LICENSING COMMITTEES

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9254, 5 June 1908, Page 3

LICENSING COMMITTEES

RICCARTON. Tha Riccarton Licensing Committee met at noon to-day; present — Messrs H. W. Bishop, S.M. (chairman), W. W. Morton, P. N. Stewart, W. Moir, W. jGifkins and R. A. Ballantyne. THE BELFAST HOTEL. The chairman said that there had been a very bad report on the Belfast Hotel regarding the condition of the old portion of the house and the water supply. Now there was an even more emphatic report, and the ownere, who had previously done nothing, were now anxious to do everything in a hurry. The sub-inspector said that it was the worst building he had seen. Plans for a new building were submitted to the committee. In Teply to Mr Cassidy, who appeared for M. B. Edwards, the licensee of the Belfast Hotel, the chairman said that the committee would not renew the license in the present condition of the house. Mr Lane, who appeared for the owner (D. M. Marshall), said that the owner would be prepared to carry out the plan The chairman: Why did you not do it before. You had notice in December. Mr Lane replied that the owner knew that next year the house would be in the Kaiapoi district, and he wished to postpone the building until after the local option poll in December. Kaiapoi at the last election had only failed to carry reduction by practically half a vote. The chairman: The committee is not doneerned with that. The committee is now asked to license a house which for a long time has been unsatisfactory. Mr Lane: Would you not after the election give, orders to at once carry out this new building, which I estimate will cost £1200. The licensee tells me that he does not require to use any part of the old building for sleeping apartments, and only a . portion of it for a dining-room. The ohairman said that the licensee had already had a very good run with a bad house. He would read the report, - which showed that the position was inexcusable. Constable Pratt, of Belfast, stated that he again wished to draw attention to the necessity of rebuilding the old portion of the hotel. He had reported the matter in December, when, he understood, the commit- j tee asked the owner to have the work done. TRe building was now in a more dilapidated condition, and was altogether out of repair with dry rot, and would have to be pulled down and rebuilt. Sub-Inspector Dwyer on May 20 had inspected the place, and reported that he was more than astonished at the dilapidated condition of the old part of the building. The ceilings of some of the bedrooms were giving way, and the kitchen and downstairs portions of the building were crumbling away with dry rot, and he could, put his foot through the walls. He had inspected nothing worse in his time. There was also a poor water supply, thot should be improved without delay. The chairman added that if the committee felt itself justified in granting a license to such a place that was its affair. v The committee retired to consider the question, and on resuming the chairman i reported that it had by a majority of five to one decided to renew the license without any stipulation. He did not hold himself responsible for the decision j in any way. ! Mr Cassidv: Does that bind the j owner to build after the licensing poll? The chairman : No, there is no stipulation. Mr Cassidy: Then what if a lodger falls through the floor? The chairman: That- has nothing to do with us now ; the license is renewed. RENEWALS. -Renewals were granted to the licenses of the Bush Inn Hotel, J. C. Chase: Star Hotel. Mary Kelly ; Black Horse Hotel, William Morrow; Riccarton Hotel, Robert Logan; Papanui Hotel, James Stranahan : Racecourse Hotel, J. C. Wallace; Phoenix Hotel, Alexander Fairbairn (an undertaking being given that sanitary conveniences would be repaired). SALEYARDS LICENSE. The chairman, addressing Mr Bourke, who appeared as licensee for the Addington Saleyards booth, said that representations had been made to the committee regarding the present hours, from 6 a.m. t0. 7 p.m. Mr Bourke: -We do not suggest any hours. The chairman said that he would like to know Mr Bourke'e opinion as to whether it would be best to have the hours from 6.30 a.m. until half an hour after the conclusion of the sale each day. Mr Bourke: That would suit me jusfc as well as the present hours. The chairman : There is evidence before the Board that on some days the sale closes considerably earlier than your license. Mr Bourke: Oh, yes; T hav c been away at four o'clock in .the afternoon at times. The chairman: I doubt if you had any right to do so. It was eventually decided.iMr Bourke consenting, that the hours in summer and winie/r should be from 6.30 a.m. till thirty minutes after the close of the sale. [Per Press Association*. 1 WESTPORT, June 5. The Bullor Licensing Committee adjourned all applications for renewals till June 29, two members being absent through illness, as the motion for ten o'clock v. eleven o'clock license has to be settled. Hitherto eleven o'clock extensions have been granted. j GREYMOUTH, May 5. The Licensing Bench granted all renewals subject to improvements being effected in some cases. The committee is now hearing an ai>nlication. for a nerv license at Paparo*-