"INSTANT HOTEL BAR" AT TARAWERA

Taupo Times, Volume XIV, Issue 62, 10 August 1965, Page 1

"INSTANT HOTEL BAR" AT

TARAWERA

The "toast of Tarawera" — a shiny new bar, complete with even a glapswashing machine — arrived at its destinatkon at 6.30 on Wednesday night. It will replace a shed which has been used for the bar trade since the 91-year-old hotel was burned down almost three weeks ago. The 600-square-foot building finally arrived at the site of the old Tarawera Hotel after a five - hour journey from Napier through the mud, slush and snow which covered much of the Taupo road. A convoy of trucks and transporters left Greenmeadows at 1.30 on Tuesday afternoon after receiving a clearance from the Transport Department to proceed with their 40 feet by 15 feet load.

The 45-mile journey, arranged by the builders of the new bar, Messrs C. H. Dudding and Son, required skill and concentration as the heavily laden trucks navigated their way through the ice and snow. Snow was still failing on many parts of the road, and on the far side of the Titiokura the trucks were temporarily halted because of the slippery surface. The only assistance given to the transporters was at Stoney Creek, where both vehicles had to be towed up the steep incline. After reaching Tarawera at 6.30 the building was left on the transporters until Thursday morning. Builders and technicians then made the new bar ready for customers.