LICENSING COMMITTEE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 226, 17 June 1908, Page 2

LICENSING COMMITTEE.

» •• ADJOURNED APPLICATIONS. . THE OCCIDENTAL HOTEL LICENSE. The adjourned meeting of tho' Wellington Licensing Committee was held yesterday, Dr. M'Arthur, S.M., presiding over a full Bdnch. THE HOTEL CECIL, Mr. J. J. M'Grath, who appeared foi' Mr. F. M'Parland, said that hot water had now' been connected with the bars of tho hotel. The statement was corroborated by Inspector Ellison. . _ Tho application for tho renewal of the license was granted. WINE LICENSE REFUSED. In tho application of T. J. Tracy for a wine license,' Dr. M'Arthur referred to letters bearing on the matter that had been received at the last meeting from the Womc-n's Christian Tomperance Union and the -Executive of the Wellington No-License League. ' It was only fair, he said, to explain 111 answer to Mr! D. M. Findlay's protest against thoso (otters having been sent to the Bench, that this was tho only way the Societies mentioned had had to mako, their protest. Mr. Findlay would remember that certain formalities regarding the advertising of tho application had been waived by the Bench, and that if this had not been done the Societies, which had written tho letters would have had time to send a .deputation or otherwiso to make their protest. He, at tho same time, expressed his strong disapproval of such letters, in reference to tho license itself, the committee had unanimously decided to refuse the application. They were nearing tho cud of their term of office, and wore also of opinion that it should not bo granted. He thought it was a matter that should be dealt with by' tho incgniing committee. Their decision had' been unanimous. OCCIDENTAL HOTEL. Tho adjourned application for the removal of the license of the present Occidental Hotel (at the comer of Johnston Street and Lambton Quay) to the newly-erected building aii the corner of Ballance Street and Lambton Quay, was also heard. Mr. Skerrctt appeared for tho licensee, Mr. J. H. Fairbairn, and Mr. O'Shea for the City Council, who had opposed the application. -The City-Council aro the owners of the section 011 whioh the old' hotel stands. . Mr. O'Shea announced that the Council j wished to withdraw their opposition in respect to the granting of tho new liccnse, and they would also make no opposition to tho romoval of the license. He also wished to inform the Bench that tho City Council had made a settlement with Mr, Ivirkcaldie (tho lessee of the_ section), which protected their' financial 'position thoroughly. Mr.. O'Shea said he. also wished to withdraw the two memorials of objection that had been lodged, viz., that the peace of the neighbourhood would be disturbed and that the hotel was, not required in tho locality. In reply to Mr. Skorrett, Dr: M'Arthur said that the Bench were not satisfied with the' way in which the doors of the shops in the ■ new building opened into the yard of tho hotel. At Mr. Skerrett's suggestion, an adjournment was made to inspect tho building. On the Committee resuming, Mr. Skerrett . said the licensee was prepared to submit to whatever conditions were imposed by the Inspector in regard to tho matter referred to above. The alternatives were that tho entrance to tho yard from tho shops should be blockcd up, or that a permanent fenco eight feet high be erected in a position indicated to the Committee. ' Dr. M'Arthur said the erection of the fence would be preferable. Oil condition that this was done, tihe license for the new building would bo granted. Mr. Skerrett formally withdrew tho application for the renewal of the license of thoold building. • • > The Chairman expressed tho pleasure of the Committee in granting the removal. They folt that the new building was a great improvement on the former one—not that they were inferring anything against the latter It had served its day.-