LICENSING COMMITTEE MEETINGS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1163, 15 June 1894, Page 36

LICENSING COMMITTEE MEETINGS.

WELLINGTON. THREE HOUSES CLOSED. The first annual meeting of tho newlyelected Licensing Committee for the City of Wellington was held in the Magistrate s Court on the 6th inst. Mr J. C. Martin, S.M., presided, and there wero also present—The Rev H. Van Staveren, and Messrs If. B, Vogol, J. Smith, junr., E. W. Mills, J. Young, T. W. McKenzie, J B. Harcourt and F. do J. Clere. The body of the Court was crowded, and much interest appeared to be taken in the proceedings. APPLICATIONS FOK LICENSES. Thistle Inn, Frederick Stephen Cooper, licensee.—Mr Treadwell appeared for the Public Trustee, the owner of the property, Mr Skerrett for tho applicant. Tho police report stated that the building was in bad repair. Mr Skerrett said Mr Cooper had only just purchased the property, and had made arrangements for its complete renovation. Refurnishing was going on now. Sergeant-Major Ramsay, replying to the Chaiman, said there was no bath on the piemises, and no arrangements wero being made for extra accommodation. Metropolitan Hotel, Wm. Robert McKinstrey, applicant —Tho police report Btated that some repairs wero required to the building, which applicant, for <vhom Mr Skerrett appeared, said had been carried out. City Hotel, Jas. McCormack, applicant. —Mr Young appeared on his bohalf. RENEWALS. Wellington Hotel, Hy. Hare, licenseeInspector Pender said some repairs had been made to tho building since its inspection by the police. Provincial Hotel, Geo. Chandler, licensee. Mr Bolton, for the applicant, stated that some repairs which wero spoken of as being necessary had been made. The clerk to the Court stated that a letter referring to the hotel had been sent to tho Committee. The Chairman said they could not take notice of letters. Objections must bo made in proper form. Jubilee Hotel, William Ferguson, licensee.—The police report stated that the outbuildings were in bad repair. Mr %Y. B. Edwards, for the applicant, said the repairs were being effected in a most complete manner. The Chairman said a supplementary report had been sent in by a constable stating that on a certain Sunday & crowd collected outside the hotel and some disturbance took place inside. Mr JJdwards said the same thing would not ©ccur again. He called Mr Ferguson, who said his wife was merely hysterical on that occasion, and not drunk. She was not now residing at the hotel. The Chairman said the Committee were prepared to hear any ' evidence against particular hotels being reduced. Mr Edwards said the house had ' been licensed since 1857. Mr Hadfield, on behalf of the owners, said the work of repairing the outbuildings was in hand. Prom the owner's point of view it would "be extremely hard that tho license should "be lost on account of the conduct of tho licensee's wife. He called A. E. Rowden, . secretary to the Rhodes trustees, who said -the property was acquired about 1874. The work of repairing the outbuildings iad been begun. Olub Hotel, Henry nes, licensee — "Mr Skerrett, for the app cant, said certain small repairs had been effected. Ryland's Hotel, James Cattell, licensee, for whom Mr Edwards appeared.—The Chairman said there wore great complaints of late hours at the hotel and of gambling "being carried on there. Mr Edwards said the eomplaint was very general, and ho should content himself by giving a general denial to the charge. Inspector Pender said the complaints had been made by persons who had since refused to come forward and give evidence. Tho Chairman said he did not think complaints made in that manner would weigh with the Committee. Post Office Hotel, Edward Wilson, licensee.—lnspector Pender said he was satisfied certain repairs had been effected. Britannia Hotel, Benjamin Walker, licensee.—lnspector Pender said that during the past few months the manner in which the house was conducted had greatly improved. In fact, they were all improved now. (Laughter.) Duko of Edinburgh, Mrs Kate Isaacs, licensee, for whom Mr Bolton appeared. — Mr Bolton said certain repairs to the paper had been carried out. White Swan, Jeremiah O'Neil, licensee, who said he had made some repairs mentioned by the police as being necessary. Mr Edwards, on behalf of the owner, undertook to carry out any improvements required. . Cricketers' Arms, Alexander Smith, licensee. —The police report was that this house was at one time notorious for late hours and Sunday trading. It was also frequented by rough characters, but it had considerably improved of late. Mr Skerrett appeared for the applicant. Tramway Hotel, Charles Plimmer, applicant.—Mr Bolton said the application by Jeremiah Nash for a renewal had been withdrawn, and Mr Charles Plimmer, tho owner, who was carrying on the business under a permit, now applied for tho license. Shamrock Hotel, Mary Blackly, licensee. —The police report was favourable. Mr Skerrett applied for an extension until 11 p.m., as it was well conducted, and largely occupied by boarders, including members of Parliament. , Queen's Hotel, Edward 11. Buckendge, licensee.—lnspector Pender said tho applicant held licensees of two houses. Mr Skerrett replied that that was not quite correct. He was the freeholder of a hotel at Pahiatua, and in consequence of the default of his lessee had to step in and take out a permit. At present, however, he was not holding the license, nor was he applying for it. Barrett's Hotel, Mary Moynihan, licensee. —Mr Haselden appeared for the applicant, and said this was the oldest licensed house

in the city. Tho police report was favourable.

Panama Hotel, Moses McCarthy, licensee, | for whom Mr Bolton appeared.—inspector Pender said the applicant was not married, but tho Chairman said he did not think that could bo put forward as an objection. Army and Navy Hotel, Wm. Killery, licensee.—Tho police reported unfavourably as to the class of people frequenting tho house. Mr Skerrett said they must have houses for labouring men, &c, and it was moro credit to a man to conduct such a houso properly than a house frequented by gentlemen. Princess Hotel, Michaol Hodgins, liconsee. —A letter had been received by the clerk referring to tho conduct of this hotel, but tho Chairman said ho could not take any notice of it. City Buffet.—John Forbes Orr applied for a renewal. The police roport was that the house was as well conducted as any hotel in the Colony. Star Hotel.—Mary Duncan applied for a renewal. Tho police roport was that tho house had improved lately. Albert Hotel, James Briggs, licensee.— The police roport was generally good, but there was one conviction for Sunday trading, in August, 1893. Bank Hotel, Ernest E. Schofield, licensee. —IMr Bolton said Mr Schofield was his own freeholder, and his houso was a free one. The Chairman said there had been complaints of the character of persons frequenting this hotel, but there had lately been an improvement in that respect. Clyde Quay Hotel, Michael Higgins, for whom Mr Bolton appeared, applied for a renewal. The polico offered no objection. Mr Higgins said he had five or six permanentboarders. Mr Skerrett appeared for tho owners, and pointed out that tho hotel was well furnished, and was situated in tho centro of a very large district. It had five sitting-rooms and nine bedrooms, and had better accommodation than 25 other hotels in the city. Applications wero also made for renewals in tho following cases, the polico offering no objection: —Shepherds' Arms, Charles H. Gillespie licensee (for whom Mr Skerrett appeared) ; Waverloy, Walter G. O. Johnston ; Victoria Hotel, Robt. Buckeridgo (Mr Poynton appearing); Star and Garter, Kate Herbert (Mr Skerrett appearing); Cambridge Hotel, Alex. (Mr Skerrett appearing) ; Railway" Hotel, Jas. Dealy (Mr Treadwell appearing); Royal Hotel, Geo. Ross (Mr Skerrett appearing) ; National Hotel, Thomas White; Occidental Hotel, Elizabeth Moeller; Pier Hotel, James Condon (Mr Skerrett appearing) ; Empire Hotel, Hamilton Gilmer; Western Hotel, Henry John Walter; Oriental, Jano Ormsbee ; To Aro, Geo. Harden; Brunswick, Geo. Evans; New Zealander, John K. Hamilton (Mr Young appearing); Royal Oak, Samuel Gilmer; Nag's Head, Maurice Nathan ; (Mr Edwards appearing) ; Masonic, Rebecca Tabor (Mr Poynton appearing) ; Imperial, James H. Crawford; Grosvonor, Walter Charles Wilson ; Royal Tiger, Mark Blyth; Foresters' Arms, William Henry McLelland ; Albion, Mary Butler ; Princess Theatre, Thos. Kelly ; Prince of Wales, Alfred Greenwood (Mr Skerrett appearing) ; Caledonian Hotel, Wm. Cloggie; Newtown, Wm. Henry Back; Central Hotol, Benjamin Henry Price. ELEVEN O'CLOCK LICENSES. When the Club Hotel application was before the Committee, Mr Skerrett said the house was largely used by travellers from country districts, and he submitted a great injustice would be done to the travelling public if tho house had to bo closed at 10 p.m., seeing that frequently the train did not arrive in Wellington until afte# 10 o'clock. He therefore app'ied for an extension until 11 p.m. Mr Bolton made a similar application on behalf of the Provincial Hotel,' which ho said was close to tho Parliamentary Buildings, and some of tho members lived there during the session. Mr Edwards applied for an extension till 11 o'clock for the Jubilee Hotel. Mr Skerrett applied for an extension till 11 o'clock for tho Wellington Hotel, the Thistle Inn and tho Shamrock Hotel. Similar applications were made in all the other cases which came before the Committee. TRANSFERS. Applications were made for the following transfers : —Metropolitan Hotel, from John Nankivell to Wm. R. McKinstrey; Thistle Inn, from John Reynolds, to Fredk. S. Cooper ; City Hotel, from Sarah Tilsley, to James McCormack. THE QUALITY OF DRINK SOLD. Inspector Pender informed the Committee that 65 samples of spirits had been analysed, and in each case they had been found to bo free from adulteration with the exception of two, in which there was too much water. The Chairman: Nothing more than water ? Inspector Pender: No. (Laughter.) The Chairman said that was very gratifying. Inspector Pender further stated that a roport had been made that a bad kind of spirits was coming into the market, but samples were obtained from the Customs and were found to be all right. Since the Licensing Committee election tho conduct of the houses had very much improved. Of course, ho himself had said nothing to the Committeo about reduction. The Chairman : Of course not. I think you wero quite right in not doing so. • THE PRINCIPLE OP REDUCTION. Mr Skerrett then, on behalf of several ownors, addressed the Committee upon the f principle that ought to govern them in I making a reduction. He submitted that I the reduction ought to be of tho most | limited character, and pointed out that in ! 1891 there was a population in Wellington I of 32,320 persons and 54 hotels —one to every I 592 of the population. In Christchurch in ' 1892 there was a population of 16,223, hotels 47, allowing 345 people to each hotel. Iu Auckland there were 28,000 for

59 hotels, or 404 persons to each; and at Dunedin 22,376 persons, and 75 hotels, giving 298 persons to each. In spite of the rather extreme reductions made in each of those places it would be found, he ventured to bay, that the number of the population per house in Wellington was greater than in either Christchurch or Dunedin. 'Ho submitted that the hotel accommodation in Wellington was no more than was sufficient for its requirements, if only proper accommodation was insisted on. The basis on which the Committee must reduce was provided by section 20 of tho Act, which no doubt tho Committeo had considered already. The Chairman said the Committee had considered absolutely nothing. They knew they had a very unpleasant duty to perform, and they purposely came into Court without having discussed anything, so that they might be perfectly unbiassed. Mr Skerrett said he could not help feeling extremely gratified that the Committee wero not pursuing a course of conduct which had distinguished some committees. Ho submitted that the Committeo were bound to first reduco those houses which had tho least accommodation for tho public, and that it would not be fair to make tho reduction by wards, as in Cook Ward there wero seven hotels to 1951 houses, and in To Aro Ward twelve hotels to 2028 houses. The object of every reasonable person must bo to see that the hotels wero conducted properly, and that the public got reasonable accommodation. If the Committee now exercised their full powers of reduction he submitted that they would entirely lose the control of tho remainder for tho next three years, and it would be better to reduce one hotel, leaving the power of further reduction to remain in abeyance, to be exercised in the event of misconduct or anything else during tho remainder of their term of office.

The Chairman: If a man once gets a license, is he not entitled to a renewal except for misconduct ? If the Committee are going to reduce they must reduco now. Mr Skerrett said yes, that was so. The Chairman asked Mr Skerrett whether he could refer him to any section of the Act which empowered a committee to order a licensee to build or increase his accommodation—not in tho case of a new license, but where a man already held a license ? There was no express power that he knew of. Mr Skerrett said section 76 seemed to contemplate giving the Committee such a power. Mr W. B. Edwards also addressod the Committeo, remarking that if there was a question of closing one or two houses, both of which had sufficient accommodation, the mere fact that one had a room more or less than the other should not make any difference. There must apparently be one houso closed, but beyond that point tho matter was entirely in the discretion of the Committee. That being so, he submitted that it was tho business of the Committee, before they took any licensee away, to consider whether any public good would bo derived from doing so. Mr Treadwell quoted section 81 of tho old Act and tho second section of section 12 of the new Act, which implied a power in the hands of tho Committee of granting licenses conditionally on improvements being effected. The Chairman said the section merely required that tho hotel bo kept up to tho required standard, but was not this the standard required by the Act, namely, at least six rooms besides those required for the family ? The difficulty was this -. Take tho of the Empire Hotol. This was an excellently conducted hotel, where everything that people could want was provided, but it was an old building. Supposing they told Mr Gilmer that ho must build another hotel, in brick or stone, it would cost him £2OOO or £3OOO at the very least, and he would only be certain of a license for two more years. Another committee might come into office and take away his license, and he would therefore have to make £2OOO or £3OOO profit in two years. The Committee then (3.20 p.m.) retired for consultation.

DECISION OF THE COMMITTEE. When they returned at 4.40 p.m., the Chairman said the Committee had decided to refuse licenses to the Provincial, Jubilee and Ryland's Hotels, and that all other licenses would be granted for 11 p.m. He was desired by the Committee to draw the attention of hotelkeepers to the fact mentioned by tho Wellington Suburbs Committee, that at any quarterly meeting the Committee could cancel the license of any hotelkeeper who had not conducted his business in a proper manner. He also wished to point out to tho hotelkeepers that it was not necessaiy a conviction should be obtained in the Magistrate's Court before a license was cancelled, and that the Committee could act in coming to a decision on evidence which° was not strictly legal. He wished hotelkeepers to understand clearly that no warning would be given. If they did not conduct their businesses properly the Committee would, without the slightest hesitation, cancel their licenses. Tho police reports showed that since the Committee had been elected hotelkeepers had shown a marked improvement; that showed the liquor traffic could be controlled and tho remedy lay in the hands of tho hotelkeepers themselves. If the same good condition of affairs did not continuo the Committee would, without tho slightest warning, cancel the licenses of the offenders at tho next quarterly meeting. WELLINGTON SUBURBS. The first meeting of the Suburban Licensing Committee, elected under the Alcoholic Liquors Sales Control Act, was held in tho Courthouse, Lower Hutt, at noon on the Ist. Present—Mr J. C. Martin, S.M. (in the chair), Messrs Burridge, Bulkley, Holmes, C. Cathie, King, Cook and Miss Cowleg,

The Committee decided that all the applications should be heard before they announced their decision on any one of them. NEW APPLICATIONS. Bernard Larkin, for whom Mr Wilford appeared, applied for a license for the Marine Retreat Hotel, Pet one. The Clerk said the report of the police was favourable, and no objections had been filed. The Chairman: Ido not see any certificate from myself or any other Magistrate to the fitness of the applicant. Mr Larkin said he got the certificate when he was granted the transfer, but had obtained no fresh certificate since then. The Chairman said a fresh certificate should have been procured, but as Inspector Pender said the police saw no reason to alter the character previously given to Mr Larkin, Ilis Worship said ho would givo his certificate again. John Mackintosh applied for a license for the Rainbow Hotel, Kaiwarra. Mr Bolton appeared for the applicant. No objections were lodged and the report was satisfactory, except that somo slight repairs were required. Mr Skerrett, who appeared for the freeholder (Mr Corlesse), gaid that on his behalf he would undertake to have the repairs made. Daniol Gal la way, for whom Mr Bolton appeared, applied for a license for the Railway Hotel, Johnsonville. The "police report stated that the stables were out of repair. Mr Bcere, who appeared for the owners, undertook to have the necessary repairs effected if it was held that stabling was required. Gerard Boedinghaus applied for a license for the Island Bay Hotel. Mr Skerrett appeared for the applicant. There were no objections, and the report of the police was favourable. Archibald Alexander Gray, for whom Mr Wilford appeared, applied for a license for the Railway Hotel, Lower Hutt. There were no objections, and Mr Wilford said Mr J. D. Pinker ton, the owner, would do some repairs which were mentioned aa being necessary. RENEWALS. George Nicholas applied for a renewal for the Family Hotel, Lower Hutt. Mr Wilford appeared for the applicant, and stated that Messrs Casey and Hayes, the owners, were willing to carry out certain repairs. There were no objections, and the report was favourable. Patrick Casey applied for a renewal of the license of the Central Hotel, Lower Hutt. The report was favourable, and Mr Skerrett, on behalf of the owners, undertook to supply conveniences. Thomas Henry Wrigley applied for a renewal of the Central Hotel, Petone. Mr Wilford appeared for the applicant. The report was favourable, and there was only one complaint, which Inspector Pender said he had found on investigation to be groundless. Applications for renewals were received from Jas. Hawke Jackson, Empire Hotel, Petone (Mr Wilford appearing) ; Thos. Oxenham, Victoria Hotel, Petone; Mary Ann Clapham, Ngahauranga Inn (Mr Wilford appearing). The report was favourable in each case, and there were no objections.

Geo. Waddington applied for renewal of the White Horse Hotel, Ngahauranga. There were no objections filed, but the police report stated that some of the rooms required repapering. It was, however, proved by the applicant that this had since been done.

Susan Manson, Club Hotel, Kaiwarra (Mr Wilford appearing) ; Frank John Preston, Kilbirnie Hotel ; and George William Prictor, Esplanade Hotel, Onslow Borough, (Mr Wilford appearing) applied for renewals. In each case the report was favourable and there were no objections. William H. Saunders applied for a renewal of Saunders* Hotel, Johnsonville. Mr Wilford appeared for the applicant. The report was favourable and there were no objections. InsiDector Pender said that since the police inspected this house, Constable O'Farrell had reported to him that a swagman named Brown had told him that he had applied at the hotel for a bed and had been refused by the licensee and his wife,although ho (Brown) had money to pay his expenses. The man Brown, who was in Court, informed the Committeo that ho was not a resident in the district. The Chairman said, in that case, his only remedy was to lay an information against the licensee, but as he had not filed any objection to the license being granted, the Committee had no right to listen to his complaint. Inspector Pender said he thought the police might take the matter up. Andrew H. Bennie applied for a renewal of the Porirua Hotel. Mr Besre appeared for the owner and the applicant. The report was favourable, and there were no objections. William Robert McKinstrcy applied for a permanent transfer of the Railway Hotel, Johnsonville, from himself to Daniel Gallaway. Inspector Pender said there was no objection on the part of the police.

JUDGMENT OF THE COMMITTEE. The Court was then cleared. When the Committee resumed the Chairman said they had decided to grant all licenses for which application had been made, but there were one or two matters that required attention. Messrs Mackintosh, Gray and Nicholas and Mrs Manson would have to provide proper convenience within seven days, and Mr Gallaway would have to provide a proper eight-stall stable within 14 days. With regard to Saunders' hotel, the Committee had been very doubtful aa to whether they should grant a renewal. In the first place certain members of the Committee had had occasion to visit the hotel; it was an old ramshackle place, badly constructed, and there did not appear to be any great desire on the part of the licensee to entertain travellers when they went there, The Committee, however, had

1 decided to grant the license, and see if there was any improvement. The stables also wanted looking after. He had been I asked by the Committeo to point

out that at any quarterly meeting they had power, if they were satisfied* hotelkeepers were not obeying the law, to cancel any license. In any case they did not iLtend to givo any further warning, and he was also asked to draw the attention of hotelkeepers to the fact that persons arriving by late trains were now able to get a drink although it was after closing hours. That must bo stopped, and if not, the licenso would be cancelled. The Committee did not want to do anything unfair, but they would have the law obeyed. WAIRARAPA. The Wairarapa Licensing Committee, which met at Carterton, adjourned the applications for renewals of licenses for the Taueru Hotel, Club Hotel, Feathcrston ; and White Hart Hotel, Carterton. Renewals were granted to all the hotels at Grey town, the Club and Martinborough Hotels at Martinborough; the Blairgowrie Junction Hotel; the Royal Oak and the Marquis of Normanby, Carterton ; the Gladstone and Taratahi Hotels ; Royal and Empire Hotels at Feathorston; and the Tauherenikau and Morrison's Bush Hotels. The Committee adjourned the Taueru Hotel application on account of a complaint made to the police. At any rate the post office could not in future bo allowed to be stationed at the hotel. In regard to the White Hart Hotel, at Carterton, the Committee wished to bo satisfied in regard to the re-furnishing of it by the new proprietor. Plans were ordered to bo submitted for the Club Hotel at Featherston in a week's time, but meanwhile a temporary licenso was granted. Instruction was given by the Chairman to the proprietors generally in regard to fire escapes, keeping their lights burning outside, and the observance of the Act in respect to Sunday trading, selling after hours, &c. A wholesale license was granted to W. Moriarity, but an application made by Davies and Harrison for a bottle license was refused. RANGITiKEI. At the meeting of the Raugitikei Licensing Committee at Marton, yesterday, all the applications were granted. The Stipendiary Magistrate, Mr Brabant, stated that though the police reports were good, yet various complaints had been made to members of the Committee about breaches of the Act on the part of licensees, and warned these that such reports would be taken into consideration. Ho gave this as a warning so that holders of licenses would know what to expect from the Committee in future. He said the following resolution had been passed by the Committee :—" That the attention of all holders of licenses be drawn to the fact that though the police report is generally favourable, yet complaints have been made by the public to some of the Committee as to sunday trading, liquor not being of good quality, keeping open after hours, and in some instances allowing unlawful games, and that as convictions in future will bo recorded against the house and not so much the person, the Committeo feel that they are giving fair notice that they will expect licensees to conform strictly to the Act/'

TWELVE HOTELS CLOSED IN CHRISTCHURCH Curistchurch, June 5.

At an adjourned meeting of the Licensing Committee for the Christchurch district to-day, twelve applicants for renewals were notified that the Committee intended refusing their licenses. The hotels concerned were:—Golden Fleece, Garrick, Junction, Britannia, Victorian, British, Caversham, White Horse, Albion, Tattersail's, Albert and Scotch Stores. The Committee unanimously decided that all the hotels in the district must close at ten o'clock, and warned licensees that this would be strictly enforced. At a meeting of the Ashley Licensing Committeo to-day all the existing publicans' and accommodation licenses were renewed. . The application for a license at Cheviot was refused. The Chairman said to save further trouble that the Committee had decided not to grant any license for Cheviot. Auckland, June 4. The City Committee renewed all hotel licenses for 10 o'clock. The Court was crowded, those pretent including ministers and temperance workers, anticipating applications for the extension of hours, but no such application was made. Napier, June 1. The Hawke's Bay Licensing Committee recommended that there should be stricter supervision made in unlicensed districts; that measures should bo taken to advertise where bad liquor is sold, and that private billiard-rooms be suppressed so far as late hours are concerned. Gisborne, June 1. The Licensing Committee for Waiapu met to-day. , Licenses were granted to all existing houses, the police report being that they were all well conducted. Application for an extension from 10 to 11 p.m. of town licenses as heretofore* on the grounds of public convenience, was refused, the majority of the Committee voting against the application. Hastings, Junel. The Licencing Commissioners for Hawke'a , Bay met to-day, Mr Turnbull in the chair. Twenty licenses were applied for, and were all granted. Mr D. McLeod proposed, and Mr Thornton seconded, the following resolutions, which were carried:—l. " That thiß Committee urges on the Government the necessity for more stringent supervision for the suppression of the illegal traffic in

liquor now being carried on in the Moawhango district." 2. "That better facilities are required for obtaining samples of liquor for analysis, it being thought advisable that any member of the Committee should have the power of doing so. 3. "That the Act be so amended as to include billiard-rooms unattached to hotels, many of which are at present kept open all hours of tho night for gambling and other improper purposes/' Several members said it was within their knowledgo that cartloads of spirits and other liquors were continually on the road for Moawhango, and that it was retailed at prices ranging from 10s to 20s a bottle, and at times oven hi "her prices than that were obtained. It perfectly well known that the greater part of it was disposed of to the Natives. Napier, June 4. The Napier Licensing Committee to-day granted all applications for renewals with one exception, this being a case which was postponed for a month to enable a report to be made as to the condition of tho house. The police report was favourable in each case. Danevirke, Juno 6. Tho Waipawa Licensing Committee met to-day. All the applications for renewals of licenses and transfers were granted, the police reporting favourably. Mr W. C. Smith, on behalf of the Committee, urged on publicans that they should keep their houses so as to give satisfaction to the public and the Committee, and pointed out that at tho poll there was a large majority for reduction. The Committee refused to grant any 11 o'clock licenses, making the closing hour 10 o'clock all over the district. It was resolved that no conditional licenses be granted during the ensuing y ear - Wanganui, June 1. At the annual meeting of the Licensing Committee to-day, applications were made, in most cases, for extension of time till 11 p.m., but the Committee only granted an extra quarter of an hour (10.15), in order to suit those arriving by the late train. Christchurch, June 4. At tho licensing meeting to-day, great interest was manifested in the proceedings, the Ccurt being filled to overflowing. All the transfers applied for were granted. A new application was made for a license for the Sydenham Hotel, and consideration was held over. Fifty-six applications were made for renewals of licenses, when the Chairman announced that an adjournment would be made until to-morrow. At the meeting of the Kaiapoi Licensing Committee to-dxty, ten applications for licenses were granted and seven were adjourned. The Committee have decided to close four houses. Timaru, June 1. The Timaru Licensing Committee granted all renewals till 11 o'clock p.m. An objection was made against Moore, of the Empire Hotel, as of " bad fame and character," the objection being based on the evidence in a case lately before the restrict Court. Counsel argued that, oven assuming the applicant had told falsehoods, this did not affect his fame and Character as a hotelkeeper. The renewal was granted on condition that a transfer -jyas effected before the next quarterly meeting. oamaru, Juno 1. The Licensing Committee to-day refused two hotel licenses, one in Oamaru and the other at Enfield. A number were granted, and nine adjourned for consideration. Three more refusals is tho maximum. One bottle license was refused. Dunedin, June 4. The Police Court, where the Licensing Committee sat, was crowded to excess today. _ Some time was spent over the nrst case, an application for the only house at Mornington. This was adjourned till the 12th. It was then announced that in 42 cases in which notiee had been given application would bo opposed, and an adjournment would be made till the 12th. In 45 cases applications were granted, but only for 10 o'clock, and 16 of these intend applying for an extension to 11 o'clock. Eight applications for bottle licenses were adjourned. Dunedin, June 5. The Port Chalmers Licensing Committee granted all the applications save four, which were postponed till the 14th inst. A license was refused for the Sunnydale Arms Hotel. Dunedin, June o. The Caversham Committee granted five publicans' licenses, with hours up to 10 o'clock. Three others were adjourned till the 20th. These are the Caversham (Porter's), Edinburgh Castle (Bellamy's) and Commercial (Muir's). Tho only bottle license in the district was granted. Invercabgill, June 4. At the licensing meeting the Committee reduced to the full extent allowed. Licenses were refused to the Prince of Wales, Golden Fleece, Strathern, Stag's Head, Union, Shackle's, and Supremo Court. The hour of closing is not yet fixed, but is practically certain to be 10 o'clock. Later. While it was fully understood that the InvercargUl Licensing Committee would refuse seven licenses, considerable surprise is shown, even among temperance people, at the selection which has been made. The Prince of Wales Hotel, one of those closed, is the commercial house of the town, and accommodates 40 lodgers, while some of the houses retained have very limited room. The Committee announced that they would hear nothing for or against any of the applications, but the solicitors managed to get enough said at the adjourned meeting to induce the Committee to adjourn the whole proceedings till Thursday, so that seven licenses are now in suspense.