Another city hotel heading for the rubble heap

Press, 23 September 1981, Page 21

Another city hotel heading for the rubble heap

By

RAY CAIRNS

It may be rather trite to muse that it was the passing of an era, or of a legend, when the Masonic Hotel closed its doors for business last week so that the building could be reduced to rubble. But it is an all too familiar story in recent years, as so many of the historic old pubs of Christchurch have disappeared from the scene. There has been a dispenser of alcohol at the corner of Colombo and Gloucester Streets since 1857 when William Stringer, a baker and confectioner, secured a wine and beer licence. This he held for four years, and a general publican’s licence was granted to George Henry Tribe in May, 1861. In 1863, Tribe changed the name to the Central Hotel and a very well-run establishment it was. Inspections in 1864 and 1865 found the Central to be “clean and comfortable" and “kept very clean and in good order.” Then William Moir (with James Campbell for a year) took over the licence, and the first hint of any misdeeds was in the 1870 licence: it was granted but “with a licence respecting a conviction for selling licquors (sic) during prohibited hours.” The following year, there were three such convictions “but the houe was very well conducted,” and in 1872, there were similar comments after two more convictions.

Then Edward Hioms (pronounced Hornes), thought to be a German, came on the hotel scene and he was perhaps the most important figure of the old hotel’s history. He took over the pub in 1873, and the next year was proud to proclaim that in his 17 bedrooms, he had filled 9000 beds. The Central was often called Hiorn's Hotel and. indeed, the proprietor purchased the establishment in 1876, with Amelia Hiorns, presumably his wife, holding the licence the following year. In 1882, the year before Hiorns transferred the licence to James Wallace, he was granted permission for an extra bar — and was also fined ope pound and costs for a “breach" of ordinance” — but bad times were round the corner.

Certainly, in 1884, Wallace was praised by one Inspector Pender: “The house stood in a very prominent position, and was always well conducted.” But not so the next year. “The report (to the Licensing Bench) was unsatisfactory in some aspects, though improvements made

recently obviated some of the complaints.” The licence was not granted until evidence had been heard from the City Inspector. After Frank Helps and R. H. Clark had had their turns at the Central, Thomas Brooks brought “his long experience in hotel management on the Peninsula” to town, this experience enabling Brooks “to guarantee to his patrons every possible attention and the comforts of a good home at moderate charges. None but the best liquors will be kept." What’s more, “the household arrangement are under the personal supervision of Mrs Brooks.” “The hotel has been thoroughly renovated,” boasted Brooks, “and being, according to its name, in the most central part of the city, it affords exceptional advantages. The billiard room is one of the best-lighted and furnished in the city, and is

in charge of a thoroughly experienced marker.” But Brooks lasted only two years; J. Mitchell came and went; so did Wallace again; and when J. E. Ingle took over in 1894, “there was no doubt about the licence of the Central although nine hotels in Christchurch were refused licences and were closed." But the Central had slipped and the licence probably survived only because Hiorns returned to the day-to-day management in 1896. A fine operator, Hiorns, and not afraid to advertise that he was worldly-wise.

Back in 1879, he had told his public that he combined superior accommodation with reasonable charges, civility and attention, and that during his recent tour through Europe and America he had “arranged with the leading Wine and Spirit Merchants to receive regular consignments of the best

brands and will thus be able to offer a first-class article at the lowest price." He added in a P.S. that “the little snuggery is still open, next to the ‘Times' office”; a further N.B. revealed that “a night porter (is) kept, and travellers can depend on being called for early trains.” There was also an American bowling saloon about the same time. In 1898, Hiorns changed the name to the Masonic, an earlier application by an unnamed hotel having been rejected because the Licensing Bench did not feel the Masonic Order would wish its name to be associated with such a hotel. After changing the name, Hiorns transferred the licence to William James, formerly of the Somerset Hotel in Ashburton, and James was succeeded by Richard John Whittle (1900). E. Carroll (1901), and E. Power (1903).

Charles A. G. Lange became the publican in 1911 and was there until 1920. In December, 1917, he saw 6 o’clock closing come into force. William Brown was mine host until 1923, then Alfred William Wells — Billy Weils — started his long and famous run which lasted until 1937. There were brief gaps — Dave Edmonds snr in 1929, William Henry Ward in 1931 and George Sydney Simpson in 1932 — and not surprising Ward lasted only a year. He had two convictions within four months and his licence was granted “with a very stern warning." But since 1938, there have been only three licensees: David Edmonds succeeded Wells in 1937, Basil Parsons in 1951, and this month’s outgoing proprietor, Dave Graham (for a short time with Bill Telfer) early in 1975.