LICENSING COMMITTEE MEETINGS.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 314, 4 June 1888, Page 2

LICENSING COMMITTEE MEETINGS.

BLENHEIM NORTH

Tho annual meeting of the Blenheim North Licensing Committee was held in the Courthouse on Saturday, there being present: Messrs R. H. Smala (Chairman), R. Kilpatrick, C. Williams, M. Healy, and the Clerk (Mr W. G. P. O’Callaghan). THE ROYAL HOTEL. Daniel Draper applied for a renewal of tho license for the Royal Hotel. In reply to the Chairman, Sergeant Scanlan, on behalf of Iho police, said that during the past twelve months the house had been conducted very well indeed. No complaint of any kind had been lodged, and everything in connection with the premises was in capital condition. Mr Draper appeared before the Committee, and asked that ho might be allowed to extinguish the lamp in front of the hotel at the closing hour, viz., 11 o’clock. That was the custom in Wellington and other largo places. There was a light at Mr Hutchison’s corner, and he (Mr Draper) thought that was sufficient. It was also a great expense in these hard times to keep a lamp burning all night. Sergeant Scanlan strongly objected to tho lamp being extinguished at the hour named. At present the town was very badly lighted, and if it were not for the hotel lamps, residents would have no lights at all at night. And besides, if tho Committee allowed Mr Draper to extinguish his light, tho other publicans in the town would want to follow his example. Ho thought the least Mr Draper could do was to keep a light burning at his hotel. Blenheim could not bo compared to Wellington as regarded lighting. There wero not many street lamps in Blenheim, and if tho publicans’ lights were extinguished, tho town would he in c raiplete darkness. In roply to the Chairman, Sergeant Scanlan said he did not object to an li o’clock license, but lie would not he in favor of a 12 o’clock license being granted. The Chairman: Are there proper fire escapes in the hotel P Sergeant Scanlan : Yos. I don’t think the hotels in Blenheim could be better provided in that respect, and the same may be said of all the hotels in the dissriet. I have made a minute examination and find that the hotels are fully provided with ropes, and that there are also sash weights on the windows. The Bench granted the application for a renewal, but they refused to allow MiDraper to extinguish his light at 11 o’clock. COMMERCIAL HOTEL. John Newth applied for a renewal of a license for the Comercial Hotel, Grove Road. Sergt. Scanlan said that lie had visited the hotel, and considered it both a comfortable and respectable house. Mr Newth had gone to the diggings, and that was the reason why ho was pot present at the meeting. The Clerk pointed out that it was not necessary for the applicant to be present. Sergt. Scanlan stated that tho appliances for fire escape in this hotel were also perfect. The Bench granted the renewal. wholesale licenses.

The police offered no objection in the case of wholesale licenses, which were accordingly granted to Messrs Holmes and Bell and Fell Bros. This concluded the business.