GERALDINE LICENSING COMMITTEE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XC, Issue 13316, 19 June 1907, Page 6

GERALDINE LICENSING COMMITTEE.

The adjourned annual meeting of the Geraldins-Licensing Committee Mas liaid at the 'it-muka Courmouse yesterday. JLiesent: —Messrs G. A. Wray, M.Ai. (ciiaii - man!, J. Opie, J. Blyth, and B. R. jiacdonald. Ihe police reported on the condition of the hotels in the district. Of the 'l-enmka hotels, the Star Betel had been repaired and renovated, and was in fair order, premises clean; but would have to bs rebuilt in the near future. llie Royal and VVallingford Hotels were v in good order and well furnished, and' had also been considerably improved during the year, 'especially the Royal Hotei. A i.mv hotel iiad just bc-eu erected, the Temuka, of brick and cement. Details of the house,, were given, and the report stated that the work had been completed in a manner; the building was of handsome appearance, and a great- improvement to the town, and was under careful and capable management. The WolseLey Hotel, Winchester, was in good order, but a new range was required' for ihe kitchen. There had been a marked improvement in the management of the hou-i-e during the past year. The Orari Hotel was also in a satisfactory condition. The Crown Hotel (G-craldine) was almost- completed, and was in use. 'lhe Commercial Hotel had not yet been rebuilt, and was in a very dilapidated condition. Renewals or pi'-esenfc licenses were granted. Ihe police recommended that the sanitary arrangements of the Royal 'Ho:el should be improved by connection with the septic tank d'rainage. Mr Coira, the owner, -explained that if the lessee made any improvements lie would refund the expenditure at the expiration of the lease, and under these circumstances the ks«e agreed to carry out the recommendation. In regard to a new range required for the Wolseley Hotel, the lessee said he was not prepared to fit a new range, nor was the owner. In view of this, the application for renewal was adjourned till next meeting, A somewhat unfavourable report was submitted on the management of the Geialdine Hotel. Constable Bingham said that though the police had reason, to suspect irregularities, thc-y wm> unable to lay any definite information. Under these circumstances the application was granted. Mr W. G. Aspinall, on behalf of the Licensed Victuallers' Association, asked that licensees be allowed to extinguish thejr outside lights at 10 p.m., and be not required to light them ; t ail on .Sunday evenings. The township was well lit with gas now. —Constable Gillespie opposed the request in legard to lighting 011 Sunday evsnjngs, and the Committee decided that outside- lamps may Ik: extinguished at 10 o'clock 011 every evening. Mr Opie brought up th.-. matter of granting conditional licens k. He thought sucli licenses should nop bo granted for spoils meetings, etc., vi.liin a.radius of o))?- mile from any liienpad hotel, as regards Geialdine and •Teinuka. There were often scenes at sports meetings as a re.->ult of the presence of licensed booths, which were not fit- for women and

children to witness. Mr Macdonald thought the booths were under good control, and 1 there was no objection to them. Contabie Gillespie said there was not much io choose between meetings where there were licensed booths and where there were not. . It was decided to leave iue matter l:i the Committee. Mr L. E. Finch applied for, and was granted, a conditional license for the Pleasant Point Saleyards Company. This concluded the annual meeting, and !he quarterly meeting was then held. The i.-nly business was an application by Mr S. (r. Raymond for a temporary transfer of. the license of the Wallingford Hotel from J. Reilly to W. T. Sim. This was <; ranted, . and the Committea rose.