BLUE-RIBBON HOSTESS OF EARLIER YEARS DIES IN AUCKLAND

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23043, 6 September 1949, Page 6

BLUE-RIBBON HOSTESS OF EARLIER YEARS DIES IN AUCKLAND

Formerly one of the best-known and most respected residents of the Gisborne district. Mrs. Rosina Mary Caulton, wife of Mr. Reginald G. Caulton, passed away at the Greenlane Hospital, Auckland, early this morning. Mrs. Caulton had been ill for some months, and her death was not unexpected. Born in Opotiki, she was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. William Law, and accompanied her parents to Gisborne when Mr, Law took up the license of the Ormond Hotel about 56 years ago. She was then 16 years of age, and in the following few years Mrs. Caulton became a highly popular figure in social activities. She was married at Ormond and until fairly recent years was associated with her husband in the conduct of hotels in various parts of the district. These included the Coronation Hotel, Gisborne, and houses at Ormond, Whatatutu, Motu and Matawai.

Outstanding Management Talent

Their skill in management was highly regarded, and in each of their successive hotels they established a strong reputation as host and hostess, Mrs. Caulton receiving manv marks of recognition of her blue-ribbon efforts for the comfort and well-being of her guests. When they took over the Motu Hotel thev built up for it a reputation as one of the finest country hotels in New Zealand, and its reputation was never better than when the main highway through the Waioeka Gorge was opened, diverting through traffic from the old Motu road and leaving the house in a backwater location.

As a consequence of this change in traffic trends the Motu Hotel was subsequently removed and rebuilt at Matawai, where Mr. and Mrs. Caulton concluded their career as hotel-keep-ers, later retiring to live in Gisborne. In her private capacity Mrs. Caulton was outstandingly popular, and her recent removal to Auckland with her husband was the occasion of much regret. She is survived by her husband and two sons, Mr. Glen Caulton, Christchurch, and Mr. V. S. Caulton. Auckland. and daughter. Mrs. Rita Hannah, now resident in Hawke’s Bay. The burial is to take place in Auckland.