SIGNER'S RIVAL.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19140, 25 October 1927, Page 5

SIGNER'S RIVAL.

A PUBLIC MAX'S SPITE. The foundation of Sunnier'.:; rival, New Brighton, is alleged to have been due to spite shown by a public man arisinc; out-of a matter of interest to Sumner, .ut over which its residents had no control. In his reminiscences published iu 1022, the late Mr G. T. Hawker, of New Brighton, narrated:---Joseph Harrop Hopkins, who kept a store clow" the Ferry before Woolston was formed, built the first hotel in New Brighton. He was chairman of the Jlcathcote Road Board, which included Sumner, and he being a. go-ahead man, raid seeing ahead, advised the Board to thr<- the Perry Bridge over the Heathcote open to the public free. At the time everyone who crossed the bridge had to pay a toil of sixpence. When he suggested making it free the majority of the Board rose against him. They said, 'Why should the townspeople use the road and not pay anything towards it?' He was very determined to carry his point, but the Board -vould let him do so. Then he ran across Mr George Oram and bought a piece of land down here and built an hotel near the site of the tramway bridge. He did it with a view to spiting .Sumner, r.nd he said at the time that the .Sumner people would live long enough to see the grass growth across Ferry road!" According to New Brighton's historian, Mr John W. Bissctt, Mr Hopkins bought from the Government 150 j>.cres, comprising the -ii-fcole central area of New Brighten, for £3OO. Mr Hopkins also built a steamboat for the river, which was capable of carrying 170 p-Sbsengers.