BY ROBYN PARKES
Belgrove Hotel, strategically placed at the bottom of Spooners Range and at the junction of the roads to either West Coast or Blenheim, was established around 1856 and like many of the old hotels provided a much-needed rest stop for travellers.
In 1864 the hotel was advertised for let or sale with 100 acres of land attached. Nothing more is mentioned until 1870 when John Wagstaff became the landlord.
W. Boddington held the licence in 1874 but by December 1879 was bankrupted to the amount of £1132. The licence was then transferred to Mrs Morrison when Mr Ribet made some improvements to the hotel.
Four years later the property was offered for lease, including all furniture and around 80 acres of land with about 25 acres in crops. The hotel was described as being an almost new build of 18 rooms, standing in a commanding position as the Belgrove section of the Midland Railways which was about to be opened ran through the bush portion at the rear of the hotel. The proprietor was Hugh Patterson, who remained until July 1894. The licence was transferred to H. Browne and onward to William Lefoe. Unfortunately, William lost his licence which then reverted to Catherine Morrison who then transferred it to Owen Newport in June 1898.
Lefoe later had a prohibition order placed on him for 12 months due to his excessive drinking. He sadly spiralled downwards and drank some “Rough on Rats” poison due to not being able to cope.He was taken to hospital but died later the same day aged just 27 years old.
George Hogg and Co., brewers of Nelson, purchased the hotel in early 1902 and put plans together for a new building.
The new hotel had 17 rooms with the bar standing at one corner of the house, dining room in the centre and the opposite wing having a private entrance leading to living quarters for the licensee. At this time Otto Haase was landlord. The furnishings and effects of the old hotel were auctioned, and the old building tendered for removal.
Frederick Durbridge applied for the publican’s licence in June 1903. Durbridge had been a constable in the Police Force and he, along with a fellow constable, had been asked to resign due to a police scandal. Both men fought back with wrongful dismissal and some were of the opinion that they had been used as scapegoats.
In rather quick succession a number of publicans had licences for the hotel over the ensuing years - C. Andrews in 1904, Donald Wells in 1907, Angus McArtney in 1908 and William Bryan in 1909, who remained at the hotel for three years.
Between the years of 1912 to 1927 another 11 landlords held licences, these being; George Mason 1912, William Paul 1912, Charles Ferguson 1913, Joseph Stockton 1916, Louis Dabscheck, Thomas MagGillivray 1921, Peter Jamieson 1923, Joseph Edwards 1924, John Bowers 1925, Francis O’Connor 1927, and Bernard McDonald 1927.
Several of the above publicans were found guilty of selling alcohol after hours.
