OPENING OF NICHOLSON'S HOTEL, BENGER BURST.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 206, 11 January 1872, Page 6

OPENING OF NICHOLSON'S HOTE L, BENGER BURST.

(From a Correspondent.) After all, in spite of local squabbles and occasional barnies, there are very few countries where a kindlier or n:ore sociable feeling prevails than is to be found araontr the-«lde»* residents on the Otago Goldfields. When the festive season conies, all minor disputes art forgiven and forgotten, and all hands devote themselves to promoting the general enjoyment. The result is that such an entertainment as graced the opening of Mr. Nicholson's splendid new h(,tel invariably proves a triumphant success. For a time, differences of opinion and social distinctions are buried in oblivion, and all goes merry as a marriage bell. And in good truth, such enterprise as Mr. Nicholson has shown deserves the utmost encouragement that can be given, as a brief description of his hotel will prove. The building is composed of Tapanni timber, and is built from a d°sk'n not at all uncommon in the villages and towns of French Flanders. " But although the groundwork of the design may be thus derived, the contractor, Mr. Cobeldick, has contrived, by a judicious combination of carved work and ornamental pannelling, to produce a front unequalled by any up-country house in the province. Tn fact, the artistic workmanship of that gentleman throughout is deserving of the highest commendation and encouragement. The interior of the house is judiciously divided into a commercial room, intei ded for the accommodation of the knights of the road, bar, dining room, billiaid room, and a large number of bedroon s. The bar itself is a masterpiece of cabinetwork, and a vast improvement on the " stick " which is so common in up-country hotels. The whole of the interior is tastefully papered and painted, some of the grain-

ing and staining reflecting no slight credit on the local artist, Mr. Hughes. A. six-fetalled stone stable is in process of erection, ami will' when finished, make the accommodation equal to any emergency. Of the host it is unnecessary to speak, Mr. Nicholson being universally known wherever a mining

population is located, and as universally respected

{- On Friday evening, it was evident from the sfcir in the usi^ally quiet streets of Ettrick that soine^eveat of importance was to come off. Hogg-street wag rendered "qnite gay hy the bright, dresses of the sweet creatures (ahem i) whose stilt brighter oyes played the dickens with, the too susceptible heart of } our reporter. On arriving at Hotel, they^found ample provision had heen made fer what is sometimes called the Terpaichorean art, butt wbioh I prefer to Cj|U dancing, i

The shell of the old house had been left standing, and formed a commodious ball room. Inside, it looked quite a fairy scene, as Mrs. Nicholson had decorated the whole interior v. r ith quaint devices in native evergreens, &c. Dancing was soon started, and, inspired by the gay sound of fiddie and pipes, kept up with unflagging zeal until the hour of eleven, when supper was announced. lam no^gourmand — in fact, as to the properties of cooked matter I am profoundly ignorant — but, to judge by the satisfaction expressed by more experienced persons, and, by the profuse but elegant way jn which the tables were spread, Mrs. Nicholson deserves the highest credit for her proficiency iv tbe culinary art, for her excellent taste, and profuse liberality. After the health of host and hostess had been drunk with all the honours, dancing was resumed and kept up, I believe, until the morning sun warned the revellers it was time to cease. For my own part, I found so great an attraction in the fair and witty damsel who presided behind the bar, that I pretty equally divided my attention between her and the still more captivating enslaver tmwn as "Glenlivat." In short, and to conclude, the opening of Nicholson's Hotel will be remembered as a red letter day by all who were present. The Benger Burn is a small place, but at times it makes a considerable noise, and 'certainly, to judge by the festivities of Friday evening-, is uncommonly hard to beat as far as enjoyment and sociability are concerned. It would be unjust to conclude without some allusion to Mr. H. MacdonaM, who filled the arduous om'ce of maitre de danse in his usual efficient manner. The musicians also deserve a word of praise, as the night was to them a night of hard work, and they nobly fulfilled their part