A LANDMARK

Waipa Post, Volume 41, Issue 3187, 12 August 1930, Page 6

A LANDMARK

TE KUITI’S EARLY HISTORY.

The Grand Hotel at Te Kuiti, which was destroyed by fire last Friday morning (says the Chronicle), was one of the only remaining buildings associated with the early history of the town. It was built over 32 years ago by the late John Hetet. It was then taken over by Messrs E. Kerr, King, G. Horner, and Barraud and Abraham in succeession, the company being then formed and the hotel was at that time in charge of Mr R. Halford, after whose death, Mrs Halford took over, being in charge up till the present time. The Grand Hotel came into existence before the Main Trunk line came through the town. The route to New Plymouth then was via Oparure. The building is associated with the advancement of rail and transport as it concerns Te Kuiti. It was a well kown resting house of the traveller of a by-gone day before the advent of train and motor-car.

During tunnelling operations at Roro-o-tarao by the Public Works Department and the putting through of the railway, many of those engaged on these works were housed at the Grand. It also played its part at the time the viaduct was being built, and participated in the celebrations which eventuated when the first train came through here, and when Te Kuiti achieved the status of a Main. Trunk town. At that time two trains per week passed through, and later three trains per week. “ We thought the end of the world had come,” an old resident of the town said to a reporter, “when the train became a daily event. At this time the Grand Hotel was practically the only building in the area, the block opposite and most of the surroundings being covered with fern and manuka.