Licensing Committees.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5563, 10 March 1886, Page 3

Licensing Committees.

* ATON. THIS DAY. The quarterly meeting of the Avon . Licensing Committee was held at the I Selwyn County Council offices at noon to-day ; present — Messrs H. J. Hall (Chairman), W. Flesher, J. Taylor, and the Eev J. OB. Hoare. Inspector Pender attended to represent the police. POLICE EBPOET. The Chairman read the police report on j the licensed houses in the district, from ■ which it appeared that all the hoaseß were : in good condition and well conducted. At • two of them — the Black Horse and the i Ricearton Hotels — no ladders had heen provided for use as fire escapes. It was decided to instruct the licensees of the houses in question to make proper provision for escape in case of fire. HOURS OF CLOSINO. Mr Joynt, on behalf of the licensee of the Fapanui Hotel, applied for an extension of the hour of closing to 11 p.m. He had been instructed that a very great amount of inconvenience was occasioned by having to close at 10. I The Chairman said that he would be happy to hear Mr Joynt'b application, but j he thought that it could hardly be considered at the present meeting, as the ! Committee had decided last year that the I question of altering the hours of closing should not be considered until the annne.t meeting.

Mr Joynt thought that the fact that the Papanui Hotel was close to the Tramway terminus and to the Railway station, was 8 ifficient reason for exceptional treatment in this case. He would very probably make application for an extension at the annual meeting, and would therefore like to know what line of policy the Committee intended to take in the matter. The Chairman thought that as one of the members of the Committee was absent, it would not be advisable to give a definite expression of opinion at the present meeting. Mr Webb, licensee of the Bush inn, Kiccarton, said that he would like to make an application to be allowed to keep his house open till 11 o'clock. He found that after his house was closed it was very inconvenient to have to attend to travellers. ; The Bey J. O'l). Hoare asked what the I opinion of the police was upon the question. I Inspector Pender said that the police were of opinion that ten o'clock was the : most suitable hour of closing for the Avon ] district. He pointed out that the law permitted hotelkeepers to attend to travellers at any time. j The Chairman said that the Committee ; would not consider the applications till the annual meeting. i This concluded the business. j i . ,