LICENSING COMMITTEES.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7252, 7 March 1889, Page 6

LICENSING COMMITTEES.

CHEISTCHTJRCH SOUTH WEST. The quarterly meeting of the Committee for the south-west licensing district of the city washeld at noon yesterday, at the City Council Chambers. There were present Messrs E. J. S. Harman (re-elected Chairman), F. J. Kimbell, F. H. Barns, and U. P. Hulbert. Mr Leatham applied for a confirmation of the temporary transfer of the license of the White Horse Hotel from Thos. Ockford to Eliza Savage. The application was granted, the police to see that proper provision for escape in case of fire was provided. The police report on the licensed houses in the district was considered satisfactory.

ST. ALBANS. The first meeting of the newly-elected Licensing Committee for St. Albans took place yesterday. Present—Messrs H. J. Hall. Heard, and Gar nett. The pol ice report as to the conduct and furnishing of the houses in the district was satisfactory. Mr Hall was re-elected chairman for the year. KAIAPOI. A meeting was convened by the Clerk to the Kaiapoi licensing meeting to be held at the Court-house at nOon yesterday. The members of the Committee present were Messrs W. R. May and W. R. Fraser, and after waiting twenty minutes the meeting was adjourned by Mr Webster, the Clerk, till Thursday at noon. There were several members of the public present, anticipating some amusement, the previous day's meeting having been reported asasceueof excitement and fun, and from which the reporters were absent. The position of the deadlock is this—that in compliance with Section 13, Sub-Section 21, four of the Committee assembled pursuant to notice on Tuesday to elect one of their members Chairman. Two candidates, namely, Messrs Humphreys and Evans, were nominated, and the votes, it was seen, would be equal. Mr Weston left the room, followed by Mr Evans, and Messrs May and Fraser, who remained, no longer gave the meeting a quorum (three.) The Clerk thereupon declared the meeting adjourned till next day at noon, under Section 40 of the Licensing Act, which provides if any cause shall prevent a quorum of the Licensing Committee being present at any licensing meeting on the day advertised, or at an adjournment of a meeting on the appointed day, the said meeting or adjournment shall stand adjourned from day to day until a quorum can be present to hold such meeting. We learn that it is intended by Messrs May, Humphreys and Fraser to attend to-day, and put an end to the deadlock. Mr Humphreys' business engagements prevented his being present on Tuesday and Wednesday.

GERAJLDINE. A meeting of the newly-elected members of this Committee was held in the Court-house, Geraldine, on Tuesday last. Present—Messrs A. White, W. S. Maslin, and G. H. Patrick. On the motion of Mr Maslin, seconded by Mr Patrick. Mr White was elected Chairman. Mr A. Sherratt tendered his resignation as a member of the Committee. The resignation was accepted, and the Clerk was instructed to inform the Governor of the same. The police report on the licensed houses in the district was read and considered satisfactory. It was decided to call the attention of the police to the amount of Sunday trading carried on with other than bona fide travellers or lodgers. It was also decided to hold the meetings of the Committee during the first week in each quarter, and the Committee then adjourned till the first week in June.

TIMARU. At a meeting of this Committee yesterday, Mr E. G. Kerr was re-elected"Chair-man. The police report on the licensed houses was satisfactory. Transfers were granted of the licenses of the Commercial Hotel from S. Conway to J. Morgan, and Royal Hotel from J. Morgan to E. Sullivan. In the case of building new houses for the Royal and Clarendon Hotels, counsel urged the Bench to allow the matter to stand over till the annual meeting in June, as the present was a time of depression and great competition, that enforcing bu tiding would be a great hardship that might even mean absolute ruin to the owners of hotels of this description. The Committee agreed to adjourn the matter as requested.