A Photographic Pub Crawl, Temuka and vicinity.
Challenging times at the local
Nelson Mail, 10 September 2008 paraphrased
Old classic pubs are becoming a rare breed, either knocked down or turned into
yuppie bars or have been accidentally burned down like Burkes Pass. The
traditional Kiwi rural pubs were once the focus of many New Zealand communities,
but these days - in the face of widespread competition and ever-tougher rules -
many struggle to get by. Many of the old wooden hotels were built about 100
years ago and retain character on the outside and inside, a relaxed atmosphere
with a roaring fire keeps the cold at bay. The walls are covered with old sepia
photographs of local farming district 100 years ago. The pubs have history and a
huge amount of character. The buildings are old and the business is getting
harder and harder. Many are diversifying - backpakers inns, special events like
the terminus of a charity bike ride event or a hunting competition. Every year,
there are less and less people. Cost is a major factor for everyone and it's
difficult to compete with cheap beer prices in the supermarket. People coming to
pubs to drink are a dying breed but there is still an eclectic mixture of people
similar to that of "a good English pub" maybe a retired policeman, a farmer, an
engineer, a developer, a truck driver, and a fisherman. There is always a good
night when there's a rugby match on but, generally, the pub is not as busy as we
used to be and winters are very quiet. The hotels still offer the traditional
hot meal and a bed to overnight travellers, with truck drivers and contractors
among their main clientele but local working people are the pub's bread and
butter. Traditional country meals include roast dinners and steaks, which are
popular with the local clientele, as well as typical bar snacks such as toasted
sandwiches and wedges. They come here because they always have. Every pub has to
provide at least four different food items under the terms of its licence, a
requirement designed to "slow down drinking" and "sober up intoxication". The
ban on smoking in pubs was introduced in late 2004 was a change for the better.
They are now able to attract more families and the employees they enjoy the
clean, smoke-free environment. The traditional hotel culture is gone. Pubs used
to be an integral part of the community but now people are very hard up and they
can't afford to come out. Business wouldn't survive if it weren't for her
traditional meals and faithful regulars. They're all over 40. Many pubs are
living on the back of tourism with a small resident population in the rural
towns cafe-bars depend on the tourist dollar. If it were not for tourists, there
would be fewer licensed premises.
The Temuka Hotel, King Street, Temuka.
The Crown Hotel, 64 King Street, Temuka.
Timaru Herald, 23 March 1867, Page 2
AROWHENUA
The house and premises, consisting of half an acre of land and a butcher's shop,
situate opposite to the Royal Hotel, was sold by auction here yesterday, and
fetched the large price of £480, the purchaser being Mr F. LeCren, of Timaru. I
remember the same section being sold about three years ago for £50, and it was
then thought a large price. There is to be a great sale of cattle and horses at
the Crown Hotel Stockyards, on Saturday, the 23rd March, to commence at twelve
o'clock. The stock is of a first-class description, and ought to realise good
prices. Mr Barnard, from Christchurch, is the auctioneer.
The new stables and repository are now nearly complete, and
are to be fitted up with every convenience. It is a . speculation that certainly
deserves success, and it is to be hoped that Mr Dyson may reap a good benefit
from the undertaking. I see that Dr Caro is about to build a large house about a
mile to the northwest of the Waihi Crossing. The specifications are now out, and
to be seen at Messrs Mendelsohn and Morris's store, and worthy the attention of
contractors.
Amusements here seem to be by fits and starts. For the last
six months there has not been a single performance of any sort, while at the
present moment there are four or five programmes on the board. First, on Friday
(to-morrow), Cook's circus ; next week, the soiree m aid of the Presbyterian
Church, and a concert by the Christy Minstrels j and directly after that,
another vocal and instrumental concert, given for the benefit the Royal
Arowhenua Brass Band : so there will be no hick of recreation for the
pleasure-seeking public. The poundkeeper here has not yet been gazetted, and it
is quite a nuisance to have to be continually sending to the Timaru pound, when,
if the cattle or horses are to be put in "durance vile," the nearer to the
owner s residence the better.
There is no news here yet about the rumoured tax on the duck
shooters, and I suppose that "April fool's day" will be a regular English first
of September amongst the lovers of the ramrod. The ducks are very plentiful, but
seem exceedingly wild already.
The Empire Hotel, King Street, Temuka.
The Royal Hotel, King Street, Temuka. [Coira's Royal Hotel]
Oct. 2008 "Temuka - chain stores and franchise junk food outlets
haven't penetrated this hardy South Canterbury second-hand shopper's paradise.
Its petrol station is called Gasoline Alley."
Timaru Herald Wednesday 15 November 1899
Mr J. Sullivan announces that he has taken over the Royal Hotel, Temuka. This hotel
is one of the best in the district.
May 1 1871 Canterbury Police Gazette
Stolen from the person Henry Eagle, of Smithfield, near Temuka, while lying
asleep during the night of the 1st ult., in the Royal Hotel, Temuka, two 10
notes of the Union Bank of Australia issue. Eagle had the money on his person
when he went to sleep, after drinking heavily, and on waking in the morning,
found that it had been stolen. John Curtis, suspected, description:- An
Englishman, 25 years of age, 5ft 6 or 7 in in height, fair hair and complexion,
no whisker, beard or moustache. Curtis resides in Temuka.
The Arowhenua Hotel on State Highway 1 just over Opihi Bridge, south of Temuka.
The Crown Hotel, Talbot St. Geraldine is more than 100 years ago and has
Category B heritage status. The Edwardian Hotel, built in 1906, has
been an asset of the community-owned Geraldine Licensing Trust since 1950, and
has a capital value of $690,000 and will be selling the hotel in June 2008. The
trust still retains substantial assets within Geraldine including the Westpac
Bank building and the Village Inn Sports Bar, Super Liquor Bottle-store and the
Village Inn cafe.
26 March 2008 Timaru Herald
A casual interest in brewing has led to an intriguing discovery beside the Waihi
River in Geraldine. Beer systems serviceman Jeremy Sutherland has discovered
hops growing wild on the riverbank behind the Crown Hotel. Mr Sutherland was
collecting some tasty looking blackberries when the hops caught his eye tangled
in the bush. After rubbing the hops in his hand, the aroma confirmed it was the
base plant for brewing beer. Hops it seems are an unusual plant to be growing
wild. Having made the discovery Mr Sutherland made some inquiries as to how they
might have got there. The most likely scenario is they have descended from a
brewery established in 1876 by Edward Perry about a kilometre from where the
hops were found. It operated for around a decade before likely many others moved
to the Nelson area where hop growing was more prolific. Mr Sutherland said he
believed it was the remnants of that hop garden. "The DB Mainland Brewery is
going to analyse them to confirm where they are likely to have come from by the
variety." Another option was the publican of the Crown Hotel may have planted
them around 1908 to make home brew. Mr Sutherland said about that time seven
hotels in Geraldine closed due to pressure from the Temperance Society so it
seemed unlikely. Mr Sutherland said he recognised the plant having spent time in
England and visited the hop gardens in Kent. The beer connoisseur believed there
were enough hops in the riverbed for a small brewery to operate. His mother,
however, suggested an alternative they could also be used by flower arrangers as
dried hops were 'prized' because they were uncommon outside commercial
operations.
1998: The Geraldine Licensing Trust decides to lease the Crown Hotel after 47 years of managing the hotel itself. Thirty staff are given redundancy notices.
6 November 2004 Timaru Herald
The Geraldine Licensing Trust was established by act of Parliament in 1948 and
its area gazetted at that time. The rules under which the trust operates and the
gazetted area have not basically altered since that time. The Crown Hotel, which
had operated as a boarding house during the "dry" era in Geraldine of 1908-1950,
became the town's first liquor outlet when the trust began trading in 1950. Sir
Norman Blakiston, well respected in the local community, was the first chairman,
1950-1956. Under his leadership, and that of subsequent trust boards through the
years, the Geraldine community now enjoy the present facilities. This shows
successive boards have exercised vision for the future and business acumen in
growing the trust. The rules the trust operated under in 1950 are the same it
operates under today. Twenty liquor outlets in the trust area, only seven of
which are connected to the trust, is hardly the actions of a body that is
"stifling business". Elected trust members roles are to see the trust is
operated according to legislation and act as stewards on behalf of the owners,
the Geraldine community.
Photo taken by Margaret Todd 12 May 2007 on
the weekend when Geraldine was celebrating the town's 150th anniversary.
Wolseley Hotel, Winchester on corner of State Highway 1 and Baker Street,
Winchester.
The sun was directly behind the building.
North Otago Times, 9 August 1866, Page 2
A grand supper and ball was given by Mr W. Kinlay, at Arowhenua, in
commemoration of the opening of the Crown Hotel, which was well attended and
went off with great eclat.
New Zealand Tablet, 2 April 1897, Page 15
That popular old "sport" Michael Scannell has retired from hotel-keeping, and
Mr. Timothy Twomey has taken possession of the Wallingford Hotel, to which he is
having extensive alterations carried out, amongst which is the addition of
first-class stabling accommodation. Mr. Twomey came here with a first-class
reputation, and I may say he has even surpassed it since taking up his abode
here. Mr. Twomey is a typical hotelkeeper, and he is almost singular for his
straightforward and genial qualities. His friends in places where he has been
residing will be pleased to learn that he is "doing well" and becoming more and
more popular.
New Zealand Tablet, 6 June 1901, Page 5
Temuka
Mr. Patrick Lyons, who established a good connection for the Arowhenua Hotel,
has purchased the Star Hotel from Mr. W. Cronin, who, I understand, is to take a
trip Home. While in the Arowhenua Mr. Lyons made a number of friends, who will
be glad to hear that he is prospering in his new home.
Otago Witness, 19 August 1903, Page 48
Mr M'Auliffe, the well-known giant of the police force, who has for some
time been mine host of the Gladstone Hotel, but was reduced in June last, has
secured a lease of the Wallingsford Hotel, Temuka, and will leave for the north
in a few days. Mr M'Auliffe is one of the keenest of our anglers and shots, and
will find the district to which he is going a perfect sportsman's paradise.
Otago Witness, 7 July 1909, Page 63
Wednesday night saw the closing of the Geraldine hotels. Six licenses lapsed
owing to the inclusion, of the district in the Ashburton electorate — three in
Geraldine, and one each at Orari, Rangitata, and Arundel. As it was market day
in Geraldine a large number of country residents were in town, and the streets
presented an animated appearance during the afternoon. There was no rowdyism or
excitement until after 10 o'clock, when the bars were closed, but from then on
till midnight a number of young men made things lively at the upper end of the
town by indulging in a good deal of noise. Two policemen were on duty, and they
came in for some "barracking" and hooting, but no arrest was made. A fight
appeared imminent between two individuals during the evening, and they crossed
the swing bridge over the Waihi River to settle their quarrel in a quiet road.
The crowd followed to see fair play, and when the majority reached the centre of
the structure it suddenly collapsed, landing several in the icy water.
Timaru Herald, 29 May 1882, Page 3
There has been quite an exodus of hotel keepers from this neighborhood of late.
Mr Watkins, late proprietor of the Rangitata Hotel is succeeded by Mr Dormer.
The Woodbury Hotel, late in the occupation of Mr Beecher, has a new landlord.
The Orari , Hotel, lately occupied by Mr Brosnahan, has again fallen into the
hinds of Mr Wanisworth?, and Mr Digby Andrews succeeds Mr Muff as host of the
Crown Hotel at Geraldine.
NZ Truth 29 August 1929, Page 5
AFTER tickling the musical palate of a Temuka audience at
a sacred band concert on a recent Sunday evening, Samuel Burns and Maurice
Murray, two Timaru members of the Temuka Band, adjourned to the Empire Hotel for
the purpose of tickling their own palates with liquid refreshment. Everything
went off to schedule, until P.C. Southworth, passing the hotel and hearing
voices m the bar, looked, in and made himself known. Burns and Murray were
subsequently charged before Mr. C. R. Orr-Walker, S.M., with being found on
licensed premises after hours. Mr. W. D. Campbell (Timaru) appeared for
defendants, and endeavored to show that they had been bona fide boarders, having
intended to stay the night at the hotel. It was stated that defendants had been.
allotted a room by the proprietor, but had not been entered m the guestbook. The
Magistrate intimated that he was unable to accept the defence, and convicted and
fined, each defendant £2 and costs. Matthew Coffey, proprietor of the Empire
Hotel, for selling liquor at a time when such premises were required by law to
be closed, was convicted and fined £5 and costs.