LICENSING COURT. This Day.

Evening Post, Volume XV, Issue 284, 4 December 1877, Page 2

LICENSING COURT. This Day.

Commissioners present — Mr. J. C. Crawford (chairman), Mr. Kebble, Major Paul, and Mr. Moore. DEPUTATION FROM THE BENEVOLENT SOCIETY. A deputation of clergymen, consisting of the Right Reverend the Bishop of Wellington, Archdeacon Stock, the Revs. Paterson, West, Harvey, Dumbell, Redstone, Ogg, Dewsbury, aud Reid, and Messrs. J. G. Houlsworth and C. P. PovVles, waited upon the Commissioners to protest against the issue of any new licenses in the city. His Lordship said — I am here with a number of other gentlemen, as a deputation from the Benevolent Institution, to bring under the notice of the Court the fact that in the discharge of our duties, as members of an incorporated body, it is constantly brought under our notice that much evil arises from the facility with which drink is obtained in Wellington. lam not aware that Wellington is worsef than other towns in this respect, but the numerous cases which come before the Committee of the Benevolent Institution for relief, the majority of them are due to excessive drinking-. Under these circumstances we have felt it our duty to address your Worships, and to request that in consideration of the fact that there ore at present. I think, 44 houses licensed for the supply of liquor in Wellington, that number may not be increased. I would further call your Worships' attention to the fact that in September last efforts were made with the same object, and signatures to the number of nearly 2000 were obtained to a petition praying that no new license might be granted. With these facts and grounds to bear us out, we have ventured to come to-day for the purpose of expressing a strong hope that you will not grant any new licenses in the city of Wellington at the present time. Sir. Crawford — I suppose your Lordship is here in a double capacity to-day, judging from the letter I hold in my hand ? His Lordship — I addressed that letter to your Worships in the capacity of President of the Temperance Alliance. Mr. Crawford— l have to state, on behalf of the Court, that the Magistrates will give due weight aud consideration to the reasons advanced by the Benevolent Society. THE QUEEN'S HOTEL. Mr. OUivier appeared on behalf of Mr. J. R. Brown, who applied for a license for this hotel. He stated that it was the old Army and Navy Hotel, from which the license was withdrawn some years ago because of the character of the building. The place had now been rebuilt, and had every accommodation requisite for a firstclass hotel, and he asked the Court not to look upon this as an application for a new liconse, but the revival of an old one. The application was adjourned for a fortnight, that the building might be inspected. duff's hotel, cuba-stbeet. Mr. Barton applied for a license for this hotel, on behalf of Mr. W. W. Bishop. Mr. Ollivier opposed on behalf of the inhabitants of the district. The license was refused. TRAMWAY HOTEL. Mr. Fitzgerald, who applied for a license for this hotel for Mr. Moody, represented that it was situated in a rapidly increasing neighborhood, and was 500 yards away from the nearest public house. The application was refused. PRINCESS THEATRE HOTEL. Mr. Barton applied for a license for this hotel, on behalf of Mr. J. F. Margetts. In the course of hi 9 argument Mr. Barton said the deputation which had waited upon the Court were simply trying to get the Commissioners to do that which Mr. Fox had failed to get done by Parliament — to pass a sort of Maine Liquor Law, in fact. They tried to make the Court lay down a hard and fast line that no new licenses should be granted. The Commissioners were appointed for the very purpose of considering the propriety of granting new licenses, and he thought it unfair that his Lordship and others should use their influence to prevent a man getting his beer. He did not impugu their motives., for he believed they were really earnest, but he hoped the Court would not allow itself to be influenced by their representations. Mr. Crawford said he hoped Mr. Barton did not insinuate that the Commissioners allowed themselves to be influenced by outside considerations. The deputation had certainly asked the Court to lay down an abstract principle that no new licenses should be granted, and he for one objected to be ruled by abstract principles. Speaking for himself, he thought that in a town like Wellington, where travellers from all parts of the world centred, a superior class of hotels should be encouraged. In this case there appeared to have been a large house erected, and if a license were granted to it, it might possibly have the effect of shutting up some of the inferior houses in the neighbourhood. But the locality was not one to which travellers would go, and the argument that the hotel was next door to a theatre, which had been advanced in favour of the application, was rather against the granting of a license than otherwise. The application was refused. PLISIMER'S HOTEL. Mr. Ollivier argued strongly in favor of a license for this hotel, Mrs. Mary Power being the applicant. He produced plans of the building, and represented that it was one of the finest hotels in the colony, and was in a position which specially fitted it for such a purpose. The arrangements were most perfect, including numerous exits, and other measures against accident in case of fire, while fire-hose was laid through the building. He presented a petition, signed by 65 well-known residents in the immediate neighborhood, in favor of the license. Mr. Plimmer was called to bear out this statement. Inspector Atcheson— Did not Mr. Tustin and several other neighbours give you to understand that they would oppose the license ? Witness — They did at firat, but they have withdrawn their opposition, and some of them have signed the petition. - Inspector Atcheson— And do you think that an old lady of sixty years of age is suitable for the landlady of such an hotel f Witness — Yes : I think so. Mrs. Power (the applicant) said she had kept hotels in various parts of the colony, and she produced testimonials from the Inspector of Police at Hokitika, at which place she had kept the Dunedin Hotel for nine years. Mr. Crawford — Application granted. Mr. Moore — Not unanimously. ALBION HOTEL. Mr. Barton applied on behalf of Mr. Charles Martin of the Albion Hotel for an extension of his license from 10 to 12.. The Albion Hotel was in the immediate vicinity of the gasworks, Messrs. Greenfield and Stewart's timber yards, and Princess Theatre, and would be a great convenience to the men employed on all those establishments. The application was supported by some of the leading residents in the locality. Inspector Atchison opposed the application, which was refused. XARCRI HOTEL. Mr. Ollivier applied for the confirmation of the transfer of the license for the Karon Hotel to Thomas Carter. Inspector Atchison did not oppose the application, but hoped the Bench would caution the applicant to be more careful as to Sunday trading, Sec., as several complaints had been made. The Bench granted the transfer with a caution. ROYAL MAIL HOTEL, PAHAUTAXUI. Mr. Gordon Allan applied for a new license, on behalf of Mr. William Robert Prosser, for the Royal Mail Hotel, Pahautanui. A proper

building had been erected by Mr. Prosser, and the only opposition came from the owner of a licensed house in the neighborhood, which was not satisfactorily conducted. Mr. OUivier objected to such ground being taken. The applicant had no right to blacken the character of the existing house, as no notice had been given so that rebutting evidence might have been brought. Mr. Allan contended he had a right to do so. because the only ground of objection raised was that there was a licensed house there already, therefore he was cutitled to show that the existing house was not a suitable one. When there was only one house there was- % necessarily a monopoly, aud the landlord, provided ho kept within the latter of the law, - - could supply inferior liquor, or could do jwsv * what he chose. He strongly urged on the Beuch the justice of granting this application. ». -¦» The applicant then being sworu, described his new building and its appliances. Edward Bollou corroborated the evidence of the applicant. He considered the new hotel was much needed, as there were ten or twenty travellers passing now for every otic that passed a few years ago, when there were two inns, instead of only one as now. Francis Brady, J. Blachie, Roderick Mulheu, and othersgave similar evidence. Constable Ryan stated that the house was in every way fit to be licensed. Mr. Ollivier held that there was uo reason to alter tho previous decision of the Bench, and that the house was not really required. The Bench refused the application. The Court was sitting when we went to press. ___^__^_________