The Royal Oak Hotel.
Y/ |TO THE IDITOB. 1 Bib,—l am fully conscious of the peril of commenting on the conduct of Police and the Licensing Committee. These gentlemen have, whether wisely or not, powers vested in them of dealing with the granting of licenses, and dealing severely with any applications ’ that are not in strict' accordance with their ideas. Some of them are not loth to put ■ their power in force, and the consciousness of the possession of that power not unfrequently gives them an autocratic tone towards the unfortunate landlords, or tenants. Far be it from me to suppose the diminution of the t dignity of meh officers, but most people are « aware how the possession of power sometimes 7 turns the head. I do not intend these remarks to refer altogether to the case which I tm about to allude to; at the same time I say distinctly that it is the duty of ths public journal as guardian of the general interest, to watch keenly the proceedings of such potentates if they are at variance with the public welfare. Moat persons ate acquainted with the circumstances connected with the dosing of the Boys! Oak Hotel, at Matawhero. There is hardly a doubt in anyone’s mind but what the Police and Committee did wrong in granting a license to Mr Sam. Evlnson at the quarterly meeting held last month, but having once granted such, it does seem an unusual thing for the house to lose its license now that Mr Evinson has filed his schedule. It the Police or Licensing Bench had anything against the house, one would have thought that either the tenant or landlord would have been notified of such, but such was not the case. We next hear of a petition being got up to close the oldest hotel in tbat district, and on account of the landlord having taken proper legal steps to protect his rights, as against an unreasonable tenant, he having paid his license money, &s., he is simply ruined. Surely the County Conncil, who passed a special resolution in the above case, can afford some protection for the landlord. I am given to understand that on Saturday, the 26th cf June, the Chairman of the Licensing Bench simply refused to sign any papers for anyone who might have b.en put in by Mr Croft, Deputy Official Assignee, pending the result of Evinson’s meeting. In conclusion I would just remind someone that is about the best aliempt ever made to force honest man into ruin through the at binary powers given into certain human beings' I cannot b’ame Sergeant. Bullen for doing bis duty, forthelawhad to be complied with; but I certainly do say that some f— consideration should have been shown the owner of the freehold, and in fair reason I thick due notice ehould have been given to him, in order tbat be could have ejected an undesirable tenant, and not have hundreds of pounds worth of property lying idle. Even had Mr Evinscn been track, and let his iandord know he was going to file, things might have been better arranged. Have the residents, who signed the petition, thought before doing so, that they were helping greatly to deteriorate their own lands in value by having the hotel closed up ? Trusting through your columns, something may be suggested whereby relief may be given to the unfortunate landlord,—l am, Ac., Oslookzb.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/GSCCG18890709.2.21
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Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 322, 9 July 1889, Page 3
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572The Royal Oak Hotel. Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 322, 9 July 1889, Page 3
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