LICENSING CORRT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 348, 5 June 1877, Page 2

LICENSING CORRT.

The Quarterly Licensing Court was held this morning, the following gentlemen being on the Bench :—T. W. Parker, Esq., R.M., (chairman), and John Reid, James Udall, John Borten, Esq3., J.P.'s. COUNTRY LICENSES. RENEWALS. The following applications for renewals of hotel licenses in the country districts were granted : —William Fraser, Peebles Hotel, Peebles ; Mary Fricker, Awamoko Hotel, Awamoko; John Johnson, Bridge Hotel, Waitaki; John Peattie, Papakaio Hotel, Papakaio ; Henry Schluter, Boundary Creek Hotel, Boundary Creek; Earnest Diehl, Royal Hotel, Herbert; Robt. Watson, Imperial Hotel, Herbert ; George Brown, Weston Hotel, Weston ; James Craig, Terminus Hotel, Ngapara ; Wm. Manning, Royal Hotel, KakanuiNorth ; WilliarnM'Kay, Medora Hotel, Reidston ; Henry Stock, Devonshire Hotel, Kakanui North.—ln the case of John Johnson, of the Bridge Hotel, Waitaki, the Chairman spoke strongly with reference to this hotel, saying that the liquor sold was of a wretched nature, being sufficient to drive a man mad, while the charges were exorbitant. In granting the renewal the Chairman said that the remarks he had made must be taken as a warning.—With reference to the application of Robert Watson, of the Imperial Hotel, Herbert, the Chairman said that the outhouse accommodation had fallen off greatly, and was not what ib should be. While not withholding the licenses, the Bench wished it to be understood that the . evils complained of must be remedied, otherwise they would have to take severe ..measures and refuse the license. In reference to the application of Earnest D.'ehl of the Royal Hotel, Herbert, the Chairman pointed out that the ont-house accommodation in connection with the hotel was still in a wretched state, notwithstanding that complaints had previously been made. If this state of things were allowed to continue the only alternative for the Bench to adopt would be to refuse in future to grant a renewal of the license. The following renewals of bottle licenses : were granted : —Dugald Shaw, Papakaio ; < James Paterson, Herbert; George Adams, ; Kakanui North; James Beattie, Reidv

ston. With regard to James BcaS ' application, it was ascertained that itß been received four days after the prfl ' time. Mr. O'Meagher stated tliafl i applicant had been absent from jfl j liunting cattle, and was unable to reß '"< in time to send in his application. fl !i Chairman, in announcing the decisuß < the Bench to grant the applicaß ■ pointed out the necessity for persoiß 1 send in their applications in proper fl '< in order that they might be placed oifl i list, and the public afforded an opfl tunity of knowing who were applyiiijfl lioenses. Although the Bench ufl grant the application, it must notfl looked upon as a precedent. H TRANSFERS. 11 The following transfers of licenses \fl granted, the renewals of the licenses tfl also granted :—Maheno Hotel, Malifl from Margaret Balfour to Alexaifl Balfour ; Railway • Hotel, Waanakafl from the trustees in the bankrupt csfl of John George to James Wattß Maerewhenua Hotel, Macrewhenua, ffi Lachlan Grant to Roderick M'Konß In the last case the hotel had only a lifl license, and Roderick M'Kcnzio applfl for a publican's and night license. AH some consideration, the Chairman ;fl the Bench were of opinion that it was fl desirable to grant a night license, afl would only lead to similar applicatifl from the other country hotel-keepers. B general publican's license was granted, NEW LICENSES. James Stuart Campbell applied for publican's license for the Ngapara Ri way Hotel at Ngapara. Mr. O'Meagher appeared for the apj cant, and said that he at present held bush license. After some discussion I applicant was placed in the box, and t amined as to the accommodation at ti house, more especially with regard stabling. After some consideration, the Chairm: said that, in order to have a full rcpn laid before them as to the accommodate of the house, the Bench had decided to t journ the consideration of the matt until the 19th inst., at 10 o'clock. The application of James Little for license for the Terminus Hotel, Duntroo was granted, the additions suggested the last sitting of the Court having bci effected. TOWN LICENSES. RENEWALS. The following applications for renewa of hotel licenses in Oainaru were granted Philip Holmes Blakesley, Northct Hotel ; John Dooley, Shamrock Hotel Mathew Grant, Alliance HoiOi'; Joh Haggie, White Hart Hotel; Edwiu Hudson, Empire Hotel ; Gustavns I Longford, Star and Garter Hotel ; Joli M'Kay, Junction Hotel; William Mail land, Commercial Hotel ; James Marl ham, Queen's Hotel; Benjamin Peirj Swan Hotel ; Thomas Procter, Roy; Hotel. The following renewals of bottle license were also granted : —Joseph Booth, W. H Dansey, A. J. S. Headland, John Ireland W. Jamieson, James Scott, J. J. Speiice and James White. TRANSFERS. The license for the Imperial Hotel, held by Roderick M'Kenzie, was trans' ferred to George Newey, and a renewal granted. The bottle license held by the trustees in the bankrupt estate of Thomas Hillikct was transferred to Robert Aitken, and a renewal of the license granted. NEW LICENSES. James Familton applied for a bott]o license for his store in Thames-street, The license was refused on the ground that another bottle license was not required in that part of the town. Hugo Lippert also applied for a bottle license for his store in Thames-street, This license was also refused.

Stewart Richmond .applied for a license for the Critei'ion Hotel in Ribble-street, Mr. O'Meagher appeared on behalf of the applicant, and said that there was grp»t necessity for increased hotel accommodar tion in the town, owing to the great number of visitors brought into Oamaru by the four railways having their termini here. There was also another reason why there should be additional hotel accommodation—the Corporation having passed bye-laws which would have the effect of closing many of the public boarding l houses. Although the house was not likely to be a high-class hotel, it would be able to afford a good bed, such as was required by the floating population which was continually passing through Oamaru. He himself knew for a fact that there was the greatest necessity for hotel accommodation, visitors experiencing the greatest difficulty in finding accommodation. If they were to wait until a superior class of hotels were erected, they would never have proper accommodation. The Chairman said that if they were to grant licenses to inferior houses, the town would never obtain high-class hotels. Mr. O'Meagher agreed with the Bench that there was no town where there ex.isted a greater necessity for superior hotels, but pointed out that in other places there were a number of what might be termed inferior hotels, which took in boarders that might be considered good enough for the high-class hotels. After consultation, the Chairman said that although the Court waß of opinion that additional hotel accommodation was required, they were of opinion that the class of houses required were hotels of a superior nature. The house for which the license was asked was not calculated to afford a proper amount of accommodation. On that ground the Bench would refuse the license, and not through any consideration of a personal nature with regard to the applicant. The Court then adjourned,