Old Hotels And Identities

Taupo Times, Volume 11, Issue 79, 22 July 1953, Page 1

Old Hotels And Identities

MOHAKA BRIDGE HOTEL

(By

H,

•H.)

My notes 'on the Mohaka Bridge Hofel, well known in the old eoaehing days to travellers oh the NapierTaupo Eoad, begin with a Report iated Tarawera, 29th. May, 1878, and addressed to "J. M. Roberts Esq., R. M. Taupo." This was Colonel Roberts, N.Z, Cross, after whom Roberts Street, Taupo, is named, and wbo ^as then Resident Magistrate for the district. The report is as follows:— "Sir, I have the honour to forward herewith a report on the Mohaka House. Since rny last report Mr Lewis has made some improvements and travellers can now get accommodation though the rooms are as yet in an unfinished condition as regards $apering & lighting & the house is without a regular bar for the saie of iiquor. Ma* Lewis is however to put oue up and intends to finish the rooms without delayr I think the tiouse is fit for a-bush license. I have the honour to be> ...sir, Your obedient servant, (sgd.) P. J. W. Gascoigrny Sub-Inspeetor, A.€. In. Charge, Tarawera."

Then comes an Appiicatioh for a jnew license for tbe v Mohaka Bridge Hotel, made by John Lewis on 28th. October, 1878, and the form of householders* certificate appended is signed by the following "ten hooseholders residing in the immediate neiglibourbood oi the Mohaka ' "J : — - J . Hindmarsh (Rakaumcana), D. R. McDonell, Thomas Ryan, John B. Clibboix, .John Turne/r, 0. Pilfeing (Titiokura), John Fenton (Carri.er), Evan ' Griffith, Audrey Peter, H. Will (Carrier, Taupo Liiie). Some seven months later we have "Notice of Application for a Publiean's License" as follows:-— " John Lewis now residing at Mohaka applies for a Bush License for a House situated at Mohaka and known as the Mohaka (Bridge) HoteL Dated the 12th. day of May, 1879. (Sgd.) X His Mark John Lewis." The ten bouseholders certificate appended again purports to be signed by "ten jbooseholders living in the immediate neighbourhood of Mohaka." The names are as follows: — ArthurvVincent, George Hobb, Thomas Pringle, John B. Clibbon, F. W. D. Kennedy, Duncan Campbell, Alfred Mansfield, Oswald F. Pilling, W. Pinara, Wiliiam R. Cant. A sketch of the ground plan of the hotel proposed to be . iicensed comprises four bedroorns nine feet by nine feet, two bedroorns (spelt Lbeadroom") eight feet by eight feet. a dining iroom eight een by fourteen, and ia sitting room of the same size. A report from Charles Brown, gergeant, A.C. Force, Tarawera, dated 21st. May, 1879, and addressed to Mr. E. S. Thompson, Clerk to the j Beneh, Taupo-, states: — "I have the bonor to inforni you, that I have this day inspected Mr Lewis y House at Mohaka, and find it according to the Act. Mr Lewis has good aceommodati'On for travellers." Two years later we have an Application for a Puhlican/s License made by Patirick Dooney, of Mohaka Bridge, dated 6th. day of May 1881. This was accompanied by the householdersJ certificate, with the following ten •Games: — N. E. Ashman, Colin Munro, D. Falvey, John Fenton, E. Griffith, Ernest H. Ingpen, D. McDonald, rJ. King, Thos. McKinley, J. Turner. ft seems curious that, in so remote district, the three lists of honselioldesrs should contain only one duplieated name, that of John B. Clibbon, •On 21,st. May, 1881 -Sergt-. Charles

Brown, A.C. Force, Tarawera, reports to Mr S. E. Thompson, Clerk, R.M. Court, Taupo: — "I have the hon- j oir to inform you that I have this day inspected Mr F. Dooney^ House at Mohaka Bridge and find it -accordingto the Act. Mr Dooney has good accommodation for trav.ellers and is a house very much required for the travellers on the Taupo Road/' An araended pian of the ground floor showed six bedroorns, two of which were in a detached cottage, together with one sitting room, a bar thirteen by ten, dining room thirteen | by twentytwo, and a further sitting room. thirteen by eight. The Mohaka Bridge Hotel was nine miles from Te Pohue, and approximately seventy-two miles from Taupo. It was a well-built hotel as I recall it in 1898. The first hotel was down on the flat near the bend in the rivea*, and was either pulled down or burnt after the disastrous Napier flood of 1897, when the wooden bridge that crossed the river was washed away and for a time passengers and traffic had to ford ihe river. The hotel was then built on the flat above the river and occupied this site from about 1897 to 1902, when it was again burnt down. The chimney foundation is still seen on the site. The licens.e was shifted to Waikare on the Wairoa Road. This information I have received from Mr Harry Hayhow, an early eoaehdriver, who lives at Napier and Taupo and is an ardent fisherman. One can still perceive the old route followed by early travellers particutarly by William Colenso when making his famous trip to Taupo. Tho old road led down the steep part of chte river bank directly opposite the hctel site. Today when one passes the old hotel site it is diffieult to believe that seventyfive years ago the whole country from say, Te Haroto, to the River Bridge, and extending miles across country, was lovely farm land, held by such well known men as D. P. Balfour, A. Cox, E. Fannin, F. Dolbell, J. Anderson, J. C. Kinross and F. Bee. Now this country has reverted to scrub land, manuka fern, and would barely keep a cow excepi on the highlands.