HOKITIKA IN THE EARLY DAYS.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 January 1924, Page 4

HOKITIKA IN THE EARLY DAYS.

THE HONKERS. Oik- hi' the pioneers ol Westland. .Mr William Evans, now of Timnni, recently visited the scene id his early strut* eles on tiie occasion of the opening ol the Hokitika Exhibition. lie brought with him a bound copy of two illustrated papers, “The Tomahawk'" ana "The Lantern," both printed in Hokitika in l~7d, and kindly allowed the writer to make a tew extracts. Ihe papers are about the size of Hunch. The copies of " I lie Tomahawk" are \V.L I. No-. 1 to Id. March dth, J 570 to dune llih. "The Lantern'’ ropieare ANJ. i. Nos. 1 to Id, duly ft to September 'JI. 1 "70. The price of each (Id a ropy. “The Tomahawk” printed liy George Tillhrnok and Joseph I veils, Weld St., Hokitika, for tlio proprietor, Edward Harr;-. Revell Sr. North. On April 23rd, 1570, the paper changed hands. Number 5 was printed and published by the proprietor. Henry Cohen Piraui, of Weld St. "The Lantern" seems to have been a conlitumtion of “The Tomahawk," for the imjirint shows that it was printed and published by Tillhrnok and Ives? for the proprietors. .Roth paper- were nut on the same lines, and each copy had a eai toon illustrating some of the public happenings of those early days. "The Tomahawk" described itsell "A Saturday Journal of Criticism. Commentary and Satire,” and it is ditiienlt alter the lapse of AI years to separate the actual happenings I rein the satire. Let us lir.st take some til'the advertisements, which will give some indication of the daily lite of lsi(>. The lirst advertisement is that of an auctioneer, William Todd, who on March Atli, 1570. sells the entire cargo of 'lie Elibella Jackson from Kaiapoi. consisting of bricks, Hour, on is, bran. Jiarlev. eggs, haeon, butter, cheese and pota toes, truly a varied assortment. I erne as usual; no reserve. Sale at 12 o clock prompt, wet or dry. 'I lien tour days later “that splendidly built and eoutmandnig property in the centre of I’.evell Street, known as llt. Rainbow Hotel. James A. Roliai was the agent for Messrs Me.Meekau. Riaekwood and ( o - steamers. I'ut'gi Into, Claud Hamilton and Omen lor Melbourne direct, and the Tararua ; ml the Gottvliberg for way ports and

Melbourne (weather permitting). Ricliard Reeves and Co. advertise. 1 the Golden Hope hotel at Ross for -abas the owner. Mr Rihcr, was leaving; for Europe. Mr Zohrab. accountant, next the White House Hot.!, made a speviai feature in his advertisement that ■■lnsolvents' books were balanced and adjust ed." Air Keller kept tin* Calc National with two billiard tables, now known as Keller's hotel. Thomas K. Christian, as Secretary of the Westland Jockey Club, notified ike public that owing to the damage done to the racecourse- by the recent Hoods, there would be- no autumn meeting! T. R. Procter, jeweller, received consignments by every English mad. Tail Rivs. were the photographic artists ~f the day. Tin.- Lance-hire Bellringers gave a pertorioaiKe at Hau-on's A-s.-nddy i-o mo.. -Twill St., whole Princess Tnc.il re now stand:-'. Nnod-ei one of "The Stitt Painter-' Prl folio" u.i ■ published l.v Job,, t Vers! oe Maw It I Alb. |s7n. I" It':’:’ .: i't •-1 w po.wd euquir:---. w. mid.: .-i.inil :!••«. lb.' only copy in i-xisteli* e • ■ I-daV t in tie ! v l.ibtarv ! 11uin -di:: K • -- week there we- - h-t-I bn ■-ale. At ihe Duke - - Edinburgh '! he-n i---which M'ootl opposite rievatley's I lobe' ii Revell Si, the Dramutie Star Compel:-; gave a *;>. Hod programme. The drama' billed w.-e- • l.tnlv Audley' Ret ret." followed by tv.o tar-*- T'*.* price of admission we. ! , ,1- and Alt Stoddart, North Seweli St., o> -cited Lenc'lei- for clearing and grubbing five acres of land. Sinclair and Jack, of Roalny St South, were tin- Ihmri-hing undertak er.s. Tito favourite S.S. Waipara. Captain Itasca ml -ailed for Ukarilo, Is nice Ray ■ le.ekson's Ray and .Merlin’s Ray. The charge for advertisements ,u "The Tomahawk" was one inch per quarter, ill. The Royal George Hotel was kept by Francis W. [line, and Joseph Williams advertised as a wholesale amt retail druggist-, also surgical and mu rh.mieal dentist, and supplied nrtifi-

oiiil teeth at moderate j >iic~. It. SI net hurst of the Laucashiri. Anti', siipjilietl meals at all hours of the day for Is (id: beds Is. From it* elose proximity to the Tramway, this hotel is the most convenient jilaee ol call for miners, packers. and np-coiin-try residents, A large anti commodious concert room is attached to file Hotel where diggers can make l hemsalves at home, and spend a few hours in rational enjoyment. 11. .Mover kept the White House Hotel, ami John Cross advertised the West Coast Times Hotel as the “Pod’s Corner.'' W. 11. Perkins (now living in C'reylnouth) had the London Portrait rooms. The Oddfellows and Foi'roMer:held an Easter fete and Fancy Fair on the Hokitika Cricket ground, to raise funds to build an Orphan Asylum. Amongst the list of officials are the

mimes of the fathers of many of our well-known citizens of Captain I lioiiar of the Westland Volunteers and Captain MacfaiTanc of the I l 'ire Brigade head the list. The marshals were Mr D. Benjamin anil IT. Dehenham. and the stewards were Messrs Goodfellow. .Alien, McXeo, Cnnn. Matthews, I'aris, Dooley, ITolmes, Hall and Smith. Amongst the list of sports were quoit matches, Maori races, hi. vole steeple chase, pig with greasy tail, greasy pole, old women's race, all fours steeplechase, local conundrum hitch and kick the bladder.. Aunt Sally, and dancing on the green—all for one shilling. Ashton's Academy of He cell St. North, conducted by Mr Ashton, V. 0., King's College, London, offered a thorough good English education including drawing and Drench for 2s 'id weekly. The extras were Latin, Euclid Navigation, Algebra. Mensuration and Printing. The City Theatre, Weld St., shmvmd a grand moving panorama of New /calami. Then, on the same date. Hermann -Mover of the White House Hotel, offered for sale with a perfect title: The White House Hotel, City Theatre and adjoining ollice. Three cottages on three sections. Weld St. The Hallway house, Kapitea Creek, and .T'i acres of land, forty acres ot land near Teremakau (auriferous), forty acres of tlax land near Totara, the steamer Golden Tamil and a pastoral lease. Truly a man of property. Keller’s sample room adjoining Perry s store stands on the site of the AA kite House. .1. S. Wagner kept the Empire Hite! opposite the Bank of New Zealand, and the Kanieri Tram leased by William Smith, ran five expresses a day and t special on Saturday evening. Per

special tram the fares vvoro 2s single, and 3s return. Ordinary tram Is fid and 2s 6d. The freights were for 20001bs to Kanieri, 20s; Arthurstown, 30s, and Eight Mile, dOs.

Mr P. Zohrah seemed to do a varied business as .an accountant. A sign of the times is shown by the number of advertisements to facilitate bankruptcy. Here is a page from the last copy of “The Tomahawk.” It was evidently the last number ns in a notice to subscribers the editor said, “The present number of the “Tomahawk" is issued for the purpose of preserving the proprietor's copyright, pending the public decision whether this journal shall he continued. This will explain to our readers why the pro sent issue contains so little matter. Tn justice to those gentlemen who have favoured us with advertisements, publish the usual number of copies anil distribute tie* issue gratis.” The following are the advertisement.' and give the reader an idea of the dwellers in Hokitika and Kanieri in 1570 who advertised in the papers:— FT. J. Hansen, Post Office Hotel. Gibson’s Quay. H. Meyer, White House Hotel, Weld St.

Win. Gnwrie and Co., City Tea Mart. Revell St. Walter Ramsay, -tiddler, Revell Sr. ,T. M. TTiggin, t fa- mis!. Revell St. .Max Mender-bauson, lobaeconisi, Revell St. G. Sandilaiidlinker. Revell St. Roll Osborne, ('ate do Paris. Reved St. ■ James Evans. Rod Lion Hotel. Gibson's Quay. Tiilbrook and fvress. printers. Weld St. .1. S. Wagner. Empire Hotel, Revell St. S. W. Ahum, draper, Revell St. William Todd, auctioneer, who mL vertised for sale anti-rheumatic undershirt- and waterproof coals in all -iy.es. It look- as if there was nil occasional shower of rain on the Coast even in the gooi.l old days. One wonders now where all the houses and hotels stood in Kanieri. as only the following few advertised in "The Tomahawk." 11. L. Robinson, wholesale butcher. Kanieri. Nii-lin] Ramsey, storekeeper. Kan ieri. Thomas Thompson, Junction Hotel K a nieri. I.enrinnnt and Gibson, storekeepers. Kanieri. William C. Wells, Globe Hotel. Kanieri Tram. Robert Wagseliale. (‘iiinmereial IR> tel. Kanieri. [•'. Dal,.. Ro-t Office -tore. Kanieri. .1. l-'tveman. Rallaral Hotel, Kanieri. William Smith, Tramway Terminus Hotel, Kanieri. “The Lantern'" was first issued on July Oth. and contains practically the same advertisements with a few additions. Michael Cassius gives up the business of merelmni and sols up as a Commission Agent and Rroket A. C. Prichard and Co., diapers, keep a -hop called the Golden Fleece, opposite the Rank of Australasia. Eamuel W. A 1 com buys out disgrace, draper. opposite the Town I lull and states that his -hills. drawers and ilaunels are second to none in Hokitika! John Crerar informs its that hi? circulating library is open to subscriber- at 7- (id a quarter. payable ; a i Ivanee. Mace and Dixon adverti-e aerati'.! waters. W. .Maetarlane and (.•>, are wholeode wine and spirit merchant- in Revell Street and Reach Street and so on wit It the li-l. ( . Aiming aml to.. den 1. 1 - t Revell St. f-ipetee 1 and ( <■.. importers, Revell Hi. ..-ii Idbe Cab i a P.i.ri ha tab!- .Rboib tk.dy at P me-. I '*‘"ea>, ’ • "".al -t, ••;>! -* if | Tout. Hall. i T. AA’. Hungertord. Arahura road. T. T!. Procter, jeweller. Revell St. C. A. Paterson, grocer. I’cvtdl and Weld Sts. J. Price, the Sniithlhdd lintehery. .1. R. Ilud-on, (develand Motel. Vi oreester -!iire Arms, .lame- Mar-| tin. Robert Rums Hotel. W. Mackintosh. Digger-’ Arms, Cih*nns Quay,! C’hellingx and Whitten. J. Duff, butler and egg mercTinnt. Revell St. Alfred Palmer, Commission Agent. Wharf Si. Joseph 11 iitebrliffe, hutelmr. S.-mniel Boyle, protluee merchant. Wharf Si. F. Clarke, coal merchant-. Revell St. James Chesney and Co., importers, Mark Sproi and Co.. Stock Agents. Retell St. William Woothide, bootmaker, Re veil St. Pern- and McLean, grocers. Revel; St. D. Cullen and Co., nine merchant a Revell St Vi . Ramsay, saddler, Revell St. .fames l,uilon, wine merchant. Weir liras., crockery ware, opposite Rank of New Zealand. Scott and Wilkinson, accountants, Gibson’- Quay. James Craig and Co., timber merchants. opposite Kanieri Tramway Terminus, Gibson’s Quay. Anderson and Muwat, produce merchant, Tailored St. William Allen, bootmaker, Revel!

Si. Rose, Thistle and Shamrock Hotel, S. M. Solomon. Richard Campbell, butcher, Revell St. Eldorado Hotel. Revell St., T. Buxton. John Dixon. plumbers, Hamilton St. British lfidei, corner Camp am! Tatiered St. AAlilliam Evans, wine merchant. Wharf St. Hokitika Hotel, Revell St.. Peter Connelly. The next advertisement is printed in full:—

110KITIKA SAVINGS BAN IC. Established by Act of the General Assembly, ISoS. President—His Excellency the Governor General of New Zealand. Vit-.. President—Gerard George Fitzgerald. E-q.. R.M. TRESTLES: i linn J. A. Bonar. F-q.. A1.1..C.. Samuel Boyle. Esq.. Michael Cassius, j Esq.. Joint Cosgravo, Esq.. Joii’i ! Crerar, Esq.. Robert Eeclesfield. Esq., ! AA'illiam Evans, Eso., Malcolm Fraser. E-q.. Duncan Mncfarlano, Esq.. (ieorge A. Paterson. Esq., Walter Scott Reid, Esq., Archibald Scott. Esq : Manager, Archibald Bonar. The Cartoons were printed every week and recorded local events. Most of the public men of the time appear in the pictures including Mr Vogel, who was Premier at the time, Messrs Harrison and Barff, Members of Parliament. Mr Bonar and the members of the County Council, LaTimnutt Hoos, Carreras, Evans and White. Most, of them have beards or ide whiskers. . The supplement to “The Tomahawk" on March sth contains an account of a banquet given in Hansen's Assembly rooms by Mr Janies Evans of the Red Lion Hotel in honour of St David's Day. There were a large number of guests

amongst them being the Hon J. A. Bonar, M.L.C., Conrad Hoos, County Chairman, S. Boyle, Mayor of Hokitika, AY. H. Harrison. M.11.R , M.C.C., E. Barff, M.TI.IL, M.C.O , J. White, R. Reeves, K. do la.- Carreras, H. Robinson. Dr Maunsell, R Abbott, W. Evans, J. J. Williams. T). Gwynno Davies, A. Aiming. E. Williams, J. Turner, Captain Perkins. Captain Turnbull, C. E. Button. John Hall, J. P. Klein and many others. Mr Llewellyn Thomas of Ross, played the harp. The toast of the ho?! and hostess, Mr and Mr- Jam*’" Evans, was drunk with enthusiasm and musical honours. The paper seemed to have a standing feud with the daily morning paper, the "We-t Coast limes, ■ regarding local affairs. Judging from -ome ot the arH• the main agitation in those days v.ato make Hokitika the first port ot call for the postal service between Melbourne and New Zealand. Then there is another article abut trade being dull money scarce, and the drain on the colony's resources caused by the recent war with the M.noiis. and referring to Colonel AA hitmove and To Konti what would the writer have said about the situation to-day. Greymouth evidently chafed in those early days at being under tuo AA'ostkind County Council, and there : are arguments and emit mvor-ies with the Greymouth "Evening Star an 1 i “(ow River Argus" with an agitation | to join Greymouth to the Nelson Proj vinee. I Oil August 13th, 1570, the A* .thorn 1 Road was completed and opened :or j traffic and there was great excitement |at the proposal to establish a I'd* j gate. The tiles end with the 12th number of “The Lantern" dated September 24, 1570. We close bv expressing our thanks to Mr William Evan- for allowing t- | to peruse this interesting publication, j giving us a glimpse of the early times j and lmpe that these extracts may j prove of interest to some ol "U- ---! i-eaders, who can carry their thought? j hack to the stirring times of the goon old day-, when Hokitika and AA’o.-t- ---| land were in the making.