Historic Hotel Refused Licence

Taupo Times, Volume XIV, Issue 38, 18 May 1965, Page 3

Historic Hotel Refused Licence

The Licensing Control Commission has refused an application for an hotel premises licence for the Rangitaiki Hotel. Instead, the commission suggests the owners build a "modest tavern" adjoining the hotel and the present building be suitablg fenced from the tavern and as a boarding house, as the tavern-keepers' re and as a public eating house.

"This hotel is an aglomeration of hutments some of which have been said to have been used by the Armed Constabulary a hundred years ago," says i the commission in its report. "It is situated some 20 miles from Taupo in sparsely settled country and stationed appropriately for the use of horse-drawn vehicles. "The young couple who bought it two or three years ago have kept it in as good order as could be expected, and obviously have the goodwill of those who customarily resort to the hotel. "It was made obvious to us that land owners in the vicinity wanted the hotel to remain. "Having said so much, it now has to be said that there is no possibility of bringing the present structure within reasonable distance of minimum standards. It is simply not worth the money to even try to do so, because the end result would be a deteriorated building with a limited life. "That it serves a useful purpose as a local tavern

and as a lodging place for truckers and contractors' employees, we do not doubt. "We have given thought as to how best to eonserve the owners' investment and to save the hotel for public use," said the commission, going on to make the suggestions concerning application for a tavern licence and boarding amenities. The commission allowed until July 31, 1965, to elect to submit preliminary plans and proposals. The chairman of the commission is Mr S. T. Barnett and with him is Major-General Sir William Gentry and Mr N. Butcher.