HILLTOP HOTEL.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 208, 2 September 1931, Page 8

HILLTOP HOTEL.

Owner Instructed to Provide Accommodation. BUILDING DELAYED. As a result of a complaint that no sleeping accommodation is available at present for drovers at the Hill Top Hotel, the Lyttelton Licensing Committee, at its quarterly meeting to day-, instructed the owner of the property (Mr 11. C. Bell) that he must provide immediate sleeping accommodation for four persons, and have the building completed by the next quarterly meeting of the committee, to take pl ace at Lyttelton on December 9. Mr Sargent, who represented the licensee (Mr G. M’Kinley Petty), said that the hotel was burned down in April last, and the owner of the property had given the committee his assurance that the erection of the new building would be carried out straight away. Some time had elapsed before any start had been made on the building, and since work had commenced there were periods during which one and two carpenters were unemploy-ed. The licensee was of the opinion that the owner of the property was not doing his best to expedite the erection of the hotel, and that delay was causing the licensee a loss in trade. It was only fair that the owner should carry out his promise to the committee. Unfortunately-, no undertaking of a time limit had been made and he would suggest to the committee that it should demand immediate completion of the building in order to enable his client to get the benefit of the summer trade, as well as to be in the position to provide sleeping accommodation for drovers. Difficulty of Finance. Mr C. 11. Holmes, who represented the owner, stated that the building would consist of seventeen rooms and cost about £2BOO. The reason that the hotel had not been proceeded with more expeditiously was on account of finance. It was expected that the building would be completed by November. Had Mr Bell been able to secure more finance, the contractors could have put on more men. Mr H. A. Young, S.M., pointed out that the owner, if unable to obtain the necessary finances, might endeavour to sell the property-. Mr Holmes: It is doubtful whether that can be done in these times. Mr Young added that the committee had chiefly to consider the question of accommodation, and the temporary license granted at the annual meeting had been given on the understanding that the new building would be erected straightaway. If, at the next quarterly meeting of the committee, the hotel was not finished, there was no telling what decision the committee would come to. It would depend on circumstances.