L.V. PORTRAIT GALLERY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VIII, Issue 409, 26 May 1898, Page 16

L.V. PORTRAIT GALLERY.

Mr Audus Raynes, whose portrait appears in this issue, is well and popularly known as the proprietor of the Terminus Hotel, New Plymouth. The subject of our sketch commenced business with a general store at Wairoa South in 1876, and was well known as a large purchaser of settlers’ produce, which was conveyed to the Thames by the steamer Transit, and he was proverbially lucky in hitting good markets there-

with. In 1878 Mr Raynes built the first hotel ' in Wairoa South, and ran the same in conjunction with the general store for some time, but finally sold the whole business to Mr George Martin. He afterwards purchased the National Hotel, Cambridge, and during the “ gold days” had the whole of the tourists trade for the Lakes district, so much so, in fact, that he had to extend the hotel premises to double the original size, and eventnally sold out the lot to Mr Gillett. Some time afterwards Mr Raynes took the Kahui Hotel at Dargaville which he'kept for ten years. Here he was very successful, and - . J eventually sold out at a big figure to Mr Rogers. The Grand Hotel, Auckland, was his next venture, and another successful sale was made to. Mr Gallagher. Dnring his tenure of the Grand Mr Raynes had the honor of catering for four Governors, and most of the aristocracy visiting the colony. The Terminus Hotel at New Plymouth came next, and Mr Raynes, having secured the stone house and grounds adjoining the hotel, ■ is hard at work laying out the grounds in great style, his intention being to make the place, the sanatorium of the district. The Terminus commands a splendid view of the whole place, and is ' facing the sea and railway station, and just now ’ ■ is one of the most popular houses along the coast, and when the projected improvements are completed the house and grounds will undoubtedly be the leading attraction of the district.