The Commercial Hotel at Mangawhare a possible history

I've been doing some research into the Commercial Hotel located at Mangawhare in Dargaville. It appears this building was built some time after 1886 to replace the previous hotel, owned by Brown and Campbell. Brown and Campbell later sold out their interests in Mangawhare to another party. One of the most interesting stories I found was the Bull that ended up in the bar.

Below are the references I've found so far in year order starting from the fire of the previous hotel in June 1886 to December 1934.

The Commercial Hotel is on the register of the Historic Places Trust.

HOTEL BURNED DOWN.

AUCKLAND, June 8. The Mangawhare Hotel, with its contents, was totally destroyed by fire this morning. The loss is estimated at £1,400, and is believed to be covered by insurance. The fire was quite accidental, but the origin is unknown.

- Star 3 June 1886

Auckland, June 4. The Mangawhare hotel, which was burned down yesterday morning, was insured by the proprietors, Messrs. Brown, Campbell & Co., for £1850 in the New Zealand office; and the stock and furniture by the lessee, Patrick Lamb, for £1000 in the same office. The fire is attributed to rats gnawing matches.

- Taranaki Herald 4 June 1886

NORTH AUCKLAND.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

To those interested in the progress of our country north of Auckland to the westward, a visit to the Wairoa and further on would, I think, both interest and surprise them. On the river the trade in timber is making things brisk at all the townships ; also in gum matters are improving, but where the effect of the improvement is most marked is in and around Mangawhare and Dargaville, along the line of railway to Kaihu (late Opanake), and even beyond. A large new hall and hotel in Mangawhare, besides other smeller buildings, add greatly to the appearance of the place…..

- The Auckland Star 16 December 1896

On Saturday night last some mean sneaks entered the servant's bedroom at the Northern Wairoa hotel, and annexed two new dresses. They then paid the Mangawhare Hotel a visit, and after killing all the fowls belonging to the landlord in a brutal fashion, entered the girls' bedroom while they were asleep and went off with all the clothing, boots, etc they could lay their hands on. On Sunday morning, when what had occurred was known, the police were communicated with. Upon making a search to find a clue that would lead to the arrest of the offenders, pieces of the dresses, the boots cut into bits with some sharp instrument, and the umbrellas torn to atoms were found strewn along the side of the road leading towards Mount Wesley. The girls' losses are about £ l2 to.£ 15.

- Thames Star 29 March 1897

While some cattle were being landed from a steamer at Mangawhare, in the North of Auckland, one night last week, one of them, a bull, got loose, and wildly careered round the neighbourhood of the wharf, until the light in the bar-room of the Mangawhare Hotel attracted its attention.

It then madly charged in the open door, and one man there just managed to climb up the iron bars across the window and escape the beast's horns. In coming in, somehow, the bull dosed the door as it entered, and there being no means of getting out, it attempted to jump the bar counter, and failed to do so, but in the attempt swept glasses, bottles, etc., in all directions. Finally the door was opened, and the bull withdrew. The Dargaville correspondent of the Auckland " Herald," who relates the incident, declares that the method of landing the cattle was cruel.

- Wanganui Chronicle 7 September 1898

….The party reached Dargaville at about noon, and there the Minister was heartily welcomed. Mr F. J. Davy, on behalf of the residents, received the Minister and expressed the pleasure of the residents of the town at the visit. In the afternoon Sir Joseph Ward went through the Kaihu Valley by train, and witnessed the felling of some kauri trees in the Mitchelson Timber Co.'s bush. He was entertained at a banquet by the County Council in the evening, Mr Little, of the Commercial Hotel, Mangawhare, laying out an excellent repast….

- Article title “Sir Joseph Ward trip up the Wairoa River”

- The Auckland Star 20 February 1902

KAIPARA LICENSING COURT.

Mr T. Hutchison, S.M., granted the following renewals:— W. G. Smith, Terminus Hotel. Helensville; H. B. Melton, Kaukapakapa: E. F. Moriarity, Central Hotel. Dargaville.: Daniel Holland, Bridge Hotel, Kaukapakapa; F. J. Little,Mangawhare; Stewart Mclvor, Maropiu: Philip Cullen, Tokatoka, accommodation license; B. Cassey, Opanaki Hotel, Kaihu; John Neville, Aratapu, transfer from M. O'Connor and renewal granted; H. J. Stanaway, Kaipara Hotel, Helensville his the application by C. J. Rasmussen, Tangiteroria, for removal of license to new premises within a quarter of a mile. His Worship adjourned the application for three months, the house to be gone on with, but on a plan giving better accommodation to the public than the plans shown.

The renewal of the. Pahi Hotel license (John New) was granted subject to the provision of furniture and cleaning. His Worship refused to grant a renewal to Patrick Lynch, Northern Wairoa Hotel, Dargaville, but adjourned the case to Helensville on June 2!) to enable the owner of the freehold to bring another applicant forward. Upon the application of the licensee's solicitor an adjournment until June 22nd was granted in the, case of the Helensville Hotel (E. S. Stretton), a similar course being taken with the application for an eleven o'clock license for the Terminus Hotel arid the Helensville Hotel, but His Worship said that very strong evidence, would be necessary.

- Auckland Star 9 June 1903

MANGAWHARE, situated on the Wairoa river, at a distance of about 103 miles from Auckland, is the oldest established trading station in Hobson County. Until recently this district was the property of Dr. J. Logan Campbell, who sold it to Messrs A. E. Harding and Co. Mangawhare has a post and telephone office, a large hotel, a store with a gum shed, Roman Catholic and Wesleyan churches, two halls, and a county wharf. The village is a small one, as, until lately, the land has been withheld from sale, but as it is divided from Dargaville only by the Kaihu creek—which is already bridged—the two townships will in course of time become one.

- Cyclopedia of New Zealand (Auckland Districts)1906

- Sourced NZTEC Website

- http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-Cyc02Cycl-t1-body1-d2-d52.html

CHARGES AGAINST A HEADMASTER.

[United Presss Association.] Dargaville, Feb. 1. An inquiry in camera was held at the District High School, Aratapu, to-day, for the purpose of investigating certain charges against the head master (Mr Hockin), brought by Mr Grant, licensee of the Commercial Hotel, Mangawhare, in connection with alleged irregularities in the conduct of the scholarship examinations last September.

The board of inquiry consists of Mr J. K. Mulgan, Chief Inspector, president; Messrs Murray and Wills, and Sir E. 0. Gibbes, Secretary of the Education Department. The inquiry is a private one, the press being excluded, and only those directly interested are allowed to be present. It is understood that the allegations made are that Mr Hockin's daughter saw the papers before the examination; also, that cheating took place in the examination room.

- Colonist 2 February 1911

FATAL FALL FROM A DRAY SHAFT.

[United Press Association.]

Dargaville, June 29.

A boy named Keith Stewart Grant, aged 11, was killed by the wheel of a dray passing over his head at the Mangawhare Hotel this morning. The boy was sitting on the shaft and was jolted off. Death was instantaneous.

- The Colonist 30 June 1911

KAIPARA LICENSING BENCH

DARGAVILLE, JUNE 26TH.

PRESENT Messsrs E. Page, S.M., (chairman), |G. N. Hayes, A. McLean, V. Trounsen, D. Finlayson, and T. Bassett.

TRANSFERS

The following were granted: — Aratapu Hotel, Mr McGreal to Mr Dwyer. Tokatoka Hotel, W. Betts to R. Kidd. Commercial Hotel, Mangawhare, L. Armitage to A. Underwood.

RENEWALS

The following renewals were granted : — Tokatoka Hotel, R. Kidd. Commercial Hotel, Dargaville, A. Underwood. Central Hotel, Dargaville, S. Thompson. N. Wairoa Hotel, F. Hodges. Tangiteroria Hotel, J. Mewett, HelensvilleHotel, E. Cooksey. Kaipara Hotel, Helensville, Mrs E. McEwen. Terminus Hotel, Helensville, A. Bishop. Kaukapakapa Hotel, E. M. Leithen. Riverhead Hotel, T. Deacon. Kumeu Hotel, J. Griffin. Pahi Hotel, J. Ryan. Kaihu Hotel, G. Meale.

Certain improvements to the licensed premises and conveniences were recommended by the various police inspectors, six months being allowed for renovating, drainage, hot and cold water to baths, etc., otherwise reports were favourable. The matter of fire escapes was brought before the Commissioners, and certain improvements were ordered to be effected on various licensed premises.

- Kaipara & Waitemata Echo 3 July 1914

KAIPARA LICENSING BENCH

DARGAVILLE, JUNE 16, 1915 PRESENT Messrs E. Page. S.M. (chairman), J. A. McLean D. Finlayson, V. Trounson, and G. N. Hayes.

LICENSES GRANTED The following licenses were issued :—Wm. Gallagher, Kaukapakapa Hotel ; Edward M. Leydon Aratapu Hotel; James j Ernest Reid. Commercial Hotel. Mangawhare ; Harold Kennedy Simpson Opanake Hotel, Kaihu.

RENEWALS

Renewals were granted as follows : — Samuel Thompson, Central Hotel; Dargaville: Fred. L. Hodges, Northern Wairoa Hotel, Dargaville ; Joseph Ryan, Pahi. Hotel; EH en McEwen, Kaipara Hotel. Helensville ; E.H. Cooksey, Helensville Hotel; A. J Bishop, Terminus Hotel, Helensville: J. N. Griffin, Matua Hotel, Kumeu : Thomas W. Deacon . River Head Hotel; James Muett (accommodation license), Tangiteroria , Robert H. Kidd (accommodation license), Tokatoka.

PACKET LICENSES

Packet licenses were issued to: —George Henry Sellars. for s.s. Wairua and s.s. Tuirangi; Henry White, junr for s.s. Oatea.

TRANSFERS

Transfers were granted from Edwin Dwyer to E. M. Leydon, Aratapu Hotel; Alfred Underhill to J. E. Reid, Commercial Hotel, Mangawhare; George Donaldson to H, K. Simpson, Opanaki Hotel Kaihu.

- Kaipara & Waitemata Echo 25 June 1915

KAIPARA LICENSING DISTRICT.

ANNUAL MEETING.

THE annual meeting of the Licensing Commissions was held at Dargaville on Wednesday, June 21st., 1916. PRESENT. Messrs E. Page S.M. (chairman), G. N. Hayes, D. Finlayson, J. A. McLean, and V. Trounson. The police report recommended certain improvements in several j hotels, and on the whole their reports on the conduct of licensed houses was good.

LICENSES GRANTED. Northern Wairoa Hotel, F, L. Hodges; Central Hotel, W. J. O'Dowd ; Mangawhare Hotel, J. E. Reid; Tangiteroria Hotel, J. Mewitt; Aratapu Hotel, E. M. Leydon; Kaihu Hotel, H. J. Simpson; Toka Toka Hotel, R. H. Kidd ; Helensville Hotel, J. Parkes ; Kaipara Hotel, Helensville, Ellen McEwin ; Terminus Hotel, Helensville, A. Bishop; Kaukapakapa Hotel, W. Gallagher ; Riverhead Hotel, T. W. Deacon; Kumeu Hotel, T. M. Griffin ; Pahi Hotel, J. Ryan.

- Kaipara & Waitemata Echo 25 June 1916

FATAL ACCIDENT AT A WHARF

(BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) DARGAVILLE, This Day. Last night, Wm. Jas. Curnow, a porter at the Mangawhare Hotel, 72 years of age, was moving some casks of beer from the wharf to the hotel, when he tripped over a pile, fell into the river, and was drowned. The body has not been recovered.

-Evening Post 24 October 1916

Mr R. Cuthbert, who has taken over the Terminus Hotel, Helensville and favourably known to residents and travellers, having resided in this locality for a number of years prior to taking over the Commercial Hotel at Mangawhare. Mr H. W. Allen, a son-in-law of Mr Cuthbert's, has gone into the last named hotel. Mr A. Bishop, who has run the Terminus Hotel for some years past, intends having a holiday before resuming control of the Terminus Hotel at Onehunga, of which business he is the proprietor.

- Waitemata & Kaipara Echo 10 July 1919

Mr H. W. Allen has sold his interest in the Mangawhare (Dargaville) Hotel to Mr Ashton, who comes from the South Island. The new proprietor takes possession shortly.

- Kaipara & Waitemata Echo 4 August 1921

“Lucky for Me” Art Union Draw winning number list

…..Three Musketeers,Commercial Hotel, Mangawhare;……

- Evening Post 11 December 1934