DUNEDIN LICENSING COMMITTEE.

Evening Star, Issue 9417, 12 June 1894, Page 2

DUNEDIN LICENSING COMMITTEE.

The adjourned meeting of the Licensing Committee for the district of Uunedin was held in the City Police Court this morning ; presentMessrs E. H. Carew, S.M. (chairman), W. Wardrop, J. Jolly, jun., I. Selby, W. Dickson, W. H. Warren, A. Walker, H. Spiers, and T. Scott. wain's hotel. Alexander Palmer applied for a publican's license for Wain's Hotel. Mr Solomon appeared in support of the application and Mr Haggitt for Mr J. Wain, the owner of the hotel. Mr Solomon said the hotel was, if not the most important, certainly one of the most important hotels iu the City. It was largely frequented by travellers from all parts of the Australian colonies and elsewhere, and if any hotel in town was deserving of a license this one was. It stood very much in the same position as the Grand Hotel.

The Chairman was understood to ask Mr Solomon if he wished to say anything about the position of the Manse street bar. Mr Solomon replied that all lie wished to say was that that question had been discussed from time to time by previous licensing benches, aud as the Committee were no doubt aware the law was this: Every hotel was entitled to have one bar leading into the street, and nothing else was a bar within the meaning of the Licensing Act unless it has such a place. There were other hotels in town to which licenses had been granted, and yet no question of this kind had been asked about them. Nothing was said of the Grand, or Watson's, or the Criterion, where the position was exactly the same as it was in Wain's. It had always struck him as peculiar why the question should be raised as far as Wain's Hotel alone was concerned. As to MiPalmer's position, he had not been asked to do anything in the matter at all, but an} - reasonable request of the Committee which Mr Palmer could carry oat he would give effect to, bui at the same time it seemed to him veryinvidious that one man should be selected so far as the question was concerned and three others should pass without remark. Mr Jolly* said there were two distinct classes of trade carried on in the house—a high class and a low cla^D. Mr Solomon said he could assure the Committee that in future only one class would be carried on.

The Chairman said that the difference between this hotel and others was that in Wain's Hotel there were two entrances from two streets—from one street to cue bar, ami from another street to the second bar.

Mr Sol anion replied that properly speaking that was not so.

Sir Haggitt addressed the Committee on behalf of Mr Wain.

After some further discussion the Chairman said the application would stand over for consideration.

THE HOUR 01' CLOSING

Mr Solomon brought this question up bv '. saying that several licensees for whom he appeared, besides Mr Palmer, desired eleven o'clock licenses. He submitted that i: the Committee looked at the question from a proper and fair aspect they must come to the conclusion that it was a right thing for them to grant licenses until eleven o'clock at night. If the Committee could see that any section of the public reasonably considered it a convenience that they should be supplied with drink between ten and eleven o'clock at night, not for the purpose of excess, but for the purpose of what they considered reasonable enjoyment, although such enjo.\ ment might not meet with the views of the Committee, it was their duty to allow tiie public to satisfy themselves in that way. Then, trams arrived in town late at night, and for the convenience of travellers by them the licenses should be extended to eleven o'clock. The Committee should look at the matter from a reasonable point of view. Mr Haggitt said that if the hotels were closed at ten o'clock it would interfere with the progress of the City, and the place] would be given the appearance more of a city of the dead than a city of the living. I hat would be of no benefit to anj one. And what would become of all those people who attended theatres, lectures, and other enter! aiuments that did not get out till after ten o'clock? Any of them who wished to obtain refreshments would not be able to get them, and he supposed that the result would be before long that theatres an 1 other places would have to be c'ose.l at nine o'clock. He would ask : Was that the way to encourage the prosperity of the City. It would be an exceedingly retrograde movement to close houses at ten o'clock, thereby putting out ihe lights of all the public-houses in the place. Why, if anything at all was calculated to increase crime, such a step as that would be the very thing to do it. It was the building of houses such as the (irand, Wain's, the City, and others that had improved Dunedin to the extent it was improved, and what encouragement would there be to people to erect other houses of a like kind to ornament the City if the chance of making them pay was to be taken from them, or if they were to be harassed as they hid been for a number of years past with threats of the closing of hotels and of the shortening of hours in *hich to sell ?

Mr CVIIan said ho appeared for a publican who wished an eleven o clock license, and Mr Chapman said he was in a similar position.

The Chairman, after consulting the Committee, said they would deal with the question later on. At present they would go on with the applications in their order.

(iUASGF. HOTEL

William Henry Haydon applied for" a pub Mean's license for the" Grange Hotel, Hanover street. Mr Solomon for the applicant, and Mr Callan for the owner of the property. Mr Solomon said there were at one time objections to this hotel, as it was badly handled, drink being sold on Sundays, but its conduct was different to-day. It was now occupied b\ another tenant, who was one of the oldest anil best-known publicans in Duncdin, and ho believed that the people in the neighborhood of the hotel who had the strongest objection to the house prior to Mr Haydon taking it over would how say that it was properly conducted.

In answer to the Chairman the applicant said lie had been in the house about sixteen months.

Mr Solomon went on to argue that on account of the position cf the hotel it should be granted a license. Three other hotels —the Commercial, the Bowling Green, and the Queen's—in the neighborhood were within a distance of 300 or 4CO yards of each other, and they were all granted liceutes, and this hotel was the centre of a considerably larger district in which there was no hotel at all. He would like to point out that the house, as Mr Haydon would tell them, was one used to a large extent by people who used drink in their homes at meal time. For every hogshead of beer consumed in the hons; he believed two or three were supplied to persons in the neighborhood, who, as he said, used drink at their meals, and that was a very fair way—the least objectionable, if the Committee considered it objectionable to use drink—that it oould be used. Learned counsel then proceeded to call evidence.

Sergeant O'Neill said he knew the GrangeHotel. Before Mr Haydon went into it there were complaints of Sunday trading against it; but for the last eighteen months, since Mr Haydon had taken it over, there had been a vast improvement in it, and he had conducted it very well in<l e ?3<

By Mr Callan: When Mr Bunbury, tho owner, himself conducted the hotel some years ago there were no complaints. ' John Hopkins, a property - owner in the locality of the Grange Hotel, said he thought the hotel was well conducted, and was a convenience to the people who lived in the neighborhood. William Henry Haydon said ho had been a hotelkeener in Dunedin for over thirty years. There were in the Grange Hotel eight rooms over and above what were used by the family. Fullv three-fourths of the beer he sold was consumed by people in their homes, and his customer* came from the four adjoining blocks. John Hall, a resident in the neighborhood of the hotel, said the hotel was better conducted now than it was previous to Mr Haydon taking it over. It would, he thought, be a matter ot inconvenience if the hotel were closed. Mr Solomon handed to the chairman a list of witnesses who had volunteered to give evidence. Any of them the Bench wished would be called. After the Committee had looked over the list the Chairman said they did not desire to call anv of the witnesses. Mr Callan addressed the Bench as to the suitableness of the house. It had ample accommodation, was built of stone and brick, and was erected some wars ago by the present owner, who had been'in possession ot the property for the last thirty years. Mr Bunbury held the license for fifteen or sixteen years, and during th-tiime there was no complaint against tho way in which he carried on the house. After a tenant got it against whom complaint was made Mr Bunbury cave the house to Mr Haydon at a greatlv reduced rental, so that it might be well c-.mdultcd and that there might be no breaches o;' the «\cr. In answer to the Bench Mr Callan said the rent was reduced when Mr Haydon went in, and on the 14 March last. 'Tho Chairman: The application will stand over for consideration. .ANCHOR HOTKL. Gerald Fitzgerald Eager applied for a license for this house. Mr Solomon, appearing in support of the application, said that the house was in Maclaggau street, and was used very largely as an iicjummodnti'.'ii house for sailors. He would eil! a shipping master, who would say that he had shipped hundreds of sailors from thehouse, an I that it was a great convenience to him and the men. Moreover, no complaint had ever been made as to the conduct of the house. Alexander Rae, shipping master, said tint the Anchor had for years been frequented by sailors. He had shipped hundreds from it, and sometimes sent there sailors who were distressedmen who generally paid afterwards when they could, but often did not do so. It would be an inconvenience to witness an 1 to the men with whom he was connected to take away the lieen-c.

Gerald Eager said that he had been in the hotel about twelve years. It had twenty rooms, and was of brick and concrete. He often took in destitute sailors. No complaint had ever b:en made about the house. The lease had seven years to run.

Hugh Gourley, a resident of the neighborhood for about thirty years, said that the house was well conducted, and was, he believed, a convenience to sailors. He knew, at any rate, tli.it they always patronised it. Decision deferred.

HOVGLAS HOTEL

The application by Frank Hart Guinness was supported by Mr Solomon, while Mr D. D. M.w.hmald represented the owner of the premise-'.

Mr Solomon urged, that the Douglas was in the centre of the town ; it was a substantial house, with about thirty bedrooms, and accommodating a large number of boarders, and it was I'iitlicult to see why such a house should be selected as one concerning which there should lie a question of refusing the license. F. H. Guinness said that he had been licensee foi two years, and the lease had two and a-half veais to run. The house was hrgcly u-sed by country people. No complaint was inai'.f that he knev.' of as to the manner i:: which the house had been conducted. Had been licensee of the Old Brigade Hotel, and no complaint had been made as to his conduct of that place. James Scott A'exander, butcher, in George street, said that he frequently passed the hotel, and uever saw anything to complain of about the house, which was well patronised by the public. James Fox, coal merchant, said that he went occasionally to the hotel, and never saw anything wrong a3 to the way the house was conducted. It compared favorably in that respect with other hotels. Had reason to believe it was largely patronised. Sir Solomon said he would like to mention to the Bench that he had certificates from Dr Jefl'coat, Dr Macpherson, and Mr Myeis the dentist, which he would tender to the Bench if thev cared to read them.

Mr Carew remarked that such papers were not evidence.

James Linton, the owner of the premises, examined bv Mr Macdonald, said that he had been the owner for fourteen years. He paid £5,300 for it, and had spent £1,400 in improvements. It was largely used while he was licence, and he only left it to take the Criterion, which he now occupied. nue.stionod by Mr Carew, witness said that latelv, in a general kind of way, he had heard that' there were complaints as to the house, an 1, though he knew of no ground for this, he liad'olierfd Guinness terms to retire, which the Litter had declined to accept, 'i he complaints were not made to him direct'y. Decision deferred. HULL AM) MOfTU lIOTKL. Godfrev Jacobs applied in respect to this hotK-'. ~ , Mr Solomon said that applicant had been in business for thirty yew. and had held the lic-n-e of this house for twenty-two years, and during that tim- there had not been a breath of complaint as to his conduct of the premises. Mr Ciirr-w said that the Bench were perfectly <oHs:ied in all respects as to Mr Jacubs's character, and conn-el need only address himself as to the merits of ihi building. Mr Solomon submitted that the house was hr'e'v used by members of the theatrical proand that numbtrs of persons who lived according to the Jewish rites wire recommended to this house bv the Jewish minister. Applicant, being sworn, said that the building had brick and iron walls and a wooden front. It comfortably accommodated thirty persons, and on a ranch thcro was room for forty. Mr Walker, speaking from the Bench, saw th- Committee considered that Maclaggan street had more than the r.eccssary number of hotels, and if a reduction were to be effected the Committee would take cognisance of the structure of the buildings. Mr Solomon saieMhat if that was a dirhculty it could be remedied before the license wa3 answer to the Bench witness said that the walls wro lined with paper and scrim. Mr James, as representing the owners, Messrs Smith and Sievwright, asked that the application be allowed to stand down for the present. Application agreed to. At a later stage of the meeting Mr Solomon said he had been in communication with the iic-nsee of the hotel, and also the Corporation o'H"or« and Mr Mirams, the city surveyor, had pointed out that theie was no objection to the interior of the building. He (the speaker) was in a position to sav that the licensee was willing to undertake any'improvements the Committee desired to have made in the house. The Committee reserved their decision. LONDON HOTEL.

Malcolm Allan's application in respect to this house, at St. Kilda, was supported by Mr

Applicant said that he had been licensee for two Years, in which time he had spent £7O on the house. The owners were Hogg, Howison, Nkol a'd Co. There were seven rooms for customs, and boarders were kept, the house being alwavs full at race time. There were eltveu stalls in the stable. John Kirby, a boarder, gave evidence to the effect that the house was very well conducted, and John Gore (town clerk of St. Kilda) spoke to the same effect, adding, in answer to th<3 Bench, that there were six hotels m the borough. Decision to stand over.

DUKE OP EI)IN!iUK«II HOTEL. Michael Kane applied, Mr Solomon appearing for the applicant, and the Hon. J. MacOregor for the owner. .... Mr Solomon said that the house situate in Russell street was the property of the late Joshua Eccles, and now belonged to a number of infant children, to whom it was the chief means of support. It was a substantial house and well conducted. Michael Kane said that he had been m occupation for five months and had a lease for five years. There were twelve rooms in the hou-c No complaint had been made as to the wav in which the place was conducted. To the Bench: There were three sitting rooms and four bedrooms for the public. The Hon. J. MacGregor gave reasons why the license should be granted. The house, though not a very large one, was suitable for the purpose of an hotel. Consideration to Btand over.

autJKK'l' IiI'HWS HOTEi.. Thomas Chapman was the applicant. MrF R. Chapman, appearing on behalf ot the licensee, said that the Robert Burns was a solid, commodious building containing twentythree rooms. No doubt there were a good many houses in those two or three blocks of George street, but, if some had to go, ho (learned counsel) submitted that preference would be given to a substantial house of this

kind. Applicant said that he had been six years in the house. Mr Horsburgh was the ground landlord. There were nine bedrooms available i>r the publio, una four ratting rooms. The

house was frequented by country people, tradesmen, and clerks. A fortnight ago ho (witness) was fined for keeping the slide of the bar open beyond hours. He had not been selling. Mr Carcw remarked that there was a conviction for keeping open for the purposes of sale. Applicant, continuing, said that he hail always endeavored to conduct his house properly. The building was of stone, brick, and plaster. Mr Sim, appearing for the landlord, called Henry Foster, who gavo evidence to the effect that the buihling was of substantial materials, and that there had been a licensed house on tho same site for thirty years. Decision deferred, the Committee noting in the meantime that they were satisfied with the structure of the building and the accommodation. SHAMROCK AND THISTLE HOTEL.

Applicationmadc by Jane Dwyer, for whom Mr F. R. Chapman appeared, Mr D. D. Macdonald acting for Mr James Scanlan, the owner. Mr Chapman submitted reasons why the application should be granted. There were altogether twenty-three rooms and accommodation for sixteen lodgers, and for pretty well all Miss Dwycr's occupancy the house had been full or nearly full. It was largely patronised by ship's stewards. Tho houso had the reputation of being well conducted; no complaint had been made against it—none, at any rate, worth listening to; and a number of neighbors had intimated their willingness to say that the hotel appeared to be respectably managed, and was no annoyance to the neighborhood. If the house competed with others in re-pect to locality the circumstance that it had ample accommodation for bona fide boarders should be a circumstance in its favor.

Applicant, being called by Mr Chapman, said that she had been licensee for twenty-three months and had heard of no complaints. One of her brothers helped her to manage the house. Her had four months to run.

The Bench called Sergeant Gccrin to speak as to the character of the neighborhood. There used, he said, to be some rough characters in a right-of-way in tho locality, but they were all away now, and the neighborhood was quiet. James Scanlan, called by Mr Macdonald, said that he built the property, which twenty-four years ago cost £2,400. It was his intention to occupy the premises himself, if he could get a license, when the lease expired in November. The Great Northern and the Shamrock and Thistle were the largest hotels in King street. Charles Croxford, plumber, examined by Mr Chapman, said that there used to be some queer characters about the neighborhood, but he believed they had been cleared out, and he believed that"ninety-nine out of every hundred persons living in the vicinity were respectable. Decision deferred.

On the Bench taking their seats after the luncheon adjournment, Mr Macdonald handed in a document to show that the lease of the hotel to Miss Dwyer expired in November next, and that there was no provision for a renewal. The Committee reserved their decision. GRANT) HOTEL.

John Philip Piercy applied for an extension of liis publican's license for the Grand Hotel from ten o'clock to eleven o'clock. Mr Chapman appeared for the applicant. Mr Chapman said that in the case of this hotel an eleven o'clock license should certainly be granted, unless the Bench had unalterable convictions that no such extensions should be granted under any circumstances. To close this house, absolutely and arbitrarily, at ten o'clock would be very much against the place. The hotel was known not only in New Zealand but in Australia, and in addition it was known to the travelling public from the other side of tho world. New Zealand, ho would point out, was becoming more and more a country resorted to from the most distant quarters of the globe, and Dunedin was one of the centres to which travellers of the kind resorted. ' This being so. it would not be anything to discourage the travelling public. After referring to the necessity of the hotel being kept open after ten o'clock, learned counsel went on £o say that the hotel possessed great convenience for travellers—ordinary travellers passing through town and commercial travellers. In the summer there were some eighty or ninety people constantly in the hotel, a large-number of them arriving by the evening trains, and at the present time of the year there were about thirty peoply ordinarily residing in the hotel. John "William Piercy, sworn, said that he had been licensee of the Grand since October last. An extension to eleven o'clock would most undoubtedly be a convenience to customers of the hotel, and a restriction to ten o'clock would necessitate him (the landlord) standing at the door to examine every person passing into the hotel to see whether he had a right to go in. People would not like that. He was speaking, so far, of country people; but the hov.se was also very largely used by town residents, apart from the bar trade. He did not consider the bar trade the chief business of his hotel. There were at present forty-five paying residents in the hotel, and this was the slack time of the year. John Stone, publisher, found the hotel a great convenience, and, considering the class of business done by the house, be th-night it would be an inconvenience if the hotel were closed at ten o'clock.

David Cherrie (of Cherrie and M'lndoe) and Carl Zoller (commercial traveller) also testified to the fame effect. The last-mentioned witness, asked by the Eeneh to state what his experience was at Auckland where the licenses were till ten o'clock, said that what happened was simply that the law was not kept. It was one thing to make.a law and another to enforce it.

Mr Chapman : "Well, you need not mind that; that's not the style in Dunedin.—(Laughter.) Decision deferred. SHAMROCK HOTEL.

Christopher Tilburn applied for a publican's license for the Shamrock Hotel. Blr Macdonald, with Mr Solomon, appeared for the applicant, and Mr Haggitt for the landlord (Mr Green:-lade).

Mr Macdonald said the hotel had been in existence over thirty years, and the present applicant had been in possession for about ten years. The Chairman : "Will you confine yourself, Mr Macdonald, tp the condition of the building. Mr Macdonald said he would do so. There were in the hotel forty bedrooms, nine sitting rooms, a billiard room, a dining room, and a sample room. '1 hat part of the building next the brewery was built of brick, the front part was of "wood and plaster, and on the lower side two-thirds were of brick and one-third of wood and plaster. There were provisions for escape from fire, the chimneys were all built from t'.e ground, and in case of fire there were two hoses of great presure handy for use. A large amount of money had been expended from time to time to put the building in a thorough state of repair, and without doubt it was in excellent lepair. Counsel referred to the extensive country trade done by the hotel. The average number of boarders nightly in the hotel was forty, and sometimes there were eighty or a hundred. Last week people were living in all parts of the building, some in shake - downs, ar.d at meal times a number had to wait perhaps an hour to get to the lunch table. As to whether the license should be a ten o'clock or an eleven o'clock one, he submitted that it would be a wise thing to give some of the larger hotels eleven o'clock licenses, because it would be likelv that the law would be more carefully observed if that were done than if all houses were bound to observe a ten o'clock license. As a matterof policy there should be somehotels, especially about central positions, that should have 11 o'clock licenses, and he submitted it would be for the convenience of the public if that were done. One thing he would mention in that connection was that the Roslyn tram started frqm the door, and while waiting for it many people took shelter in the building. He had no desire to make invidious remarks about hotels, but he submitted with confidence that if any hotels in the locality of the Shamrock were taken away this hotel should not be one of them. Christopher Tilburn, being examined, said the •house had forty bedrooms and nine sitting rooms for the use of the public. Fire escapes were provided at all corners of the building, and, besides the hose belonging to the house, there were hoses in the brewery which commanded all points of the building. About £I,BOO had been expended on the house by the tenant, and in consideration of this payment an extension of the lease had been granted by the landlord. The average number of persons sleeping in the house was forty ; some? times there were over 100. Last Saturday 200 sat down to lunch. Though there was a tying clause in the lease the house had never been trammelled, ne dealt with three houses. A new lease was, however, being prepared doing av/av with the clause referred to. E." M. Roach, arohitect, had visited the house to-day. He knew the building very well, and could say that it was in good condition, and would, he thought, compare with most other hotels as to repair and provision in case of fire.

Robert Forrest, architect, had examined the building, and gave the opinion that, with ordinary repairs, it would last fifteen or twenty years. Mr Haggitt said that the building was on a church lease which expired in 1902. James Hislop, architect, had gone through the building, and found it in a very fair state pf repair. He thought from the general planning of the building, from its height, and from the general and'special arrangements that thore vvas very little danger of fire, Archibald Morrison (of Morrison and Co.) said that in his experience great care had been taken to keep the building in repair. Mr Carew suggested that this witness might tell the Court something about the sanitary condition of the house, and Mr Morrison added that he hail given an estimate about six months ago as to what it would

cost to complete the sanitation, and from memory he thought the price given was £2O or £25 John Valentiuo, a traveller, spoko as to the excellenco of the accommodation provided. MrHaggitt submitted that the public were the best judges us to whether a house was required cr not, and tho public wero also tho best judges of whether tho house suited their requirements or whether it did not, and as tho Committee had heard that the house was well kept, was constantly full, and that people flocked to it from all parts, ho submitted that the very best testimony had been given that this house was ono of tho kind that ought to be retained.

Decision postponed. BUITISH HOTEL.

Daniol M'Lcan Campbell applied for a publican's license for the British Hotel. Mr Macdonald for the applicant, and Mr Fraser for the owner of the premises (Mr D. Heonan). Mr Macdonald said this was another very old house, having been in existence over thirty years. The present applicant had been in the house for some, and as far as his character was concerned he (learned counsel) understood there was no objection to it in any way. There were sixteen bedrooms and four sitting rooms in it, and the houso had done good business for a number of years, and still did so. There was also stabling accommodation. Applicant said that he had been in the hotel about ten months, and had never heard any complaints. Tho house was in Al repair. Robert W. Duncan, builder, repaired the hotel when Campbell took possession, and could sav that considering the age of the building it was in a good state of repair—thoroughly safe at present. Denis Hccnan, proprietor, said that the house had been licensed for thirty-one years, and the building was in as good condition as when it was built. It was constructed thirty-one years ago of American timber. Mr Fraser submitted that while the Committee were reducing licenses in George street they should take notice of the fact that the license of this house had never been challenged. Good conduct extending over a long period was a very important point, reflecting credit not only on the licensee but on the landlord. Consideration deferred. BRITANNIA HOTEL.

Mary Amelia Feachey applied for- a publican's license for the Britannia Hotel.

Mr Callan, who appeared for the applicant, said this hotel vas large and substantial, in full order and repair, and had about twenty bedrooms. It was built by Mr Porter, the present licensee's father, and at the time it was erected it was put to Mr Porter by the then Committee that if he did not put up a good house he would not get his license, lie had embarrassed himself to some extent by putting up the building, and if the license were now taken away it would be very hard on the present licensee. The hotel was, in the proper sense of the word, a working man's house, being patronised by a large and respectable number of people who lived on the Canongate hill, which was on the side of the road opposite to the hotel. Henry Smart Cheeseman, upholsterer, had known the Britannia for several years, and found it a great convenience to the customers, mostly working people. The licensee observed the requirements of tho Act, and undesirable persons who presented themselves were not served. Many a time and oft ho had noticed refusals of that sort, and he would say that the licensee was scrupulously particular. Harriet R. Morrison, a teetotaller all her life, said that she had lived close to the Britannia for sixteen years, and passed the house on an average five times a day, and had never seen anything objectionable in the conduct of the house. She had seen Mrs Peachy close the doors against men who approached the house with unsteady gait. Henry Davis, contractor, had lived for twenty years close to the hotel, which he had used during that time as his hotel. He would term the house a working man's hotel, and as far as he could see it was one of the bestconducted hotels in Dunedin. He had seen men refused drink, both by the applicant and her father, and drunkenness was not permitted in the place. It would be inconvenient to many residents about tho hotel if the license were taken away from it. Mrs Peachey, widow, said that she had lived in the hotel ever since she could remember. It was a working man's house. No charge had ever been made against witness for a breach of the Act. She had a child and a sister depending on her. Decision deferred. NEWMARKET HOTEL.

Mr Callan, who appeired for Messrs R. "Wilson and Co., tho landlords of the hotel, said that the applicant in this case, James Campbell M'Laren, had decided to withdraw his application for a license. Mr W. C. Macgregor, for Mr M'Laren, said ho believed the reason for the withdrawal of the application was that there was an endorsement on the old license, which endorsement was obtained before his client became the licensee. It was no fault of Mr M'Laren's that tho application was withdrawn. The application was accordingly withdrawn. OLD BRIGADE HOTEL.

George Scarle's application was supported by Mr Macdonald, Mr Bathgate representing the landlord.

Mr Macdonald said that there were eleven bedrooms for the public, and applicant had been only about three months in the house. Mr Carew said that, according to the police report, there were only six bedrooms. Applicant said that when a police officer last visited the place, a month ago, he did not go through the back portion of the house. Mr Carew said that the officer would be called.

Applicant, continuing, said that if a license were granted the house would be put in repair and furnished properly. When the police called he (applicant) was unable to go right through the house with him, and did not know till he had left that he had not gone right through. Mr Bathgate said that the owners were the Commercial Property, who would effect necessary repairs if the license were granted. Decision deferred.

[Left sitting.]