WINE AND BEER LICENSES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 250, 8 October 1862, Page 5

WINE AND BEER LICENSES

A licensing meeting for considering applications in the twelfth list, was held yesterday forenoon, in the office of the Provincial Secretary. There were present his Honor the Superintendent (presiding), and Messrs Dick, Kilgour, M'Glashan* and Reynolds.

The deferred applications were first dealt with,

J. H. Noding, Waipori Accommodation House. — Bush License.—His Honor said tbat he was indisposed to grant this license. The house had given the Government a good d»al of trouble, it had ne^er been properly conducted, and he doubted whether it was needed. Postponed to the next meeting.

John Prosser Clyde Hotel, Hamplen, Moeraki.— Bush License.—Postponed by consent, the house not being fiuished.

J. H. Noding, Albion Hotel, Great King street. Mr Cook applied for a wine and beer license. Mr Weldon said the house had been very respectably conducted, but the license had Ifipsed, consequent upon an oversight in paying in the money. Mr Co«k stated that the trustees were anxious to have the licence at once. They were trying to sell the property, and there would be a power of refusing to transfer the license if they should, wbich he was sure they would not sell to any one who was not likely to conduct the business properly. Granted. Robert Henderson, Octagon Hotal, Princes street Mr Cook applied for this license, which was granted, on condition that there was to be no public bar. S. Joucs, Princess Theatre Refreshment RoomsMr Howorth, sen., applied for this license. All that was desired was to sell beer and wine in the refreshment room, where coffee kc, was now sold. Mr Weldon said that latterly he had been impressed with the conviction that; this room adjoining the t leatre, had not been conducted as well as it should have been A number ot disreputable women often conducted themselves 60 that •no respectable person cou ]d stop there. In several instances, gentlemen bad complained to him abont the insults to which they had been subjected, without provocation ; and when he spoketo the manager about the women assembling, the reply was tbat according to the English law he had no right to assume any person to be disreputable. His Honor said ho thought it extremely disgraceful that the police should have to make such a repo.-t to the Government. He was disposed to take a very strong view of such a want of management, and not to grant the license.

Tbe Manager ot the room said that his reply to Mr VV eldon was thafc according to the English law, he had no right to know that any one was a disreputable person, but. that if Mr Weldon would show him whom to turn out, he would turn them out. He did not wish to be opon to actions for interfering with people. Mr Howorth said that the matter had not been reported to Mr Jones, who was ill. His Honor asked whether the police thought, that upon Mr Jones's promise not to allow these persons to congregate in the room, the license should be granted. Mr Weldon said he should like to see Mr Jones in attendance before anything was done. He knew that Mr Jones iiad been ill, and he believed that he would have tried to stop the thing, if the recent complaints bad been made to bim.

The application was postponed to the next usual meeting day, His Honor remarking that it really involved a principle which required calm consideration before action.

Felix de Lascazas, Jockey Club Saloon, Rattraystreet. Mr South said that there was a memorial, the signatures to wliich showed at a glance the respectability of the applicant and his house. The license was wanted for a large and comfortable room in wbicb there were two billiard tables, and wbich was wellknown to very many gentlemen as the best of its class in Dunedin. There was no intention to conduct the room other than as a refreshment room.

Granted. The following wero new applications:— Robert Oxley, Waikouaiti. Rush licenseGranted.

Thomas Jones, Golden Age Hotel, Stafford-street. Mr Weldon said that this was a new an-l good house of its kind. His Honor: ls tbere a demand for such a house ] Mr Weldon could not say tbere was at present, but the house was not in an undesirable place. It was midday between tbe Aldinga and Martin's Hotel. His Honor said that if a license was to be granted in every case where the applicant was respectable, and the fittings of the house were good, the Executive would be getting into a scrape by-and-by. Every second house would be licensed. Mr Weldon thought, it would become a matter of selection hereafter. This house certainly offered be'ter accommodation than some already licensed. —Granted.

Thomas North, Otago Dining-rooms, Primes street. Mr Weldon said that" the upper part of this house consisted of one room, in which there were 18 beds, and out of which there were five rooms about 4 feet hy7 feet each, with two beds. Mr North said that the large room was 33 feet by 25 feet His Honor thought they would not be justified in granting the license until the house was in a better state.

Thomas Japgo. London Hotel, Sandspit, Waikouaiti.- Postponed.

Charles Robertson, Arcade Restaurant. Mr Maddock applied for this license. His Honor paid be was opposed, as a general principle, to granting licenses to houses in so narrow a thoroughfare. Mr Weldon stated fat the. place was a nice cafe, frequented by some of the best people in Dunedin. Mr M'Cubbin, the previous occupier, made a bar on the ground floor, which the police objected to, as likely to cause a good deal of drunkenness, seeing the characters who frequented the Arcade. The license was granted, but no public bar to be kept. One bottle license was renewed, and six new ones were granted.

Hubert's Cafe, Princes-street.—Mr Weldon said that this license was conditionally granted at the last meeting. At first the place was opened as a cafe ; then a wine and beer license was applied for, and the police did not oppose ; but since then what was in every respect an open bar had been fitted in the shop. There were many reasons why tbe police objected to this. A woman could not manage such a place properly. The premises were not suited for the trade. It was altogether undesirable that there should be a drinking bar in that locality. Mr Maddock said that if deprived of the bar in the shop, Madame Hubert would have to close the establishment. wis Honor She was aware what would be the result when she firstapplied. Mr Maddock thought there were no such conditions then. Mr Weldon said that the conditions had always existed, but Madame Hubert, with her womanly ways, had all along presumed, ahd had not carried them out.

Mr Maddock said that the removal of the bar to upstairs would destroy tho counter luncheon business and ruin the place.

His Honor: And if it remains, the place is a public house. How can it be prevented 1 Mr Reynold* knew that in the day time the place was well conducted. He lunched there regularly and saw many gentlemen taking a sandwich and a glass of ale.

Mr Kilgour thought that only proved that the place was a bar to all intents and purposes. Mr Weldon quite admitted that the best class of people in Dunedin frequented the place for luncheon and other refreshments but there it stood open for any one to go in and drink. Mr Kilgour said thafc the thing had been refused to Simmons and Walton. Why should it be allowed in this easel Mr Maddock said that Madame Hubert was paying LBOO a-year rent, and she had declared that she must .close if prevented supplying beer and wine down stairs to those who came for a counter luncheon. Mr Weldon did not object to that. What he said was that there was a general sale of nobblers to any one who chose to ask for drink.

His Honor said there must be even handed justice. He was for refusing to allow the open bar to be continued, for he doubted not that by a little ingenuity, a comfortable counter luncheon room could be arranged.

It was agreed that when the open bar had been removed, the license should be granted.