THE GERALDINE HOTELS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 549, 2 July 1909, Page 7

THE GERALDINE HOTELS.

■'j Correspondent.). ,V .;/. !?&'!:'/:■': &:;S:.~; /OMetohurch, July- li'i-C '-Wednesday ;',nigbt- saw ■ the closing, of'.the: Geraldinf-.hotels.: Sis .■■licensee lapsed owing,to the inclusion, of the'district in tho.AshbiirtOn, electorate--three in Geraldinei ;and one each at Orarif Rangitata,.and/Aruridel.. Jt- being market day /in;,Gerpldiriey a, -Vlarge'[ number of country . residents '/Wore.' in ..town, and the streets presented 'an/ , animated; appearance during the afternoon. ;There was 110 rowdyism or excitement until -/after' jten .when thobars, were closed, but, from then on ;to midnight, a; number of ! young men made things lively at the upper end'or' the, town, 'by indulging in a good deal of, noise. : Two policemen were on; duty, and they came in for some hooting, but Jio arrest was made. A fight appeared imminent between two individuals during .the evening, and they ofossod the swing bridge; over the Waihi River to settle thoir.quarrel in a/-.quiet, road. .Theicrowd followed to seefair arid, wien the majority reached tho. centre of the structure, it suddenly collapsed, throwing several in the icy water. No ono was injured, however, and the incident was considered a huge joke. -The fight did not take, place, and the crowd quickly, dispersed..; By midnight the street* were practically desertwf.