The Licensing Bench may be called an ever-changing institution. Though known by the general term, its duties are confined to the management of Alcoholic Liquor Licenses. Its constitututions and powers are frequently varied, as on no question is there such constant wrangling in Parliament as on that of the liquor question generally. Formerly there was a licensing committee for each of the four wards of the city, and they were elected by the ratepayers; but that often led to anomalies. One committee might issue ten o'clock licenses, while that for the next ward might issue for eleven or twelve o'clock, though one hotel might be obliged to close two hours before its neighbour, less than twenty yards away. Now there is one bench for the whole city, and it is chosen by the electors. Hitherto in Wellington the licensing benches have generally been composed of what are known as moderate men, but the fact that the women have equal power with men now produces an element of uncertainty; and the temperance organizations look hopefully forward and with some confidence to the time when the mere drinking saloon will be driven from the land. Some go even further than that, while others assert that the temperance influence will increase but slowly. However that may be, it is certain that there will be fierce fights in the near future for and against the trade in intoxicants. The legislation of the session of 1895 has done a great deal to bring about a settlement of the conflict of opinion on the subject by defining the minimum extent to which reduction must be carried in the event of the triennial local option poll deciding in that direction, and by giving increased powers to the electors, who may now vote for prohibition as well as reduction, if they desire. In the event of the necessary majority to carry prohibition not being secured, reduction would bt deemed to be passed if decided by a bare majority. There is one ex-officio member of the Bench, the Stipendiary Magistrate, who holds the important position of chairman. This seems a very fair arrangement, as none can better judge from his position the ills or benefits arising from the traffic. The present Stipendiary Magistrate of Wellington is a man exceptionally fair in his judgments, and unflinching in his attitude to all parties. The hour of closing in Wellington is eleven o'clock.