QUARTERLY MEETING OF THE REEFTON DISTRICT LICENSING COMMITTEE.

Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1061, 15 March 1882, Page 2

QUARTERLY MEETING OF THE REEFTON DISTRICT LICENSING COMMITTEE.

» The first meeting of the lately elected Licensing Committee was held on Monday last in the Court House at 12 o'clock. There were only four members present, Messrs Preshaw, Masters, Thorburn, and Ceilings ; Mr Budge, the other member, not showing up. The Committee withdrew privately to consider the Police report, and on taking their seats the election of Chairman was proceeded with. Mr Ceilings proposed Mr Masters, but that gentleman declined to be put into nomination. Mr Thorburn then proposed Mr D. O. Preshaw, and Mr Masters seconded him. There being no other proposal, Mi Preshaw was declared by the clerk to be duly elected, and took his seat. The Chairman, in referring to the report of the Inspector said, that it showed clearly that there was great irregularity in the conduct of some of the licensed houses in the town, as also a great want of cleanliness, and it would be necessary for a great amendment before application was made at the next annual meeting. The Committee did not wish to deal hardly with any one, but the license holders had three months before them to remedy anything at present complained of. There was one matter the Committee wished to remark on, and that was the deficiency of means for escape from fire. Some of the two-Btoried houses in the town had only one staircase. In such cases, every house should be supplied with a rope or wire ladder which could be fixed upstairs, thrown from a window in case of necessity, and always kept ready for use. Amongst other things complained of in the report was the conduct of certain license holders who allowed youths to frequent their houses after 12 o'clock playing cards or billiards. The Inspector would be requested to give warning on these heads, and to request holders of licenses to obtain copies of the Act, so that they could read and study its provisions for themselves. Sergeant' Neville said that several had already ordered copies from Wellington. The Chairman admitted that the law as laid down was very stringent, but the Committee would not be too hard in dealing with it At the same time, however, the back premises of several houses were reported as being in a filthy condition, and the closets disgraceful. Should this not be remedied, holders of licenses would risk the refusal of their licenses. Sergeat Neville said he had drawn the attention of occupiers to this point. The Chairman said it would be necessary for license holders to use disinfectants. Some of the right of-way were shnply intolerable, and calculated to produce serious epidemic. It would militate seriously against granting licenses if necessary sanitary improvements were not made. With regard to the youths of under 16 years frequenting these houses, it was the duty of the Inspector to procure a clear case, prosecute the offenders, and have them convicted. Sergeant Neville said he had warned the keepers of the houses where youths frequented repeatedly. The Chairman : They got into a number of houses after 12 o'clock, and parents were complaining in all directions. Sergeant Neville pointed out that the police could not help it. There were only two police stationed here, himself and another. His subordinate was frequently away, and he had charge of the gaol, as well as ordinary duty. It was perfectly impossible for them to be on duty night and day. The Chairman, on behalf of the Committee, wished to express an opinion on that point, and thought that the police force in Reefton should be added to. Indeed, they knew the necessity for such addition. . Sergeant Neville said that only on the previous night a number of larrikins pulled down shutters, kicked at doors, and misconducted themselves generally, but with their limited force the police could not always be . on the watch. Most disgraceful scenes took place at Black's Point, where on Saturday night disturbances, fighting, &c, occurred till 1 o'clock on Sunday morning, but the police could do nothing to prevent it. The Chairman said the Committee quite concurred in the absolute necessity of the addition of at least one constable to the force stationed here. In conclusion he instructed Sergeant Neville to warn all intending applicants for licenses at the annual meeting in June nest in reference

to the requirements of the Act, and the hazard they run of losing their licenses, if they failed to comply with the conditions of the Act. Sergeant Neville promised that he would do so, and the Committee then adjourned.