LICENSING COURT.

Manawatu Times, Volume II, Issue 9, 8 September 1877, Page 2

LICENSING COURT.

JFoxton, Septsmbsb sth. The Licensing Commission assem blc'd - at ten o'clock, having .■adjourned from noon to that hour. The following Commissioners were present :~R. Ward, Esq., R.M., Chairman^J. T. Stewary Esq;. J.P., E. 8. T-bynne, Esq^j J.P., and ik*. Rookstrow, J.P. . ' '_' "' """ ■' ;•■..■ .".'■■'" The Chairman said, that, the applica Itipn they had to entertain at the meeting was that of Edward John Barnett, for the Fortpn Family SpteL .Mr McLean appeared for the appli> cant, and said that the requirements of the Act had been complied with, and v a memorial signed by ninety-fonr of the inhabitants of jEToxton, and another by ■ several householders from Otaki, both of i which Tie should put in j in isupport of ."" the applications T-his he considered the most legitimate mode of ascertaining the ; will of " the pubHc, as' witness- the yards, i£ not .milesi of signatures appended to the memorials to the House in the, matter, of the Local Option Biliri^coTild ' only see that if the Court now Refused : pr the license, it would be because of some ! " opinion of its own, independently of public opinion.' He then quoted T the 23rd Clause of ""The Licensing Act 1873." He said if the Court cannot consider the question of loss to the 'i owner of the property in refusing to K grant the license^, neither can.it enter- • tain the question of how other Jiousesin the same .Business might be affected by the granting of the same. In view of the legislation at present occupying the attention of Parliament it would i only be aa act of jttstice to this the oldest hotel in the district, to reinstate it as a licensed house, and should the" Local Option Bill become law, let the' fittest houses then survive^ . - The Chairman asked the Clerk if| there was any police report, to ,whicb - he replied that none had been sent in. -t The Court then retired, and after aa, absence of - twenty minutes, the Corner missioners again took thefr seats, when ' the Chairman said regarding the appli- . cation from Edward John Barnett for s -license for the Foxtbn Family Hotel, it wais decided hj & majority of votes I not to grant the license. There was do J objection r to the applicant, but .' tSeJ| hotel was not required in Foxton. J