TRADE TOPICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XI, Issue 510, 27 September 1900, Page 18

TRADE TOPICS.

The new Licensing Bill which was introduced into the House on Thursday last, gave rise to a very animated discussion. The great Hatherly distillery, situated just outside of Pretoria, and which enjoyed the monopoly for the whisky trade in the Transvaal, was in active operation when the British troops occupied Pretoria. In the New Zealand Gazette of August 30th|and September 13th, the registration of the word “Bobs” and the initials “ 8.0.8.5.,’’ appear as registered by The Campbell, Ehrenfried Company, Limited. The two trade marks to apply to wines, spirits, and cordials, etc. Mr Seddon stated, when introducing the new Licensing Bill, that the existing conditions were such that a remedy must be applied. It was never too late to do good, and if it took a month to pass this Bill, he would ask members to give him their attention for that time.

Although for some two years past the government of Raratonga has prohibited the natives from obtaining in any manner any wine, beer, or spirituous liquors, it is not of much avail. The natives have taken to secretly brewing large quantities of orange beer in the valleys and bush. They also make an intoxicating beverage out of the coooanut trees, which they call “ roro.” Mr Hone Heke, M.H.R. favours the introduction of licensed houses for the sale of liquor in the Maori country. Speaking on the subject in the House one afternoon last week, he asked what were the privileges of the English-speaking race? “Long beers,” interjected Mr Pirani, who holds opposite views to Mr Heke’s “Yes,” added Mr Heke, “ Beer has really been the milk that has nourished the English race, and led to its present greatness.” “ What about whisky ?” interrogated another member. “Whisky,” said Mr Heke, “ was also a liquid, but it was attached to the Scotch race.” “And the Irish,” added yet another member, amidst some good-natured banter.

No treating of customers was the dictum of the Wanganui Licensing Bench at the last quarterly meeting. A transfer of a wholesale license from M. McLean to T. B. Williams was applied for. Mr Barnicoat appeared for the applicant. This application was in connection with the business formerly known as “Keith’s,” and it was intended that the two younger brothers of Mr T. B. Williams should run the business. Mr Williams said that, though young, his two brothers had had considerable experience, and were steady and reliable, and the business would be conducted under his supervision. The license was granted on condition that Mr T. B. Williams superintends the business, and that no customers are treated to drinks on the premises It was intimated that this would be a condition in connection with all wholesale licenses granted by the Committee, and that where the condition was not observed the license would not be renewed.

•“ Dr Bernard Myers, of Auckland, Was among those who received their diploma of M.D. on Saturday week at Edinburgh, he having passed with honours. -Among the- numerous audience £ resent were his mother and brother, Mt Arthur [yers, of Auckland, who had the pleasure of witnessing the interesting ceremony. I hear that the wedding of Dr Myers is to take place on the 29th inst. Mr Arthur Myers, managing director of the Campbell Ehrenfried Co, Ltd, has been touring in Scotland, flying from London to the Highlands soon after the great heat wave set in, and he found the difference in the temperature very great and beneficial. Next he goes to Ireland for about a fortnight, and purposes visiting Dublin, Belfast, Killarney, etc, returning then to London.

An exemplification of the manner in which prohibition prohibits in the cities of the State of Maine, is given in the book published by Messrs Joseph Ro wn tree and Arthur Sherwell, entitled “The Temperance Problem and Social Reform.” In that work are published numerous pictures of the bars of sly-grog shops, several of which employ numbers of barmen, and make no pretence of secrecy. Mr Sherwell explains that the proprietors are rounded up and fined once a year, and as the fines go to the authorities, this answers instead of a license. Several maps are published with the book in question, showing the situation of the sly-grog shops in the different towns. In some places there are streets full of them. Though they are designated “ slygrog shops,” there does not seem to be much slyness about them. The visitor opens a door leading from the street steps into the bar, and orders his liquor in quite as free and open a manner as if he were in a highly-civilised community, where there was no embargo on the reasonable gratification of taste and appetite.

The Wairoa Bell says anent the additions to the Mangawhare Hotel, that an old resident returning to the Wairoa and putting up at the above hotel, would almost fancy himself in a new building, as so many changes have been effected during the last few months. Mr F. J. Little founds the old building totally inadequate to meet the requirements of the rapidly increasing business that is growing in the district. The hotel is now admirably suited for a commercial and family house, as by the arrangement of dining, separate, sitting-rooms, and entrance doors at the[extreme southern end of the building, all the bustle of the bars is confined to one portion of the hotel, and the private rooms are kept in comparative quietness, to the great comfort, of the guests. The upstairs balcony has an unininterrupted promenade of 160 ft, and commands a view of the river scenery, from the peak at Toka Toka south, to the Tangihua and Tutamoe ranges north, with many miles stretch of river itself, the whole view being one of beauty. The large dining-room, which is 39ft x 17ft 3in, is capable of seating a large number of guests. Mr and Mrs F. J. Little, will, no doubt, command a large share of the increasing business on the river, both of them being well-known, and deservedly popular with the general public.

The hearing of the King Country sly-grog informations took place last week before Mr H. W. Northcroft, S.M., and all the cases were dealt with by noon. Thirty-one informations were laid, and 19 convictions recorded. His Worship dealt severely with some old offenders, who only last Court, day appeared before him on similar charges and promised to discontinue the business. The total fines inflicted amounted £397 ss. An old ofiender named Alexander Campbell, of Poro-o-tarao, was fined £122 Bs. Following are the particulars of the sentences: —Wm Thornton, fined £27 7s 9d, in default of payment two 4 months’ hard labour; Wm Noble, fined £32 7s 9d, in default of payment two months’ hard labour ; Alexander Campbell, fined £122 Bs, the amount to be paid forthwith, in default 12 months’ hard labour ; C. Holland, fined £29 Is 9s, in default three months’ hard labour; J. Ormsby, fined £44 Od 9d, in default three months’ hard labour; D. Nolan, a youth, was fined £l3 Is 9d, in default 21 days’ hard labour; Puna te Waaka, fined £46 ss, in default three months’ hard labour ; D. O’Brien, fined £2B 4s, in default two months’ hard labour; Bert Parker, fined £l7 7s 9d, in default one month’s hard labour; Ngatai, fined £lB 19s 3d, in default one month’s hard labour ; Mahuri, fined £lB 19s 3d, in default one month’s hard labour. In most of the cases time was allowed wherein to pay the fines. All the sentences run consecutively. His Worship stated that he would leave all the warrants ot commitment signed, to be used by the police immediately the time allowed had expired, and default made. A somewhat novel point cropped up at the last sitting of The Manawatu Licensing Bench. Mr Cohen appeared on behalf of the licensee in respect to an application for a license for a house to be built. Mr F. Wanklyn submitted plans for the proposed new structure, the old one having been burnt down. These were approved of by the comittee, subject to the addition of a balcony and fire escapes. Instructed by Messrs Skerrett and Wylie (of Wellington), Mr Cohen applied for an informal expression of opinion from the committee as to whether they would grant a license for above hotel if it were built on a new site, namely, the corner of Clyde and Main Streets. Mr Innes, of Palmerston North, appeared for certain objectors, and Mr Lyon appeared for the Rev. Mr Duncan and the Presbyterian Church Trustees of Foxton. Both solicitors urged objections to the application, on the grounds that statutory formalities had not been complied with. Mr Lyon for his clients, objected on the further ground that the proposed site was opposite the Presbyterian Church. Mr Cohen in reply, urged that 1 an expression of opinion should be given by the Bench before the applicant should incur the considerable expense of erecting a hotel on the proposed site. The Committee, after retirement, inti-, mated that it would not be inclined to entertain any application for removal to the proposed new site, and that the main ground for the decision ; was the proximity of the proposed new site to the Presbyterian Church in Foxton.