OLD LANDMARK

Southland Times, Issue 20979, 11 January 1930, Page 10

OLD LANDMARK

BUILDING AT GORE. SOLD FOR REMOVAL. After weathering many storms and a long career of usefulness in many ways the shop adjoining Messrs T. Green and Co.’s premises in _lrk street, Gore,, has been sold to make way for a modern building. The first building on the site was erected by the late Mr Thomas Green in 1876 and was. first used as a stable. Mr Green at that time owned and trained a few racehorses. Two years after the first building was erected it was destroyed by fire and in 1878 it was rebuilt as a stable. Later it was leased by Mrs Watson, who used it as a stable for her boardinghouse, which then stood next to where the Salvation Army Hall now is. When the old house was burned down the hotel was transferred to this building pending building operations, and the present Southland Hotel was then erected. The old shop was then leased to Messrs Roy and McLellan as a wool and skin store and for a few years that business was transacted within its walls. When this lease was relinquished Kemp’s cordial factory was housed in the building. In 1881 Mr Brewer leased the structure as a stable, and later he was joined in partnership by Mr Trembath. The building served as a Livery stable for a period, and was for a time leased by Mr W. Pollock. About 30 years ago Royds Bros, and Kirk used it as a wool and skin store with Mr A. J. Pope as manager. When the Gore School was burned down in 1895 the building was elevated in the scheme of things, and it was used as a temporary seat of learning for the children of the period. On many occasions during its career the building has been used as a bandroom by the Gore Municipal Brass Band. For a time Messrs T. Green and Co., Ltd., conducted their own business in the shop, and when the present Rialto was built Messrs O’Sullivan and Tinnock opened a fish shop and luncheon rooms. Mr O’Sullivan retired from the partnership, and his place was taken by Mr Campbell. Recently the site was sold to a Southland syndicate, and the old building has been sold for removal. A new and up-to-date theatre will take its place. The old building has had a lengthy career, and could its walls but speak they doubtless would have some fine tales to tell of the early days of settlement at Gore. The structure will doubtless be re-erected elsewhere, and its career of usefulness will in all probability be recommenced in a new sphere.