LEGAL & MAGISTERIAL NOTES

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume X, Issue 516, 14 June 1900, Page 19

LEGAL & MAGISTERIAL NOTES

Early opening seems to be one of the troubles that afflict London Licensed Victuallers, if the following is any criterian : —“ The Southampton magistrates evidently do not know their own mind, or is it the infusion of new blood on the bench that is causing the Trade so much heartburning just now? Three years ago it was decided that fifty-three public-houses in the borough should be permitted to open at 5.30 in the morning—a great boon to the dock employees, who, it was argued by one speaker when the subject came up for discussion, “ had kept better time and earned more money since they had been able to obtain early morning refreshment.” In spite of this assertion, however, the Bench have now rescinded the resolution by thirteen votes to ten, though no change will be made until the decision is brought forward for confirmation on transfer day.

At the annual meeting of the Manukau Licensing Committee, the following business was done:—Transfers were granted as follows:— From Alfred Pickrell to Sydney Laycock (Mr J. R. Reed), Ellerslie Hotel, Ellerslie; from Thomas W. Mayson to James O’Leary (Mr Mahony), St Helliers Bay Hotel, St Helliers Bay; from John Keir to Stanley Hubert Carr (Mr J. R, Reed), Exchange Hotel,Princes-street, Onehunga. Renewals: — Robert Ternahan, Hibernian Hotel, Queen-street, Onehunga, granted; Richard Carr, Epsom Epsom, (Mr McVeagh), granted; Eunice Winter, Junction Hotel, Epsom (Mr Collins), granted ; Nicholas Brown (Mr J. R. Reid), Victoria Hotel, Greystreet, Onehunga, granted; Charles Cowan, Harp of Erin, Ellerslie, granted; Alfred Ernes; Bennett, Marine Hotel, Howick, granted, Donald Urquhart, Royal Hotel, Princes-street Onehunga, granted ; Thomas Keogh (Mr J. R. Reed), Prince Albert Hotel, Queen-street, Onehunga, granted; Herman Schmeidel, Royal Oak Hotel, Onehunga, granted ; Stephen Keogh (Mr Reed), Manukau Hotel, Queen-street, Onehunga, granted ; George Samuel Budge, Star and Garter Hotel, Panmure, granted ; Mrs Eleanor Rogers, Panmure Hotel, Panmure, granted; Susan Sarah (Mr McVeagh), Railway Terminus Hotel, Queen-street, Onehunga, granted. The annual meeting of the Parnell Licensing Committee was held at the Borough Council Chambers, on Wednesday week last at noon. Mr H. W. Brabant, S.M., presided. The police were represented by Sub-Inspector Wilson, and Messrs Hugh Campbell and C. E. S. Gillies appeared on behalf of certain of the licenses. The following applications for renewals of publichouse licenses were granted without objection :— Carlton Club Hotel, Newmarket, Joseph Parkes gertain improvements ordered) ; Alexander otel, Manukau Road, Parnell,. John O’Sullivan; Windsor Castle Hotel, Manukau Road Parnell, Albert Alexander ; Eden Vine Hotel, Mount Eden Road, Maria Ballin; Exchange Hotel, Manukau Road, Parnell, Frederick Tomlinson : Royal George Hotel. Newmarket, Patrick Cooney (certain necessary repairs to be carried out).

At the meeting of the Parnell Licensing Committee, on Wednesday week last, an application being made on behalf of John Darby for a renewal in the case of the Capitain Cook Hotel, the police reported that outsiders had complained that illegal Sunday trading had been carried on in the house, but an improvement had been noted latterly. The application was then granted, the police to report to the committee on the conduct of the house at the next quarterly meeting of the Court. A somewhat similar report was presented on application being made on behalf of John Gillander, licensee of the Newmarket Hotel, it being alleged that the licensee’s wife and daughter watched the police on Sundays, giving the alarm, and letting the people out by the back way. Mr Hugh Campbell, who appeared in this case, gave the allegation an emphatic denial on behalf of the licensee. Mr McColl (a member of the committee) said his shop overlooked the yard of the Newmarket Hotel, and from personal observation he did not consider that any Sunday trading had been carried on during the past three months. Sub-Inspector Wilson said the police Lad not sufficient evidence to take the matter to the Court, and Sergeant Walker stated that the police were morally certain that Sunday trading Lad been carried on at the Newmarket Hotel to a great extent. The committee decided to caution Mr Gillander, and the renewal was then granted ; the police to report at next quartely meeting as to the conduct of the house.

At the Annual Licensing Meeting of the Ohinemuri Licensing Bench the following transfers were granted : —Post Office Hotel, Neaveaville, from R. Raw to N. McLean ; Sterling Hotel, Waihi, from J. L. Stevens to E P. Pilling; Sir George Grey Hotel, Tairua, from S. Laycock to B. Raw ; Waiorongomai Hotel, from J. T. Bestic to Mary Hall ; Waitekauri Hotel, from J. T. Ryan to P. Byan.

Eleven o’clock licenses were granted to Samuel J. Atkins, Royal Mail Hotel, Paeroa; 'P. J. Delaney, Paeroa Hotel ; Edwin Bastings, Criterion Hotel, Paeroa; J. W. Shaw, Commercial Hotel, Paeroa; W. H. Knock, Hot Springs, Te Aroha; Patrick O’Meagher, Grand Hotel, Te Aroha; Anna R. Smardon, Palace Hotel, Te Aroha. Ten o’clock licenses were granted to Patrick Ryan, Waitekauri Hotel, Waitekauri; James Corbett, Pioneer Hotel, Hikutaia ; Margaret Stevens, Kauaeranga Hotel, Hikutaia ; E. H. Pilling, Sterling Hotel, Waihi; Thomas Lawless, Waihi Hotel, Waihi; Norman McLean, Post Office Hotel, Neaveaville ; Samuel Draffin, Thames Hotel, Waitekauri; Mary Hall, Waiorongomai Hotel, Waiorongomai; James Robert Baw, Sir George Grey Hotel, Tairua;

W. H. Laycock, Tairua Hotel, Tairua ; Geo. H. Archer, Golden Cross Hotel, Golden Cross. J. C. Williams, Kopu Hotel, Kopu; Henry Preston, Mackaytown Hotel; J. Flett, Rob Roy Hotel, Waihi; C. Laycock, Puriri Hotel, Puriri; R. Montgomery, Owharoa Hotel, Waikino; W. S. Montgomery, Karangahake Hotel, Karangahake; W. E. Ryan, Tramway Hotel, Karangahake; John Sainsbury, Whangamata Hotel, Whangamata.

At the meeting of the Christchurch Licensing Committee, a petition, very largely signed, was read, asking that all houses for the sale of liquor should be closed at ten o’clock, instead of eleven. There was no appearance of any of the parties signing the petition. A member of the committee asked Inspector Ellison what his opinion of ten o’clock closing was. Inspector Ellison replied that he did not think such an alteration as closing hotels at ten o’clock, instead of eleven, would tend 'to minimise the amount of drinking to any extent, but quite the contrary. On the other hand, closing at an earlier hour would greatly inconvenience the travelling public. Where the alteration had been made, it had proved by no means successful, and the old order of things had been reverted to. The S.M., Mr Beetham, said the experiment had been tried in Christchurch about six years ago, but after three months’ trial had been abandoned. The reasons for its failure he could not specify. [lt appeared to him that the only effect the alteration had with the men who deemed it their duty to consume a certain amount of liquor every day, was that they started drinking an hour sooner, and so went to bed on hour earlier. After some discussion, it was resolved that the hour of closing should remain as at present, eleven o’clock.

At the Annual Meeting of the Hawera Licensing Bench the following business was done:— Denis Carroll applied for an accomodation house for Oeo hotel. Police report said that painting and repair of verandah was necessary. Hotel had been well conducted Mr Bennett said the work referred to was in hand, granted; Charles Batt (Mr Welsh), Okaiawa Hotel, granted; R. R. E. Lenehan (Mr Welsh), applied for license for Normanby Hotel, granted; J. Sullivan (Mr Welsh), applied lor renewal of license for Branch Hotel, Eltham, granted ; F. Calger (Mr Welsh), Eltham Hotel, granted; F. W. Protheroe (Mr Welsh), applied for transfer of license of Otakeho Hotel to T. Smart, granted; Philip McCarthy, Commercial Hotel, Manaia, new license granted. Police report said the outside needed painting. Appicant said this would be done, granted; Johanna Tait (Mr Bennett), Manaia Hotel, granted; Walter Lewis (Mr Bennett), Waimate Hotel, granted ; G. H. Gibson (Mr Welsh) Commercial Hotel, Normanby, Granted;. Thomas Nicholas, Imperial Hotel, Normanby, granted ; D. Sullivan, Commercial Hotel, granted; J. W. Kelly, Egmont Hotel, Hawera, granted; J. S. Cooper (Mr Matthews), Empire Hotel, Hawera, granted ; John Flynn, Railway Hotel, Hawera, granted; Reuben Ogden, Royal Hotel, adjourned; A. J, Jury, Shamrock Hotel. Certain new conveniences were stipulated for by the police, and it was stated these had been erected, granted; F. L. K. Hill was granted wholesale license; F. G. Adams was granted a wine license ; the same applicant applied for removal of license to new premises now occupied by Mrs James, granted; application of G. Avery for license for Kaponga Hotel was opposed, and evidence was being heard when we went to press.

The Annual Meeting of the Palmerston Licensing Committee was held on June 6th. Several applications were adjourned for one month to enable the necessary repairs to be carried out.