Demolition of an old Landmark.

Bruce Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 66, 23 August 1917, Page 5

Demolition of an old Landmark.

The demolition of the old building, now taking plaee, next Mr Manly Hit* ehon's, revives reeolleotlons of the dis« Wet's dim and misty past. Upon the discovery of the Tuapeka gold diggings in May, 1801, the bailding was ereoted for the purpose of a general store and bakery by Mr Jas. M'lndoe, a connection of the Gillies family, which included sHch well-known members as Judge Gillies and Mr John Jb. Gillies. The latter will be remembered by a few of the fastidiminiehing band of early pioneers as residing on the properties now held by Messrs Bichard Sinclair and Thos. Qaill. A residence in oonneotion with this store waß situated between Mr Hitchon'a house and the District High School, and was removed by that gentleman a few years ago when carrying out alterations on his property; The store and bakery were carried on for a number of years by Mr M'lndoe, who had in his employ Messrs David Tweedie and France Julias. The business passed into the ocoupancy of Messrs Arnold and * Rowley, and was subsequently purchased by Mr Edward Grey, an unole of the present well known family living about the district, who converted it into the Camp* Hotel considerably over 40 years ago, and conducted it as suoh for a number of yearß. Subsequently Mr France Julius again became associated with it ( this time as owner, but an at* tempt was made to ejeot him, owing to » difference over financial matters with Mr W. J. Dyer, at that time manager of the Quartz Beef, Table Hill, then residing where Mr D. Drinnan now lives. The method adopted was to put a load of straw into the bar through the window, bat this proved ineffectual. In the course of time a man named Burke be* came mine host, and subsequently sold to Mr Eeenan, who in turn passed the place on to Mr M'Kinnon. It has come down the records of time that the latter did well out of the house, and under his management the place became highly thought of. In those days Milton boasted a Besident Magistrate, a Clerk of the Court, and a Bailiff, and aB the court* house and police camp were situated in the vicinity of the. site of the District High Sohool, muoh business resulted, After the old courthouse was burned down the Education Board, who at that time had the original school where the eourthouse now stands, exchanged sites with the Justioe Department, who felt that the situation was not sufficiently eentr&l for the oonduct of its business, With the removal of the Court, and the advancing age of the licensee, business gradually left the house, and Mr M'Kin* son retired to the Olulha district, and the premises became unoccupied for a few years, Mr Geo, Wilson, having given up the Milton sawmill on account of the railway coming through, purchased the property, and resided in it for about 28 years, when he removed into his present premises in Union street about nine years ago. The been occupied by various tenants since, and is now being demolished to allow of the erection of a new house by Mr Wilson.