INVERCARGILL LIQUOR '

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 140, 15 June 1944, Page 3

INVERCARGILL LIQUOR '

ACTIVITIES OF TRUST In accordance with , the ' implied promise of .the Government that liquor would be on s.ale at bars in the v city on July '1, ' the ' Invercargili Licensing.Trust is going rapidly ahead , with its preparations, states an Invercargill correspondent. Temporary premises for the sale of liquor are being erected at the corner of Esk and Kelvin Streets, in the business area of the city. With the aid of a bulldozer and a crane with a grab belonging to the Works Department, the section was levelled in record time. . The grab was used to" load a fleet of lorries which ran-a shuttle service in. the removal of the spoil. The building itself is now taking shape. The framework has been erected and the walls-are now being added. Much of the building is prefabricated, and this makes for quick erection. PLAN FOE NEW HOTEL. The building at present looks more like a half-finished barn than anything else, but, as Mr. H. Ritchie, chairman of the trust, pointed out recently, these are only temporary premises. They will be closed when the new hotel in Esk Street is ready. The trust has already advertised its intention, of taking over Deschlers Hotel, Esk Street, and it is under- • stood the intention is to erect a new building when labour and material are available. At present they are required for other projects, one of which is the erection of a new girls' high " school in the city. Therefore these temporary premises may be required to serve for a year or two. A start has been made on the erection of temporary premises at the corner of Clyde and Eye Streets, not far from the centre of the city. These premises will serve as a bar until the new railway hotel is ready. ■ THE BROWN OWL RESTAURANT. The trust has advertised its intention of taking over the Brown Owl restaurant in the centre of the. city. This notice is required by the Invercargill Licensing Trust Act. Objections to any proposal must be lodged within 14 days of notice being given. It is not expected, however, that there will be any objections to this proposal, as the only objections received so far are in regard to three proposed premises in the suburbs. • The Brown Owl at present consists of a milk bar and restaurant. The trust intends to establish a bar for the sale of liquor, but it is understood that it will also run the restaurant. In that case, Invercargill will have "what will be an innovation for New Zealand—a licensed restaurant. It is the intention of the trust-to have somewhat similar premises in the suburbs. Morning and afternoon teas will be available as well as liquor. - These places have been referred to as hotels, but they willhave no accommodadation and, strictly speaking, they should be called licensed tearooms or restaurants. THE HEARING OF OBJECTIONS. ■ In addition to Deschler's 'and the Railway Hotels," the trust has announced- its intention of taking ove* the Grand and Milford Hotels in the city. In^ addition, two hotels, that is, licensed premises with accommodation, will probably be built in ±he suburbs. However, as already indicated, it is not the intention of the trust to embark on a big building programme at present, and it may be several years before the scheme is fulfilled in its entirety. .

Objections lodged to three of lh» trust's proposed licensed premises are to be heard before Mr. Justice Kennedy in the Supreme Court next Mom day. Under the Act, objections may be lodged on the ground that the premises are not required, or are in close '• proximity of a church, school, or hospital, or are likely to disturb the peace of the neighbourhood. The Judge's,' decision is final.