AN HISTORIC SPOT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22067, 25 September 1933, Page 7

AN HISTORIC SPOT

THE GRAND HOTEL CORNER JUBILEE OF A BIG ENTERPRISE .The erection of the Grand Hotel 50 years ago marked a definite step forward tin the history ,of Dunedin. It was only one building certainly, but in architecture it was the most distinctive, in construction the most substantial, and in design the most modern in the colony. Indeed it courted comparison with the best anywhere in that day. The site of the Grand Hotel has an historic association with the settlement of Otago. It is within a few yards of the spot where the first settlers who arrived by the John Wickliffe landed in Dunedin by jowing boat on March 23, 1848, and it was naturally regarded by them as one of the central points in the settlement. Moreover, it was chosen by Mr John Sidey as his town section. He arrived by the ship Blundell on September 21, 1848, and he decided within a short time of his arrival that a favourable opportunity presented itself for the establishment on his section of a general store. He promptly sent an order to England for a shipment of goods, opened the store, and carried on the business until 1857. The site was leased on various occasions, and was occupied by'several small businesses of yaried character, including saddlers, auctioneers, agents, hairdressers, butchers, and others. In the' early sixties the Empire Hotel occupied part of it, and this with other business ventures gave way to the big building enterprise of the Grand Hotel. It is not possible at this time to give in detail the names of the occupants from time to time of business premises on this historic corner. Neither are particulars available of the business negotiations which were a necessary preliminary to converting the site from a miscellaneous business area to the single purpose of housing a modern hotel. Messrs Watson Bros, had an hotel situated above the Empire in High street, which was then known as Watsons' Hotel, when the Grand was erected, and for a time they retained the old and the, new.

1 The erection of the Grand Hotel was completed in 1883 at a cost of over £40,000. It was substantially built of stone and concrete, and though it has been modernised by important structural alterations and improvements to the interior and entrance, the main building retains a place after 50 years among the most substantial and striking edifices in the city. The contractor was Mr James Small, who also built some other large premises in the city, including the A.M.P. Buildings. The architect was Mr L. Boldini, and in important respects he reproduced the ideal of the Italian renaissance in his artistic design. The illustration of the hotel which we publish to-day, a reproduction of an old woodcut made shortly after its erection, serves the dual purpose of conveying an excellent idea of the architecture of the building and of the art of the early block-maker. The Grand Hotel was erected for Messrs James and John Watson. At the time it was a most ambitious financial undertaking, and it is not surprising that it attracted attention throughout the colony. It was, as described by the Otago Daily Times when the hotel was opened in 1883, "undoubtedly the biggest'venture of its kind that has been undertaken in the colony. In size, design, and interior appointments it stands out' in striking relief to the majority of even the larger buildings in the city, and the speculation, whatever be its result, displays enterprise of no mean order. It would be necessary to visit some of the principal cities of America to find the counterpart of this hotel, and as a matter of fact it is in many respects designed after approved American and European models." A complimentary banquet was tendered t& Messrs Watson ■ Bros., over 60 be'ug present, among whom were the Mayor (Mr J. B. Thomson) and Messrs H. Driver (who acted ag vice-chairman), T. Bracken and J. M'Donald, M.H.R.'s. It is worthy of note that even in those days Parliament had some outspoken critics. In proposing.the toast of "The Parliament of New Zealand," Mr H. Bastings

said it occurred to him that it would be better for us in New Zealand to have no Parliament at all if proceedings were to be conducted as they had been iu some respects. It seemed to have been a question of " pull baker, pull devil" — North versus South. And so on. Placed on their defence on this festive occasion the members of Parliament repelled the soft impeachment conveyed by the proposer of the toast. " Considering how short a time there was to elapse before/ the next general election," said Mr Driver, "Mr Bastings might be excused for indulging in a little bit of what he might call amateur electioneering." Mr Driver " felt a pride in sitting in th» Parliament of New Zealand," notwithstanding the fact that it had lost during late years many prominent men. The average of members was now, in Mr Driver's opinion, quite equal to any Parliament the colony had ever had, though "constituencies did not judgitheir members quite fairly, inasmuch as the first thing was always to find fault." Mr M'Donald " briefly' responded," but "Mr Bracken was dieposed to agree with Mr Basting*, that the present system of centralisation was unsuited to the resquiranents of the colony. "We must," said Mr Bracken, " have recourse to provincialism—not the old system, perhaps, but to some kini of provincialism—if we wanted th * country properly governed." Notwithstanding the abuse that was directed against the Otago members, Mr Bracken considered " they had been the life and soul of what was otherwise a collection of dead-heads." Mr Bracken, however, thought the press of Otago should be more lenient to its members, who, whatever their shortcomings, had honestly and faithfully done their duty. In proposing the health of Messrs James and John Watson the Mayor complimented them upon their enterprise. Paraphrasing th* change wrought by Augustus Cajsar, who found Rome a city of brick and leil it a city of marble, his Worship said thet some of them had found Dunedin very nearly in calico—" how we left it would be for future generations to testify." A considerable number of ladies were present and dancing closed what was undoubtedly an auspicious opening function to launch what was 50 years ago a very big enterprise indeed. The Grand Hotel has always presented definite artistic attractions. On its completion the interior decorations were outstanding, the handsome mosaic floor designs of the hall and entrance imported from England attracting special attention, that of the hall being a reproduction in miniature of the Roman Forum. Some 12 years ago, however, when the extensive modernising of the hotel was carried out to the plans of Messrs Salmond and Vanes the decorative side of the improvements received special attention. Mural decorations of outstanding artistic merit depicting episodes in English history adorn the bars. In one the story of " Olde London Taverns" |

is set out in vivid colour and bold detail by the well-known artist, Mr T. H. Jenkin. These panels go back to Norman times, when visitors to London were suitably entertained. Queen, Bess, Jack Straw's Castle,- Printing House square, Hampstead Heath, Dr Johnson and his friends, and other historical personages and places have provided the artist with 'material for the presentation of scenes of past centuries in the modern setting of a present-day hotel. In th? saloon bar "The Vintage of Portugal ' is told iu words and picture by the same artist, the production of wine being depicted from the vineyard to the vat, while the picturesque people of the sunny land are caught in characteristic pose and national dress. These series of decorative art panels have attracted attention from well-known visitors from overspas, and together they convey an impression

of other times and other lands which are as striking as they are original. Another by Mr J. W. Brock, "The Friars of Old in Humorous Vein," adorns the upper walls of the private bar, and this is also artistically and historically accurate in design and pleasing in colour. Just how much of the £12,000 expended in improving the entrance halls and the interior was devoted to the decorative side when the present proprietor (Mr A. A. Paape) resumed possession of the Grand in 1924 L not revealed, but the expenditure must have been considerable. The effects are certainly satisfactory.

On the walls of various rooms in the Grand Hotel to-day is a particularly fine collection of pictures of famous clipper ships and yachts. Many are special reproductions in colour of paintings by Spurling, who has now a worldwide reputation as a producer of old

ships made to live a'gain in picture. Spurling's work is remarkable for the life and action imparted to the vessels which made history in the old days of sail. The Cutty Sark is there with the most notable ships, and resting on the same walls are representations of small yachts some of which have achieved success in New Zealand waters. Together they form perhaps the largest and most remarkable collection to be seen in any single building outside of England. So far as Spurling's ships of old are concerned they are as complete as any in the world since they are all on view at the Grand. There is also another and important adjunct which has contributed to the wide reputation the Grand Hotel enjoys even beyond New Zealand. The cellars are among the most extensive attached to hotels in the Empire. Indeed, men well qualified to judge declare that even in England itself there are few which carry larger or moce varied stocks. At first blush this claim would appear extravagant, but when the cellars and stocks have been inspected and it is remembered that in the Old World stocks are relatively and quickly convenient as required the claim rests on a firm foundation.

The popularity and success of a modern hotel, as was the case with the inns and taverns of ancient days, rests in appreciable measure on the personal equation. " Mine host" must ever be an important part o f the establishment. In its fifty the Grand Hotel hag not had a long list of licensees, but some of them have been very prominent in the ranks of those associated with the trade. The Dunedin city valuers' field books show that Mr James Watson was the first person to hold the license for the Grand Hotel, and he relinquished it after 10 years, in 1893. He was followed by Messrs John Piercy (1894-1895), John Sidey (1896-1897), W. L. Philp (1898-1901), Joseph Ainge (1902-1909), Mrs Annie Ainge (1910 7 1917), Messrs Joseph Mandel (1918), Arthur A. Paape (1919-1920), D. F. Wark (1921-1924), and Arthur A. Paape (since 1924). Mr Sidey Dever conducted the hotel, Mr W. D. Reviagton holding the license and acting as manager. Some years after its erection Mr Sidey became owner of the hotel in addition to ownership of the site. In 1918 Mr Mandel purchased the lease, and the license was taken out in his name, but Mr Paape conducted the hotel on his behalf as manager, and later as licensee. With the exception of the period covered by the tenancy of Mr and Mrs Ainge, Mr Paape has the longest occupancy. Individually he is easily the record holder, as in the first days Messrs Watson Bros, shared the responsibility, while Mr and Mrs Ainge divided it. Mr Paape has invested the Grand Hotel with a popular and somewhat original atmosphere, and ho will doubtless enjoy comparison with an historical prototype of another day who is "still going strong."