From the Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald, Saturday 13 February, 1909.

COUNTY LICENSING SESSIONS AT CANTERBURY.

The general annual licensing meeting for the Home Division was held at the Sessions House, Longport, Canterbury, on Saturday, when the magistrates present were Lieut.-Colonel S. Newton Dickenson (in the chair), Messrs. F. H. Wilbee W. A. Lochee, A. A. Kemp, F. J. Godden, P. Igguulden, J. Hogbin, and Dr. J. Bewes.

The annual report of Superintendent Heard was read, which was as follows:—

Gentlemen.— I have to place before you my annual report of the ale-houses and beer-houses situated in this the Home portion of the St. Augustine's Petty Sessional Division.

I am pleased to report that they have been well conducted during the past year with the following exceptions:- The "Prince of Wales," Herne Bay, an ale house, of which the licensee, Henry E. Berry was summoned and convicted on the 5th April, 1908 (1) for harbouring a constable on licensed premises, for which he was fined £5 and 15s. 6d. costs; (2) for attempting to bribe P.S. Lampkin, fined £5 and 10s. costs; and (3) there was also a summons for keeping his licensed premises open during prohibited hours, but this was dismissed. Since this time the house has been well conducted.

I have received instructions from the Chief Constable to oppose the renewal of this licence, and I respectfully ask that the renewal of this license be adjourned until the adjourned annual licensing meeting, to enable me to serve the necessary notices of opposition.

The case which was pending at the last annual licensing meeting against the licensee of the "Lower Red Lion," Herne, F. G. Gray, who was summoned for permitting drunkenness on his licensed premises, was dismissed.

A summons has also been issued against Wallace Warner, the licensee of the "Golden Lion," Whitstable, an ale-house for permitting drunkenness on his licensed premises on the the 26th of January, and is down for hearing this day. Under these circumstances I most respectfully ask that the renewal of this licence be adjourned until the adjourned annual licensing meeting.

The number and description of the licensed houses are as follow:— 103 ale-houses, 28 "on" beer-houses, and 4 "off" beer, and 18 grocers' licenses. The licenses of 28 ale and beer houses have been transferred during the year.

During the same period 76 persons have been proceeded against for drunkenness, and for drunken and disorderly conduct, of whom 71 were convicted and 5 discharged, 15 of these being residents and 61 non-residents, a decrease of 14 residents and 36 non-residents.

The Chairman said he was pleased to think that their duties that day were light, the report on the whole being satisfactory, and particularly satisfactory insofar as there had been a decrease in the number of cases of drunkenness. The magistrates had signed all the licenses not being opposed with the exception of the "Prince of Wales," Herne Bay, and the "Golden Lion," Whitstable, which would be adjourned until March 6th (the adjourned licensing day) for consideration.

Mr. H. H. Groves made an application on behalf of the Railway Company for a certificate for the reduction of the compensation levy in respect of the Railway Refreshment Rooms, Herne Bay, which was granted.

A similar application was made with reference to the Pier Pavilion, Herne Bay, which was also sanctioned.

An application was made by William Jones for an off-licence to sell wine, spirits, and beer at the Stores, Reculver Road, Reculver. The applicant was represented by Mr. R. O. B. Lane, barrister, instructed by Mr. Gomm, of Margate, and Mr. A. K. Mowll opposed on behalf of the licensed victuallers of Herne Bay, wine and spirit merchants of Herne Bay, the grocers of Herne Bay, and the grocer opposite to the applicant, and also the people who had signed a memorial. Some time was taken up in the hearing of the application, but having heard the case for the applicant, the Chairman said the magistrates did not think a sufficient ease had been made out for the granting of the licence. No evidence in opposition was therefore called.