee a list of those houses in which special fire-escapes had not been provided. In several the proprietors had complied with the Act, but there were still many who had not. The'houses in which j the special provision did not exist were as follows: —Klingenstein's Hotel, Queen's Hotel, Provincial Hotel, Eastern Hotel, Gloucester Hotel, A 1 Hotel, Langham Hotel, Borough Hotel, Railway Hotel, Terminus Hotel, Grosvenor Hotel, Princfe of Wales Hotel. j

The Chairman said he was sorry to see that so many proprietors of licensed houses had not taken that notice of the provisions of the Act they should have done. The Act was very particular upon the point, and it might result at the meeting in the Committee refusing to grant a renewal on

the- ground of non-compliance with the Act.

Mr Inspector Pender said that many of the licensees were unaware of what was required.

The Chairman said that of course was a matter for the police. It "was their duty to report to the Committee -whether the requirements of the Act in this respect had been duly complied with.

Mr C. Knowsley, licensee of the Queen's Hotel, said he had attended there that day purposely to learn from the Committee what was required to be provided in the matter of fire prevention. The Chairman said that of course the Committee sitting there could not be supposed to possess a knowledge of the special requirements of each licensed house. That information should be supplied by the police.

Mr Knowsley said all he wanted to know was whether his house possessed the necessary exits in case of fire. If it did not then he would at once be prepared to provide what was required.

The Chairman said that be desired to call attention to the clause of the Act bearing upon the provision of suitable and sufficient exits in cose of fire. [Bead.] i The licensees would see that this was very stringent, and that at an annual meeting if such were not provided the Committee might decline to renew a license. Mr E. D. Thomas said that in respect to many licensees for whom he appeared, the difficulty was this that they did not know what was required. In many instances, such as Mr Arenas, there was two very large and wide staircases, so that it was scarcely necessary to have any further appliances for exit. If the Committee would state what was required the licensees would undertake to have it provided. . The Chairman said the Committee themselves could not undertake to do this, but they would ask Mr Inspector Pender to inspect all the licensed houses,'and report as to what was necessary for safety in case of fire. ' Mr Inspector Pender said that he would do this. The Committee then adjourned.