The Proposed Railway Hotel.

Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 26, 17 June 1886, Page 2

The Proposed Railway Hotel.

APPLICATION FOB LICENSE KEFUSED. Tho question whether or not a license should be granted to John Murphy in respect of tho Kailway Hotel,' Thorndonquay, was further coiiHidered at an adjourned sitting of tho Thorndon Licensing Bcnoh hold nt noon to-day. Tho members of tho Committee present were Mr. G. Fisher, M.H.It. (Chairman), Messrs. C. T. Richardson and W. F. Parsons. An apology for absence was received from Mr. E. H. Goldsmith. Mr. Gully appeared (or tho applicant. A petition was lodged in favour of the granting of tho license, signed by 108 householders, and another in opposition to it bearing 44 signatures. Tho Chairman said the police report was to tho offoct that the houso was not required. Mr. Gully addressed tho Bench on this question, claiming^ that as tho golden ago had not yot arrived whon hotels would bo swept away, and the wicked publicans would ceaso from troubling;, and tho woavy drinkers would bo at rest, tho only question to bo considered by tho Court was whether tho accommodation oft'orod by tho house was reasonably required by the residents in tho neighborhood and tho travelling public. Tbo houso was situated close to tho two railway stations. Already there was a difficulty in obtaining accommodation in the vicinity for persons travelling by railway, and in tho near future, whon tho Manawatu - railway was pompleted, there would certainly bo a groat deal of through traffic by early and late trains, which would necessitate conveniences for passengers in close proximity to tho terminus. Tho poll of ratopayers had decided in favour of an increase in tho number of licenced houses in tho ward. The applicant was a man of good character, and had spent .£O5O upon the erection of a substantial house, and the fact' that ho had boon instrumental in ridding tho neighbourhood of tho women of loose character who had longfrequented ifc, proved that he was desirous of doing only a respectable olass) of business. Tha hotels oxisting in tho vicinity did not provide much accommodation for passenger traffic, and all tho circumstances pointed to the conclusion that there was reasonable necessity for t&o granting of tbo_ license. Inspector -Shearman roiterated his opinion that another licensed houso was not required, and added that ho had instructed tho police to romovo tho objectionable women betore any steps woro l-k-n by Mr. Murphy. Mr. G. Allen was heardin support of the petition ugaiust tho granting of the licence. Tho Chairman said that the external circumstances were in favour of tho applicant. He roforred tothe fact that convictions had boon obtained for sly grog-selling in the neighbourhood, ac showing that the existence or nonexistenco of a license did not of itHolf affect tho selling' of intoxicating liquors. Tho Coinmitteo had given tho matter very earnest consideration, and had unanimously concluded that making every allowanco for the circumstances in favour of the applicant himsolf, it would be anticipating the requirements of tho dibtrict to grant tho license at present. They had therefore decided not to grant it, but they wished to indicate that though they refused it now it was most probable that when the requirements of the district grow to such an extent as to require another hotel, as thoy might do by this time next year, tho license would bo granted. Thoy could not bind their successors, but probably if tho same Committee remained in office next year a license would bo granted for the honse.