HOTEL LICENSES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2520, 5 June 1909, Page 5

HOTEL LICENSES.

FIVE AUCKLAND HOTELS CLOSED

[Per Press Association.]

AUCKLAND, June 4

The Auckland City Licensing Committee decided to-night to close the following hotels: —Bricklayers’ Arms, in Federal Street, owned by Campbell, Ehrenfreid and Co.; Railway Terminus Hotel, Beach Road, lease held by Hancock and Co.; Newtown Hotel, Karangahape Road, Tease held ‘by Hancock and Co.; Park Hotel, Wellesley Street, lease held hy Campbell, Ehrenfreid and Co.; Ritzroy Hotel, Wakefield Street, owned by the Great Northern Brewery. The maximum number of hotels the committee had power to close was 14, and the minimum three. The brewers estimate their losses at between the value of the places named as hotels amd their value as unlicensed houses, at between £16,000 and £IB,OOO. WHOLESALE LICENSES GRANTED IN KING COUNTRY. NEW PLYMOUTH, June 4. Some little time ago, in defending a man at Waitara charged with trafficking in liquor in the prohibited area of the King Country, Mr. Quilliain, of New Plymouth, advanced the argument that certain portions of the King Country alleged to be native land and as such considered a prohibited area in regard to the liquor traffic, were not native land at all, having been made Crown lands by a later proclamation. The Magistrate upheld the contention, and as a- result the Taumaranui licensing committee, at their annual meeting at Waitara to-dav. dealt with eleven applications for wholesole licenses in districts hitherto in the prohibited area. Of these one was from Raetihi, three from Ohakune, four from Rangitakoa, one from Waitara, and one each from Mokau and Awakino, the two latter being for renewals of licenses issued just after the Magisterial decision. Counsel were present from New Plymouth, Hawera, Palmerston, and Raetihi. Largely signed memorials in opposition to the licenses, both from Maoris and Europeans, were presented. The hearing occupied till late in the evening, and it was decided to grant four applications, to T. P. Leonard (Raetihi), Joe. Cody (Ohakune), Loftus Boyd (Rangataua), and H. M. Lund (Waitara). The two renewals mentioned . were also granted, also tho usual hotel licenses in other portions of the electorate. * EXTENSION OF HOURS REFUSED. NELSON, June 4. The Motueka licensing committee today refused 11 o’clock extensions. LICENSED HOTEL IN NO-LICENSE DISTRICT. GORE, June 4. At the Gore Magistrate’s Court, before Mr. Konrick, S.M., Geo. Dempster (Mr Inder) applied for a .publican’s license for the Woodlands Hotel, recently taken into the Mataura nolicense district from A warn a. Tho only member of tho last licensing committee who presented himself was Mr. Forsyth (Wyndham). Mr. Inder was about to point out that another member was present, when Mr. E. C. Smith, solicitor, interjected that the person in question was an objector. Mr. Inder: “Are you appearing to object ; you have l not lodged an objection.”' Mr, Smith: “A lot of things have not been done;'the meeting of the committee has not been advertised for one thing.” Mr. Smith contended that the Magistrate had power to deal with the application. Mr. Inder submitted that the old committee was in existence till successors were appointed and took office. The was becoming involved when the Magistrate said that as far as he could see there was not a quorum present and he had no power to deal with the application. If, he added, the licensee continues business after June 30th,, he will run the risk of prosecution, which would settle the question.