LICENSING COMMITTEES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9138, 10 June 1891, Page 2

LICENSING COMMITTEES.

CAVEKBHAM,

The annual meeting of the Caversham Licensing Committee was held yesterday, and attended by Messrs J. Todd (chairman), A. Craig, J. lugs, R. Rae, and R. Allen. chaibman's eemahks. The Chairman said: On behalf of the licenEsing bench I desire to make a few preliminary and explanatory remarks. We have all doubtless observed that throughout the colony there is a widespread awakening of publio opinion in regard to the licensing question generally. la several places of more or less importance effort* have been made to elect committees pledged to prohibition. In some instances these efforts have been successful. The licensing bench sitting here to-day was not elected on any special line, or by any particular party. We have taken office with the full understanding of our position and responsibilities, that our plain duty would be to administer the act as we find it, uot to import aught of our personal opinions and convictions into such administration, but to disoharge the duties devolving upon us impartially, without fear ot favour. Now, v regard to this particular district, the number of licensed houses is considerable — unquestionably beyond the requirements of the community. I daresay most of you are aware that meaßs in accordance with the act have very recently been taken to obtain an expression of opinion from the residents in this licensing die* triot. This opinion, expressed by way of petition, so far as it goes, in effect is a demand for a reduction in the number of such houses in the district. The bench feel bound to give due and respectful consideration to the opinion thus expressed. We cannot possibly ignore the demand thus made, remembering that the aofc is framed iv tbe interests of the people, and the management of this matter is placed in the hands of the people, and rightly 60. A local matter of this kind ought, in thu best interests of the inhabitants, to be presided over by a body elected by the people who are really interested in the matter in question. Some, I observe, immediately they are called upon to apply the act, find it irksome and unpleasant, and cry out, " The resident magistrate should deal with this business." I maintain that any member ot a licensing bench, much more a chairman, before he accepts bucq office should make himself famHiar with the law he will of necessity be required to administer, and if he finds that the honest and impartial application of such law will be so unpleasant and difficult, he should most certainly stand aside and make room for someone else to take his place. Coming back to tbe business more immediately iQ hand, the bench have come to the decision to reduce the number of licenses, but not exactly as set forth in tbe petitions, in bo far as regards the particular houses named. The committee have given the matter their very careful and candid consideration. They are quite sensible that hardship will bo entailed in some, if not all, instances, where the licenses are refused. On the other hand, we recognise that private interest must yield to the exigencies of the public welfare. I may say, further, that, as you are aware, the cause of so many houses being in this district has now passed away. A large amount of traffic that used to go through Caversham by road has been diverted to the railway. But still the same number of licensed houses is maintained. In dealing with these as we purpose I think we will be discharging our duty to tbe inhabitants of the district. I may say, further, that the police report with regard to all the houses with one exception is of a favourable character. THE EDINBUBGH CASTLE, John Oatred applied for a publican's license for the Edinburgh Castle Hotel, Main street. Mr Milne appeared in support of the application, and Mr J. A. D. Adams, on behalf of a number of petitioners, to oppose it. The Chairman, at the request of Mr Adam?, read the police report with regard to the house in question. This stated that the house was well conducted, but there was a recommendation that a rope should be placed in each bedroom as an extra precaution in case of fire. Mr Adams stated that 301 qualified ebjectors' had requested the bench to refuse a license in respect to this hotel. He was sure that a request from such a large number of persons would have weight with the committee. He' need not remind them that their duties were not to consider the inconvenience or tbe convenience of one individual. The applicant must, of course, have his rights considered, but in the case of Sharp v. Wakefield it had been laid down that a licensing authority must consider not the interests of the applicant alone, but the interests of those round about him. The chairman's speech had relieved him of a great deal of the burden which he thought he would have to bear. He therefore need not press upon the committee's notice what they so clearly saw. The question was whether this house or another one should be cbosen as one from which the license should be taken. He knew that some people said that this house should not be chosen, as it contained a lodge room that was used by some of the friendly societies. His answer to that was that a lodge room did not need a liquor bar near to it. Oa the contrary, the further away a bar was from it for those attending the lodge the better. Mr Milne did not know whether he required to make any answer to the objections of Mr Adams, as he did not appear to be very sure whether be was opposing this license or that of another house. Mr Adams: Ob, quite sure. Mr Milne proceeded to say that the petition agaiast this house was the smallest of all tbe petitions that had been laid before the bench. They all knew how the signatures to the petitions had been obtained. They had all been taken round to the same people, and those who signed one were asked to sign the lot; but when one petition was signed ty 400 persons, and this was only Bigned by 300, it was evident that 100 had refused to sign the petition against granting a license to the applicant for whom he appeared. That was a very strong argument why the license should be granted. There had not been a siDgle complaint against the house by tbe police or the public, and it had only changed bands throe times during the last 23 years. It was also the only house iv tbe licensing, district which had been rebuilt at very considerable expense at the express order of the licensing bench. That was an excellent reason why the license should not ba interfered with. The petition against the license contained the names of 144 males and 144 females, and only 68 ratepayers had signed it. There had also been T9 absolute refusals to sign the petition. Mr Adam 3 said the majority of those who signed the petition lived in the immediate neighbourhood of the hotel. The Chairman: I am sure that while we have very fully considered every applicition, we are prepared to give all consideration and respect to any arguments that might be brought forward in respect to any of tbe applications, either by tbe licensees or the owners, or by their legal advisers. The fact that the petitioners state the particular house has, as I have already said, placed the committee in rather an awkward position. If the petition had simply 3tattd that the petitioners urged upon the committee the desirability, in the interests of the inhabitants, of reducing the number of licensed houses in the district without specifying particular names, it would have made matters somewhat more easy to deal with.—(Applause.) Mr Adams said that the petitioners had taken the course that they were bound to take in accordance with tbe act. The Chairman: The bench, after hearing what had been said both pro and cod. in regard to this application, still adhere to their decision in the matter, and are prepared to grant the application.—(Applause.) THE TBAMWAT TERMINUS. Nathaniel Kingston applied for a publican's license for tbe Tramway Terminus Hotel. Mr Solomon appeared on behalf of the applicant, Mr J. Macgregor for the landlady of the hotel (Mrs Machin), and Mr J. A. D. Adams on behalf of petitioners to oppose the application. At the request of Mr Adams, the. Chairman read the police report, which stated that the house was indifferently conducted. The licensee was coovicted in the R.M. Court in Dunedin on May 21,1891, for a breach of clause 185 of the act, in failiog to admit Constable Power into his premises, and was fined £3 and costs. Since tbe applicant had been in the hotel it had been conduoted in a very unsatisfactory manner. The provisions of the Licensing Act with regard to closing the house were not strictly enforced, and complaints had been made of persons, who were not travellers, being in the hotel during prohibited houre. The licensee did not appear to be a person of sober, steady habits. Mr Adams said if anything was wanting to show that this hotel was not required it was the police report, but in addition to that there was a petition signed by 348 persons against the license being granted. Mr Solomon said he felt somewhat in & difficulty in this matter, as he thought all did who had to appear before licensing benches in support of applications for licenses, because the course which legal practitioners had to follow usually was entirely reversed in the case of their appearing before a licensing bench. Where the bench had carefully considered an application beforehand, he felt it was almost superfluous to adduce any arguments, because the bench had probably made up their minds about tbe matter already. At the same time he did not think he should be doing big duty if he did not point out one or two facts. His learned fiiend, Mr Adams, represented a clas9, and not the people of the C»versham licensing district. The petition purported to be signed by 348 persons whom Mr Adorns represented, and they were persons who would be prepared to say that every house of every description should be swept away. Mr Adams: That is not so. Mr Solomon said he happened to be present in the City Hall when Me Adama shouted through the phonograph that in his opinion it was aesirable to do away with all liquor. Now he put it to the' committee, they were uot there as the partisans of any particular class, but to do justice to all. Ai to this house not being required ia the district, how did it arise that it was not required ? Last yenr a license was granted to I ho boils'?, and lie would like to know what circumstances h»d ariseu between last year and this to show that the house should not be licensed vow. H« thought that tberfi rould be no doubt that if it had uot been for 'the! agitation that had arisen this year with regard to the reduction of licenses that licenses would have been granted under ordinary circumstances. It w&b a notorious fact that

licenses were taken away in Dunedin because the stress of public opinion compelled the committee in the interests of the publioans to take away somo of the licenses, and reduce the number of hotels. That wsb a most iniquitous Btate of affairs. It waa not considering eaoh particular house on its particular merits. In tho present case learned counsel went on to urge that before the committee oould tako away the license they must be prepared to say why the house was licensed last year, and why it should not be licensed now. Aa to the objeotion of the police, he submitted that there was nothing serious in that. The licensee had been oonvioted of not allowing a policeman to go into the hotel, but that was a very small offence indeed. Sergeant Motioe said he would like the committee to hear tho evidence of the police as to whether the Ijoense should be granted. The Chairman: I think the members of the committee are pretty familiar with the oircumstances that led to the case being taken before the magistrate, and therefore it is unnecessary for us to take the police evidenoe. Mr Macgregor said the house belonged to Mrs Maohin. As to its not being required in the district there was no reason why it should be Bingled out any more than any other house. A good deal had been said in the police report as to the way in which the house was conducted. He was not in a position to dispute the facts, but the landlady was not awate of the state of affairs. He submitted that it would be a great hardship upon Mrs Machia if the license were taken away on account of an objeotion which was capable of being removed. He would undertake, on behalf of the;landlady, that the objeotion should he removed in the event of the license being granted. With regard to the question as to whether the house was required in the district, and as to what weight should be attached to the petition presented by Mr Adams, he submitted that very little weight should be attached to that petition, because the number of signatures to it was very small compared with the numbor of ratepayers in the district. He questioned whether the number of ratepayers who signed the petition, as distinguished from young people, was more than 70 or 80. In conclusion, he urged that the license should be grantee for 12 months, and if the house was not properly conducted then the license could be taken away. The Chairman: We have listened attentively to the addres3Oß of the gentlemen representing the licensee and tho lan^hdy. While I say that the committee have veiy fully considered thin bs well as every other application for licenses, still if there were any circumstances brought before us that would lead us to see the matter in a different light, we have not so thoroughly made up our minds in respect to this application that we would not be led to? think otherwise. Bub I am afraid, notwithstanding the arguments that have been used, the committee.will have to adhere to their decision. Mr Solomon asked: Why is this house not required now ? It has gone forth from this committee time and again that auy breach of the provisions of tho act would be accepted as a very sufficient and dear intimation to the committee that the house is not wanted in the district. It shows clearly to my mind, at any rate, that there is no room for the houso to do a legitimate business, and hence has recourse to illegitimate means to obtain business. And hence I come to the conclusion that this house is not required for legitimate pnrposes. We freely grant that it X a hardship, especially to the owner : but the individual hardship must be endured and Rive way to the interests of the community. That is a principle well known and recognised in every instance. There was another matter mentioned by Mr Macgregor, who said he thought that the committee ought to givo little weight to thii petition. Why ? This petition contained 348 signatures. I apprehend that the persons signing are respectable persons, and all over 21 years of age They may not move in the higher circles of society, or bo millionaires, or wealthy people, bat they are residents and have a right to be considered. And certainly I should attach a very considerable amount of weight to a petition that comes beforo us under thoae circumstances. The committee are apparently of the same opinion as they were, that the house is not requi:e*din the district, and the application for this license will be refused. Mr Macgregor applied for an adjournment, and the application was adjourned until Wednesday, tho 17oh inst. at 8 o'clock. AYBSHIBB HOTKL. Margaret Carroll applied for a publican's license for the Ayrshire Hotel. The police reported that the houso was fairly well conducted. Mr Adams presented an opposing petition signed by 172 persons. Mr M'Outcheon, owner of the house, said that he thought the petition was a trumped up one, and ho did not believe that 20 bona fide ratepayers had signed it. The Chairman: You had better not think so much. If you are clear about your statements we will hear you. Mr M'Cutcheon was understood to have nothing else to urge. 'i'he Chairman : There are jast two houses in. this locality so far as it is included in the CaverBham licensing district, aud the committee, after carefully considering the claims of both, have come to the conclusion to grant this application for the Ayrshire. Of course, we have our reasons for comiDg to that conclusion. As I have said, it was rather unfortunate that the houses were named in the petition, bnt that was a necessity; but we infer that the object of this was to obtain signatures so as to secure a reduction in the number of houses, and hence in this case we have come to the conclusion that this application will be granted.—(Applause.) THE CAYERSHAM HOTEt. Francis Porter applied for a renewal of the license of the Cftversbam Hotel. Tiis police report was favourable. Mr Milne appeared in support of the application, and submitted that the house was one against which no objection could be urged, otherwise his friend Mr Adams would have urged it; and, further, that the committee having decided to reduce tae number of houses, there was all the more need for a well-established house like this one. The Chairman: The police report in regard to this hotel is exceedingly favourable. It always has been in every respect. At the same time the licensing bench have had brought before them the need of reducing the number of licensed houses very considerably, and this Caversham Hotel was one in which they thought thß application for tho license ought to be refused. Mr MilDB has fully put the matter before us in its vaiious aspects, and I am sure if it were possible for us to change our decision the arguments he used ought to be sufficient. But the committee aro still of the same opinion they were—viz., that this application must ba refused. Oo the application of Mr Milne an adjournment was granted as in the other cases. THE COMMERCIAL HOTEL. James Muir applied for a renewal of the license for the Commercial Hotel. The application was supported by Mr Solomon, and opposed by Mr Adams on behalf of 371 residents who had signed a petition against the granting of the application. The police reported that the houso was moderately well conducted. Mr Solomon ur^ed that the applicant and his wife were very old people, and if the bench took away the lioense it would be a serious injury, and a cruelty to some extent. The house was owned and occupied be the licensee, and it was not suggested that it was not doing a legitimate business. The proof that it was required wag that the owner came again and asked for a renewal of his license. The Chairman: There is a good deal, of course, in what Mr Salomon has said, and we are pretty well acquainted with the circumstances attaching to this application. But at the same time we have very carefully thought this matter out, and in order to carry out the intentions of ths petitioners it is necessary that we shonld refuse this application as well. That is our deoiflion. Mr Solomon asked for and waa granted an adjournment until the 17th. THE GBOSTENOB HOTEL. George Searle applied for a renewal of his lioenao for the Grosvenor Hotel. The police reported that the house was well conducted. The Chairman: The committee have been informed of a very considerable amount of Sunday trading, and if that kind of trading is carried on, and the committee continue to hear of instances where liquor is supplied to persons other than travellers and boarders on Sundays, they will feel it imperatively necessary to refuse any application for a license. I hold that it is bringing the law into contempt when a man obtains a license to do a certain business in accordance with tho law and then openly and freqnentlj breakß that law. I for one will not wink at that for any lengthened period. Mr Searle: I tbink you have received false reports. You should not listen to side reports, but let them come through the right channel, and let a man defend himself. My bouse is conducted as well as any bouse. Ido not think I should be censured. Ido not think it is required at all. The Chairman: You say that there is no Sunday trading—that you do not supply other than travellers and hoarders. Mr Searle: No. The Chairman: I have no doubt we often do get false reports, and I discountenance hearing outside reports, unless they are given to me by persons who have my utmost confidence. And I quite recognise that no man should be charged unless he has an opportunity of defending himself. At the same time, I thought that as these reports had reached us it was only right to caution you. Sergeant Morice: It is only fair to say that no breaches of the net nave been observed by the police. Surprise viaits have been paid to I the house, and the constable was constantly ! passing. I don't think that the Jlicensee is in j the hnbii. of trading on Sundays. ! The Chairman said that the application would be granted. [THE ST. CLAIB HOTEL. i Thomas Broadway applied for a renewal of tho license of the St. Clnir Hotel. The Chairman, in addressing tho applicant, fltti'l: You have all the St. Clair district to yourself, Mr Broadway, and you ought to be able to do ft perfectly legitimnre trade. I hope it is the cuse that you do so. and that there U uo Sunday trading or trading during prohibited hours. As I said before, where that exists it ie a clear indication to us that the license is not required. The license will be granted.

THE TABKSIDE HOTEL, Ebonezer Kingsford applied for a renewal of the license of the Parksule Hotel. Thu police reported tnafc the houeo was fairly well conducted, and Too Chairman intimated that the application would bo granted, bat took occasion to caution the Jicenseo against Sunday trading. He also stated that reports had reached tho committee that Sunday trading was carried on. THE KENSINQTCN lIOTEL, Dsnis Moloney applied for a renewal of the license of the Kensington Hotel. There was no objection, and the police report stated that the house was fairly well conducted. Mr Gillian, appearing for both the applicant and the owner, Baid that the property belonged to the family of the late Mr Hayes. No objection was made by anyone. The Chairman: There is no objection by the police in their report. The committee have had the question of this application before there, with the others, anil have come to the conclusion that this house is not required—that one bouse in that neighbourhood, that is the Ayrshire, will be amply sufficient to Biipply all requirements of the community there. Of course we were convemant of the circumstances in connection with the house, and of the fact of the property being left to the family of the late Mr Hayes. Mr Callan urged on tho committee that tho Kensington was far away from any other hotel, and if they compared its position with that of any other hotel in the district, they would find that it stood solitary by comparison. He respectfully submitted that the committee should give great weight to that fact. The Chairman: The bench have given the matter consideration from all points of view, and we have heard what you have had to say, and will give it full consideration and due weight, but we seem inclined to adhere to our former decision and to refuse the application. Mr Callan applied for au adjournment, which was granted until the 17th inst. THE CALEDONIAN HOTEL. John Blaney applied for a renewal of the license of the Caledonian Hotel. The police reported that the house was well conducted, and that no objection was made. The Chairman : The remark I have to mnke is about Sunday trading. Otherwise the police report is favourable in regard to this house, and the committee are disposed to graut the application. At the same time it is highly desirable you bhould stiictly adhere to the provisions of the act. Mr Blaney rose and said he would be very glad if he were able to close altogether on Bundays. Ib was a trouble to him to have to open when anybody came, and he never did to excepting for travellers. The application was granted. BOTTLE LICENSE Peter Rutherford's app! cation for a renewal of his bottle license was supported by Mr Milne and objected to by Mr Adams on behalf of 324 persons who had signed an opposing petition. Mr Milne said in Otago tho bottle license had been found to be a good institution, and in the whole of Oaversham there was only one such license for 7000 inhabitants. There was no valid objection to Mr Rutherford's application, and therefore the application mu3t bs renewed, or the bench would ba usurping the functions of the Legislature by saying that there must be no bottle licenses. The Chairman said that the committee had no reason whatever to think that anything like illegitimate trading was carried on by the holder of the present bottle license. They put this question to themselves: Provided other applications were made for bottle licenses, would the committee grant them? They said no; and with tho facilities there were in tho district in the way of hotels, they thought there were ample facilities for persons to obtain oil they might require in the way of spirituous liquors without a botlle license. Tta committee had given this matter very careful consideration, and had to come to the decision that this application should be refused. They were, in this instance, not unanimous. There was one dissentient, but there were four who held that the application should be refused. Mr Milo9 ouggested that as the bench were bringing into existeuce an entirely new state of affairs with regard to the hotels in the district, they 6hould renew the license for twelve months and see how it worked out. Tho Chairman: We intend doing that. The license will be granted for 12 months, but any now application tho btnch does not undertake to grant. THE LICENSING! ACT, ETC. At the conclusion of the ordinary business, the Chairman (Mr Todd) referred to the matter of children going to hotels for drink, and Baid unfortunately too many children were obliged by their parents to do that. It had been pointed out by some members of the Dunedin committee that the Licensing Act required amending. He, for bis part did not thiuk it required amending, except in the direction of preventing licensees from selling liquor to children under" a certain age. The act as it stood was a very fair and favourable one for communities generally. It only required that the members of various communities should take advantage of its provisions and make use of them. If the act required amendiog in any way it was, as he had said before, in the direction of preventing licensees selling drink to childreD. The set did not provide for that, and it was a scandalous shame that unscrupulous parents should send their little children to hotels with billies and bottles for drink to take home. What did children see and hear at hotels while they were standing waiting to be Berved ? They heard and saw what would in all probability be very hurtful to them, and he thought it should be made a punishable offence for any licensee to serve liquor to children under a certain age.— (Hear, hear.) We boasted of our education, of our learning »nd so forth, and yet we as much as said," Let those children go to the devil." If the act were amended in tho direction he had indicated it might effect 6ome good for the rising generation, and he would ask the clerk of the licensing committee to forward to the Minister of Justice a memo, in regard to the matter. In concluding, the speaker referred to the matter of lighting, and intimated that the same practice that had been observed hitherto with regard to it would be observed in future. RO3LYN. Tho annual meeting of the Eoslyn Licensing Committee was held in the Council Chambers, Roslyn, at noon yesterday. Present: Messrs A. 0. Begg (chairman), R. Dalziel, J. Stewart, J. Lillico, and J. Wilson. THE POLICE REPORT. Police-constable Carmody, stationed in the district, submitted the report of the police on the manner in which the three licensed houses were conducted. The report was of a satisfactory nature. Inspector Hickson wrote as follows :—" With reference to the report on the licensed houses in the Rosljn licensing district already forwardsd to you by Constable Cermody, I beg to add, for the information of the committee, the following statistics in connection with this district. The population of the district is 3816, and the number of hotels three, thus showing au average of one hotel to every 1282 of the inhabitants. Drunkenness, I am pleased to say, appears to be almost unknown—there having bsen no arrest for that offence during the past year." Tho Chairman : I would like to ask the constable, has he nothing to say about Sunday trading and selling after hours, because reports have reached the committee that this practice has been carried on in the district? Constable Carmody: I have inspected the hotels in this district after licensing hours on week days, and I have not detected any breach of the licensing laws. APPLICATIONS FOB RENEWALS. Thomas Gifford Laurenson applied for a publican's license for a house situate on the City road, Roslyo, known as the Roßlyn and Kaikorsi Hotel. A certificate signed by 10 householders residing near the bouse, was also attached to the application, and set forth that in the opinion of the householders the applicant was a fit and proper person to conduct a licensed hOUS9. One of those present in] the body of tho hall asked whether he would be in order in makirjg a statement. The Chairman replied that it depended on the nature of the statement. The gentleman then went on to say that on the eve of the election when he was on his way home, he was accosted by Mr Laurensou, who not only made use of obscene language, but etruck a blow at him. The Chairman intimated that the committee could not hear statements of that kind unless steps were taken to put the matter before them in a legal way. Mr Liurenson contrsdicted the statement. The Chairrnp.n: With regard to the application, it has been decided that the committee considers the house is not required in tho district, but in order not to appeßr unfair and to give the licensee an opportunity of making other arrangements, the license will be granted for the ensuing 12 months. David Heffernan applied for a renewal of a publican's license for the house known as the Argyle Hotel. The Chairman: The committee have come to the conclusion that this license is not required in the district. They have decided, for the same reasons mentioned in the last application, to grant a 10 o'clock certificate for the ensuing year. They wish it intimated that they do not consider the license necessary in the district, but with a view of enabling the licensee to make any other arrangements the license will be graßted during the ensuing 12 months. W. T. Bunting applied for a renewal of a publican's license in respect of the Halfway Bush Inn, Wakari. The Chairman: The committee have decided that this license is not required in the district. » I For the same reasons that have already been r ! given they agree to grant the license for the i j ensuing 12 months. j THE CHAIRMAN'S REMARKS I j The Chairman: I wish tn s»y, and perhaps l those interested will take notice of my remarks, ! that although the police report U satisfactory, E | still members of tho committee know from oth«r I sources that certain hrenchrs of the law have , taken ptace iv the sh-pe of Sunday tn>.d'"a and - ' selling aiic- bouix. TSiflv wish to (!raw the i STU'ciul iiM.enti'.n of <h' ijolic- to that fi>c'.-, ppd 3 the commi'.t'.-c <x,x;ei; to have, »•• tlie nfx* ) quarterly mwtinp;, a report rfi to whether any 1 breaches of the la-v htwo taken place during the t first quarter; and further, if auy such breach t has taken place they will then and there cancel the license. Each licence is granted, of course,

on the condition that tho law is carried out, and carried out to the letter, f>ud tho committco oxpect that the polico will assist them in bringing to light any breaches of tlict law during the first quarter. I hope thoro will bo no necessity for uny further action. NORTH-BAST VALLEY. The annual meeting of the North-East Valley Licensing Committee held in the Council Chamber yesterday, was attended by Messrs S. Myers (chairman), Farquharson, Green, Anderson, and M'Gregor. The Chairman said: After taking into consideration the report from the inspector of police, and also from the officer in charge of this district, the bench intend to grant the whole of the applications for renewals. As a matter of fact, in the face of these r3ports, and returned by the ratepayers on tho principle of moderation, we can, iv justice to our constituents, only do so. At the same time, while expressing satisfaction at these reports, we wish to publicly state that a portion of the bench has been informed that Sunday trading, card playing by youog men after lioenaed hours, and other notß contrary to tho law, have been carried on. Had those complaining been prepared to substantiate these charges, we were prepared to do our duty fearlessly and without favour; and we, therefore, warn thoso whom it may concern that upon proof of any iufriiigtment of the Licensing Act strict measures will bo adopted by us that will prevent its repetition. We have been asked by some of the prohibition party to visit the houses and judge for ourselves. This, I may say at once, we do not intend to do. Firstly, because, having confidence in those officers whose duty it is to report to us, renders it unnecessary ; and secondly, because, as licensing commissioners, we decline to interfere and take upon ourselves a duty which ia not prescribed by the act, and we are not prepared to visit hotels except in the capacity of citizens. But as we leave this matter so entirely in the hands of tho police officer in chnrge, we trust and depend upon him to furnish us with as complete and full a report as possible, as by that report io a chief measure we shall be guided. That not one caso of druukenneps has been deemed of sufficient importance to bring before a court is proof positive that the licensees of the houses of this borough do their best to carry on a legitimate trade; aud we trust that as clean a sheet will be shown next year as there is this one.

Inspector Hickson wrote that the population of tho district was 3319. There were four hotels and two bottle licenses, which was equal to one licensed house to every 553 residents, or one hotel to every 820 residents. The Chairman remarked that this was a small average. The district was a large one, and the dwellings were scattered all over it, from the sonth almost to the extreme north. That was the reason the committee granted the whole of the applications. The following applications were then dealt with:—

Elizabeth Viocen applied to transfer the license of the Normanby Hotel to Catherine Carroll.—Granted. James Barron applied for an 11 o'clock publican's license for the Botanic Gardens Hotel. — Granted. Sarah Sinclair applied for a renewal of tho 10 o'clock publican's license for the North-E*st Valley Hotel.—Granted. Margaret Webb applied for an 11 o'clock publican's license for tho Sunnydale Hotel. — Granted. Catherine Carroll applied for a renewal of the 10 o'clock license of tho Normanby Hotel. — Granted.

Bottle licenses were renewed to Catherine CrAwford and Alexander King. Before granting the 11 o'clock licenses, the Chairman said the committee had had a discussion about extending the hours, and they were not unanimous in their opinion on the matter. They would therefore like an expression of opinion from the police as to whether it was desirable to extend the hours as requested by Mrs Webb and Mr Barron.

Constable Walker was in favour of granting both applications, his reason being that the tvvo hotels were near public halls. The Chairman then said that 11 o'clock licenses would be granted in the two cases mentioned, and he would just mention that the bench would look with seriousness on any infringement in the way of keepiog open after that hour.

The question of lighting was also touched on by the chairman. He said applications had been received from all the applicants for permission to leave their lamps unlighted every night. The bench bad seriously considered the question. He himself—and he was not single—was of the opinion that travellers really required a light after 11 o'clock to show them where an hotel • was. At the same time he could see tho hardship of lights being lit and then blown out, necessitating the police to take action ; and they knew that if a licensee pleaded that tho wind

put out the light that would not prevent an endorsement going on his licecse. TakiDg that into consideration, the committee had decided to allow the lights to be extinguished. Of course it was for the licensees themselves now to say whether ifc was for their own interest to light the lamps durirjg any portion of the evening or not.

This concluded the business,

GREEN ISLAND,

At the meeting of the Green Island Licensing Committee yesterday a temporary license was granted to Mr David Richardson, whose hotel wes burnt down ia the morning. This is the only hotel in the jurisdiction of the committee.

The Wairuna Licensing Committee met in the school on Monday. Present—Messrs Cumming, Campbell, Howison, and Macsndrew. Mr Tolmie was elected chairman. The license for the Waipahi Hotel was renewed, but the committee unanimously decided cot to. renew it after tho expiration of next year.

.Wangandi, June 9. At the annual licensing meeting to-day one licensee failed to apply. Out; of 18 applications four were refused on the ground of not being required. T> r. houae3 were granted 10 o'clock licenses and /car 11 o'clock. It was ordered that hotel lights ba kept burning from sunset to sunrise.