MISCELLANEOUS.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, Issue II, 11 June 1880, Page 2

MISCELLANEOUS.

♦> - -J _ : ■■ A gent eman ia Dunedin lias received the following letter from Mr Sketchley : — * I ha?e found but few places where I have been so cordially received 89 at Danediu. I have wasted a great deal of time in baring been sent to places where there were no*- persona who coold, or fated to, understand me. I have done ' fairly well in all the principal towns, and if I bare not amassed a large sura, tb« balance is considerably in my fa roar. At Auckland 1 wag grossly mismanaged, owing to my having been, contrary to my express direction*, mixed op with a theatrical company of the moat tseajt» description. I go on to Sydney witfe • light heart. I am much disappointed with New Zealand in every way, except as regards the kindness of personal friends.' The new Licensing Bill bat just been circulated. Tt is a bulky document of 64 pages, containing 225 clauses. Ik repeals existing Acts, and abolishes present licensing districts, new districts to bs prodaimed by the Governor, with boundaries so &r as" possible center* minons with, those of boroughs, ward*, ridings, or road districts, as most eon* Teuietft- New or special districts may be "proclaimed where and when necessary, A 'licensing committee * is to be eonrtw tuted for each district, comprising the Trident Magistrate of theilstriot, and four persons appointed froartime to time by the Governor. The nsual provision* are made for the"eleetion3 and filling op of vaonoiesf^AH persons interested in the manufacture or sale of liquor, c* ia licensed premises, and all paid officers of -fhe General or Local Goverment are dis* qualified from being members of inch committee. The members of eomrajtiee hold office for two years, but may be w-y appointed. Two members of committed form a quorum. In native licen<fnff;3is« triets a Native Assessor is to be a, mem* her of tb* committee, and no license is to be glinted in his absence-- Present Hcepes are to be subjec^/to thiß Aef» vSleh is to apply eqnallyAo all districts. >No • bottle licenses' are to be granted ill Tutare; existing bottle $censes aw to continue in force until 30th Jan*, 1881, and then to cease ab«e]n>ly. TTnraar* re\ women m-y bold licences, Vut «m* stables and bailiffs ||M. wot, Brew*** and *pirjt|ffieH'^{*^n't **ke o*ii wholesale licenses, anJ no person is to, hold more than one license. Seven? deferent classes of licenses are provided for, viz :— (1) Publicans, (2) family hot«)» (3) billiard-table, {4} conditional, (51 packet, (6) dub, and (7) wholesale Keen* ses. No. 1 'snthorises the s»le of liqnor from 6 a.m to 10 p.m. ; No. 2, the sale of liquor to bona file residents at the hotel; No. 3, the keeping of billiard or" bagatelle tables, to. be u*ed between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m.— this, however, is Included. in the publican's license ; No. 4 provides for booths at races, regattas, matches, Jbe. • No 5, for coasting vessels at sea $ No. 6^ for bora fide clobs ; and No. 7 for sale of liquor in quantities of two gallons or more, Midnieht licenses may be granted on payment of £10 extra, and additions! bars at the rate of one-third extra fee tot each. Family hotels to be licensed must contain at least ten, snd public houies six, available rooms, and have ample facilities for escape in -case of fire ; publiff houses, in addition, must have stabling. Quarterly licensing meetings are to be held in March. June. September, and Be* cember every year j one month's public notice being given beforehand. AHspe plications are to be beard in open Court, and the hearing may be adjourned. An inspector of licensed premises in eveiy district is to famish a report on eaeli licensed house ten days before each meat* ing, and also on every new application transfer, <fke.