Link With Early History Of New Plymouth Found

Taranaki Daily News, 31 August 1942, Page 2

Link With Early History Of New Plymouth Found

Dated May 5, 1875, and signed by«John Grylls, an application for a publican s license now in the hands of a member of the family forms a link with the early history of New Plymouth. The application gives notice to the Worshipful the Licensing Court of the licensing district of New Plymouth "that it is his intention to apply at the next annual licensing court for a publican s license for the sale of alcoholic liquors in the house and appurtenances thereto belonging situate in the South Road, New Ply-. mouth, on town section No. 110, having two sitting rooms and, four bedrooms for public accommodation, rented from Mary Ann Grylls, widow, and occupied by me and now licensed as the South Road Hotel and which I intend to keep as a public house. That I now hold a publican's license within the meaning of the Licensing Act, 1873." The unpretentious building formeriy lcnown as the South Road Hotel is still in occupation, a tribute to the quality of the timber used and to the workmanship of the early days. A few years ago the building had a narrow escape from destruction by fire. The application for the license was found by the present owner among some old papers some time after he had secured the property, and he handed it to a member of the Grylls family, whose name has been actively identified with the hotel business in North Taranaki, at New Plymouth, In-glewood-and Oakura among other places, for many years.