FORTY YEARS AND NOW.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9579, 27 August 1909, Page 5

FORTY YEARS AND NOW.

QUEEN STREET REMINISCENCES. DEMOLITION OF AN INTERESTING LANDMARK. It is inevitable that the course of time must witness the passing aw'iy of the landmarks with which is associated so much of the early history of the pioneers of the Wairarapa. While in the country monuments of tarly days, in the shape of biildings, era still fairly numerous, this is not the case in regard tu the populous centres, where demolition marches hand in band with the progress of civilisation at a necessarily much faster rate. Masterton, in common with other centres, is slowly but surely being deprived of such evidences of its youthful history, and an ancient structure in Queen Street, which is now being removed, brings home this fact in a very forcThe building referred to is that quite recently occupied by Messrs Abraham and Williams, which is to be replacad by a handsome twostorey brick edifice. It is a relic of clo3e on 40 years' standing, and suirounding it are reminiscences of a most interesting character. A multitude of busiress?s have been conducted within i s fou" walla, and it has also served ihe purpose of a public theatre and music hall for the Masterton of those days. The lower portion was first used for stables for the carrying business of Messrs Hastwell, Bannister an J Co., aid there was a platform oat in front for th« hoisting up of wool and produce to the upstairs portion. Subsequently Hastwell, Bannister , and Co,, [sold out (heir carrying business to i|?bafc was known as the Wairarapajj-Garryi'ng Co., with Mr J. 0. Haywa*d as iocal representative. When thisf :o:np ny ceased operations m:st of< the plant was secured by Messrs W. and C< Harris, but the latter did not take S over the slables.

Mr Joseph lorns, who had sold out his general store business to Mr M. Caselberg in 1876, had the present front put on the stabies, and opened the premises K3 an auction room, Mr J. A. Edrrondson joining 'him in the venture. Mr Edmondson soon after retired from the firm, and Mr Ferguson joined Mr lorns The business was then conducted under the style of lorns and Ferguson. In 1878 a fire took place in the block opposite, demolishing all the buildings between Bannister and Williams Streets, with tha exceptson of the store now occupied by Mr Cullen. Messrs Sellar and Hales,who occupied premises where Messrs L. J. Hooper and Co.'s premises now stand, conj verted the auction room into temporary premises for the grocery and ironmongery part of their business, opening up the drapery portion in j the building now occupied by Uen ! vjen and Messrs Walsh'and Co. | When Messrs Sellar and Hales removed to their new premises, Mr ' Ferguson retired from the auctioneering business, ans Mr.lorns conducted it for a short time by hi nself, and then the late Mr William Lowe3, who had some years previously carried on business in Masterton, returned and joined Mr lorns, | and formed the land and stock | auctioneering business under th? title of Lowes and lorns, which is j now merged into Messrs Abraham ! and Williams. To give an idea of the : state of Masterton in the seventies, j 9 the building was on onpor two occasions used as a music hall. This must not be confused with the late Mr H. Bannister's oLd.'store, which was further down the street. The Building Society offices and Messrs C. Smith, Ltd., now occupy the sile.