A Licensing Committee has important duties, and the vigilance or negligence of its members is seen in the manner in which the hotels of a district are conducted. During recent years the hotels of Christchurch have been considerably improved in respect to accommodation, appearance, and general management; and, apart from other considerations, one chief reason for this advancement is that the City Licensing Committee has faithfully carried out its duties and insisted on many much-needed reforms. The district over which the Committee exercises authority is the Christchurch Electoral District, and the present Committee was elected in March, 1900, for a period of three years. Mr. H. W. Bishop, Stipendiary Magistrate, is, exofficio, chairman, and Mr. Walter Martin is clerk of the Committee. The elected members are; Messrs S. S. Blackburne, J. Hamilton, J. C. Maddison, Thomas McClatchie, and F. Trent.