OAKURA LICENSING MEETING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9104, 12 July 1888, Page 6

OAKURA LICENSING MEETING.

The adjourned meeting of the Omata ' Licensing Committee met here on the 22nd June. Present: Messrs. G. W. Gane, T. Corkill, J. Jury, and G. Adlum (chairman). Mr. Govett, a legal adviser, represented an objector. Mr. Ellis assisted Mr. R. Julian, the applicant. The adjournment was for the purpose of considering the removal, of the license at Omata to Oakum. Constable Sekully represented the police. Others were in the room as spectators, showing that - interest was taken in the matter. Mr. Govett stated' that Inspector Pardy had called upon him, saying any house must be completed before a license could be ranted. A letter was read from Mr. Samuel's and a telegram from the Minister of Justice. Plans of the proposed new ' house were laid before the committee, showin? fire escapes at each upstair room. Mr. Govett quoted' McLeod v Hay and others from the New Zealand reports. Mr. Pardington, the objector, resided'four miles away, whereas nearly all the adult residents in-Oakura signed a petition to the committee : requesting . that - a- .certificate should be granted to enable a license to be obtained in respect of a house situated at Oakura within the said district for which a license is applied for by . Mr. Julian. Mr. Govett and Mr. Ellis Spoke in the highest praise of Mr. John Searle, the present proprietor of the Oakura hotel. Mr. Govett asked for 'Mr. Julian to be examined on oath, which was granted. Mr. Julian, on oath, said : lam applying to get the license removed from Omata to Oakura. I lodged the application about the 14th May. I cannot say whether the certificate of householders was lodged at the time of the application. I, had no intention of building at the time of the fire. lam applying for the removal for another perso"n. I shall keep it open myself, and then Mr. Searle i may take it over. I was asked by several j persons to apply. Mr. Govett wished to point out that Mr. Julian had abandoned all idea of applying before /the 21 days. Both Messrs. Govett and Ellis admitted that the clerk had not properly advertised the meeting according to the Act. Mr. Julian said he intended to follow the license, and had omitted to put any notice on* the door where he intended to apply to remove to. He was not aware if it had been done. Mr. J. B.Lawson (clerk), on oath, said : The application was lodged on the 14th May. On the 25th May the householder's certificate was lodged. On the Ist June the licensing committee sat. He advertised the v meeting about ' the 18th May. The annual meeting was not' advertised. It should have been advertised. He did not cause any notice to be posted up according to section 41 of the Licensing Act at any ; house or court-house. * Mr. Govett pointed out section 97, speaking on it, and 56 ; also, that a committee had exceeded their duty by granting a license for a house when only the foundation was laid. He also said if the committee granted a license, a mandamus would be served on each member, but the cost would have to be borne by those who actually voted for it. His advice was that any member who was inclined to go to law, and take the consequence, could vote for it; if any did not, they could vote against it. After Mr. Govett sat down, Mr. Ellis replied. Then the chairman asked the public to retire. After the committee had discussed the matter, the meeting resumed, when Mr. Corkill proposed, Mr. Gane seconded, "That the removal of the Omata license to Oakura be granted." Carried unanimously. Resolved, on the motion of Mr. Gane, "That the renewal be granted at £25 per annum, when sundry things had been complied with." The meeting terminated.—[Rahotu Correspondent.]