Oxford.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7182, 5 June 1891, Page 3

Oxford.

The Oxford Licensing Committee met to-day, all the members being present. The inspector reported favourably on the Harewood Arms, Terminus and Commercial Hotels, whose licenses were renewed. He reported that the Oxford Hotel was insufficiently furnished, and the bedrooms had an uncomfortable appearance. The granting of the license was adjourned for fourteen days, to enable the licensee to make the required alterations. FPeb Pbemb Association."! WELLINGTON, June 5. At the annual meeting of the Licensing Committee, Mr Williston, Chairman, said this was the first meeting under the new regulations, and now that the Committee was elected for three years, it intended to see that its decisions were rigorously carried out. The fifty-five hotels in the city were reported to be in a fairly good condition and well furnished. The Committee thought that in future chey should be classified, in the annual police report, into first and second-clas3 houses. He noticed that only one conviction had been recorded during the year for Sunday trading, although this was notoriously carried on to a largfe extent. The Committee believed that the landlords got to know who were the constables coming on duty and arranged accordingly. During the year no less than half the hotels had changed hands, sometimes more than once. The reason, no doubt, waß that they were largely in the hands of brewers and merchants, and the Committee strongly suspected that there was a good deal of dummyiem going on. Tt had made up its mind not to grant licenses in future to single women, the present holders excepted. Inspector Thompson took exception to the remarks about the police, which could only have one meaning. Under the present state of the law it was most difficult to obtain convictions for Sunday trading, and the police was not supported by the Bench as it should be. The Chairman said he agreed with that remark. The Inspector went on to say that classification should be made by the Committee itself. It was too invidious a duty for the police officers to undertake, but if the Committee insisted he would do his best. DUNEDIN, June 5. The Licensing Bench refused second bars to Wain's and the London Hotel. It intimated that it considered the Weßt Coast Hotel was not wanted, but adjourned the matter for a week to enable the licensee to make a fresh application.