At the close of the General business of the Licensing Court yesterday, Mr Kissling, on the part of tho publican, desired tiie commissioners to use their influence with the Government with the vieAv of equalising the license throughout Ncav Zealand. Mr Kissling said the fees in Auckland Avere excessively high, and it Avas possible that a word from his Worship might have a good effect upon the Government. Mr BarstoAv said that if the Toavii Clerk had knoAv that such an application would have been made from the trade, be would have asked to be heard on the other side, as the corporation AA'onlil not willingly consent to a reduction ; other objectors Avould also array themselves against the lessening of the fees. He .vonld recom mend the Licensed Victuallers to memorialise the Government on the subject. A petition AA'as drawn up, of Avhicli the following is a copy, and is lying at the British Hotel for signatures :—" To His Excellency the Most lion. George Augustus Constantino, Marquis of N rmanby, Sec. May it please your Excellency, —We, the undersigned licensed victuallers aud hotel-keepers of the city and province of Auckland, do humbly petition your Excellency that, believing in your prerogative of being enabled thereby to rectify _ a grievous wrong as it at present exists, to Avit, the enormous license fees charged the licensed victuallers of the province of Auckland as compared with the other provinces of Ncav Zealand, namely :— Province of Auckland—l 2 o'clock license, £50; 10 o'clock, £40. Wellington—l 2 o'clock, £40 ; 10 o'clock, £30. Christchurch —11 o'clock, £30. Dunedin—l2 o'clock, £25 ; 10 o'clock, £20. We therefore humbly pray your Excellency will take such steps as will relieve your petitioners from such grieA'ous burden, before the time of paying the next licence fee, name "y^ the 30th day of June. 1877. And your p .titioners will CA'er pray," &c.
