LICENSING COMMITTEE MEETINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9077, 11 June 1888, Page 6

LICENSING COMMITTEE MEETINGS.

ARCHHILL. The annual meeting of the Archhill Licensing Committee was held on Saturday at Mr. T. Seaman's office, New Zealand Insurance Buildings, at noon. The members of committee present were : — Messrs. Geo. Taylor (chairman), Jos. Harrison, R. Somers, W. J. Macdermott, and W. Errington, the two latter being those appointed by the Governor in the places of Messrs. O'Hara and Frost, the members of committee who resigned. Mr. Thos. Seaman, the clerk of the Licensing Bench, was present, and Constable Christie represented the police. Some discussion took place respecting the appointments of Messrs. Macdermott and Errington, intimation of which had been received by telegraph, and the Chairman asked the clerk what course he had pursued in the matter ? Mr. Seaman said he had never before received a telegraphic appointment. The Chairman: You do not know whether it is a sufficient Guarantee that these gentlemen should sit? Messrs. Errington and Macdermott stated that they had just received notice of thenappointments, and the former produced the telegram which had been forwarded to him. Archhill Hotel (Great North Noad). —Patrick Long, licensee. This was an application for the renewal of a license. Constable Christie's report stated that the house and furniture were in good condition, and, there being no objection by the police, the application was granted on the unanimous vote of the committee. application for a NEW LICENSE.— lively DISCUSSION. An application was received from Thomas Maugham for the issue of a license for the Swan Hotel. A large number ot ratepayers and residents of the Archhill district attended the meeting. A report by Constable Christie stated that the building was a new one, situated at the corner of Great North Road and Cracroft-street, and containing twelve rooms exclusive of those required for the use of the family. The house was not completely furnished. Mr. A. E. Whitaker appeared for the apElicant, and applied for an adjournment, as e was placed in an unfortunate position through the illness of Mr. Maugham, who was unable to be present. Constable Christie had reported that the house was not fully furnished, but this was being attended to and the report would lie much more favourable if the hotel was again visited. Mr. Whitaker further argued that two of the committee had only just been appointed, and they should be allowed time to consider the matter, and not be forced to decide hastily. Mr. E. Cooper said he appearedon behalf of Messrs. W. Baildon, Munro, and others, who objected to the granting of the license. Mr. Whitaker asked that any petition which Mr. Cooper had be produced. Mr. Cooper contended that this was not necessary. A petition signed by several residents, and praying that the license be not granted, was however then laid before the committee, and Mr. Cooper said he appeared for the petitioners, and also for the personal objectors. Mr. Whitaker claimed that his friend could not appear for the personal objectors, and read the clauses of the Act relating to the subject. He urged that due notice should have been given of any objections to the granting of the license. The Chairman (Mr. Taylor) said that objection could fairly be taken to the petitions which had been presented. Two or three of the signatures were the names of persons who could not write. Mr. Whitaker pointed out that the ages of the petitioners were not stated. Mr. Cooper would not contend that the petition was in legal form, but it was nevertheless due notice of the objections to the license being granted. The Chairman : But it is not in legal form. Mr. Cooper : I admit that. Mr. Whitaker: Then the petition is out; there is no petition before the committee.. After further discussion, the Chairman ruled that the petition was informal, and could not be received. Mr. Errington preferred that the meeting should be adjourned. He passed the house every day, but he had never once been inside the building, and he might «ay that before he knew he was likely to be appointed a commissioner ho signed a petition against the issue of a license to the house. (Hear, hear.) He wanted to see everything honest ana above board.

Mr. Macdermott did not think that an adjournment should be granted. The Chairman was favourable to an adjournment, aa the applicant was not ready. Mr. John Jenkins went on to address the meeting, but Mr. Whitaker contended that only the commissioners and counsel were entitled to speak. Mr. Thompson: I submit that that is not reasonable. We are as intelligent as Mr. Whitaker, and we have a perfect right to appeal against the adjournment. (Hear, hear.) A person in the audience remarked, pointing to the chairman : A man sits there who ought to be ashamed of himself. The Chairman : I call you to order, and if you say much more you'll have to go outside —perhaps I'll put you out myself. (Disorder.) Some confusion ensued at this stage,, several persons attempting to speak. Mr. Stoadman: lama resident of the Archhill district, and we did not come here to be dictated to by any person, either counsel or chairman. We are quite as intelligent as any man here. Mr. Steadman asked who was the gentleman who was making application for the license ? Mr. Whitaker: All this will be gone into at the proper time. Mr. Steadman (with some asperity): I'm not going to be bounced by you or anybody else. We're as good as you are. (Hear, hear, and disorder.) The Chairman : If you've come here to disturb the meeting the sooner you walk outside the better. Mr. Jenkins said he would certify to the genuineness of the signatures to the petition against the granting of the license. ' He strongly advised the Bench not to grant the adjournment, for the best of reasons. Mr. Whitaker objected, and the Chairman called Mr. Jenkins to order. Mr. Cooper again urged that sufficient grounds for an adjournment had not been shown. He believed that the applicant for the license was unknown in the district, and to his (Mr. Cooper's) mind, the object of the adjournment was in some way to embarrass the committee—{Mr. Whitaker : Not at all}— and it seemed to him that the applicant had been kept out of the way. The motion for adjournment was lost by 3 to 2.

Mr. Whitaker said that the committee had placed him in an unfortunate position, as he was now unable to go on. Mr. Cooper: Then I understand the application is abandoned. Mr. Whitaker : No; I make the application. Mr. Whitaker again objected to Mr. Cooper appearing without notice of the objection ; but the latter proceeded to argue at some length against the granting of the license. Mr. Whitaker did not consider it necessary to address the committee in support of the application, as he did not see that anything he would say would have any weight, seeing the way in which matters were going. When one came to a Court, he expected to get justice, and that everything brought forward by both parties would be carefully considered. He saw, however, amongst the Commissioners Mr. Macdermott, who at a meeting the other night had pledged himself absolutely not to grant this licence. No doubt the whole matter had been pre-judged, in spite of anything he (Mr. Whitaker) could

Mr. Macdermott objected to the remarks of Mr. Whitaker. He was quite able to form an opinion either before or after his election, aSid he had formed his opinion of this application as any judge or jury would on the evidence brought before them. The Chairman considered that the objections which had been urged against the granting of this license were very poor. The inhabitants were supporting a license further down the road, and were the present application acceded to the district would reap £25 benefit. (Oh, oh. and laughter.) It was very clear, however, that the license was not to be granted. Mr. Hodgkins thought the Chairman had acted with bad grace in giving the opinion that the application would be refused. He earnestly protested against granting the license. The question, " That the application be granted, was put and lost. # The chairman voted in favour of the application and the other members of the committee against it, and the Chairman then announced, amidst applause, that the issue of a license was refused. GRAFTON. The Licensing Committee of the Grafton district met on Saturday at the Resident Magistrate's Court. Messrs. R. W. Moody (chairman), Burton, Laver, and Patterson were present on the Bench, and Inspect or Broham represented the police. Queen's Hotel (Symonds - street and Kyber Pass Road. James Hawkins, licensee. This was an application for a renewal of the license, and the police offering no objection, the request was granted. The committee also granted permission to the licensee to extinguish his light at eleven o'clock, though Inspector Broham pointed out that there was another hotel opposite, and if this permission were given in one case it should be in the other, and there would then be no light at the junction of the streets.

KARANGAHAPE. On Saturday, at the Resident Magistrate's Court, the Licensing Committee of the Karangahape district held their annual meeting. The members present were: Messrs. Hirst (chairman). Service, Davies, and E. Wood. Inspector Broham was present on behalf of the police. Star HoTEL(Karangahape Road).—Patrick Brophy, licensee. An application for a renewal of the license was granted. King's Arms Hotel (Upper Pitt-street).— James Donovan, licensee. This was an application for a renewal of the license. The Chairman stated that when the committee visited the hotel they found the backyard in a dirty condition. They would insist upon this matter, as well as certain repairs, being attended to, and granted the application subject to this condition. . Newton Hotel (Karangahape Road). — Samuel Williams, licensee. The application for a renewal of the license was granted, the chairman remarking that the hotel had been found very clean when visited by the committee, but there was only one fire escape for 13 rooms. The licensee promised that better provision would be made. Edinburgh Castle Hotel (Symondsstreet and Newton Road). —This was an application from the Official Assignee for a transfer of the license to John Wood. The committee granted the application, at the same time cautioning the licensee as to Sunday trading. A request by Mr. S. Hesketh, on behalf of Mr. Wood, that permission be given the latter to extinguish the hotel light at eleven o'clock p.m. was acceded to. Queen's Hotel (Karangahape Road).— William Edward Glover, applicant. This was an application for the issue of a license to this hotel (closed some time since), and was supported by Mr. S. Hesketh. The police report stated that the house was dilapidated, and not properly furnished, and an additional hotel was not required in the district. Mr. Hesketh said the local option vote resulted in favour of an increase of licenses. Any repairs deemed necessary at the hotel would be made. The committee did not consider the hotel necessary, and they therefore refused the application. Wine Licenses. —An application by Mr. Humphreys on behalf of Gavin Wallace, for the issue of a New Zealand wine license, was refused, on the ground that the license was unnecessary. Mr. Humphreys made a similar application on behalf of S. H. Webb. Inspector Broham opposed the granting of such a license. The committee refused the application. [BY TELEGRAPH. -r-OWN qOBKESPONDENTS] Te Aroha, Saturday. The annual licensing meeting was held in the Court-house to-day, the whole of the committee being present. Renewals were granted to A. Downes, Club Hotel; A. A. Smith, Hot Springs Hotel; G. E. Bert, Palace Hotel; Mrs. A. Thomson, Family Hotel, all of Te Aroha; to T. S. Smardon, Waiorongomai Hotel; Frank Rose, Royal Hotel, Oxford; A. Heaney, Lichfield Hotel. A new license was granted to Martin Murphy for the Premier Hotel, Waiorongomai Two applications by P. Quinlan and J. Mace for new licenses at Waiorongomai were withdrawn. All the houses will close at ten o'clock. Paeroa, Saturday. t The Ohinemuri Licensing Bench met this day. The following new licenses were f ranted :—James Henry Walsh, Marototo lotel; John Kelly, Karangahake Hotel; John Hoey Moore. Paeroa Hotel. The applications of Henry Alley (Hikutaia) and James Hosie (Owharoa) were adjourned until Friday week.