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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Nelson, Marlborough & Westland Provincial Districts]

Hotels

Hotels.

Federal Hotel (T. J. Storey, proprietor), Picton. This hotel, which ranks amongst the best in the colony, is situated almost directly opposite the railway station on London Quay, and within fifty yards of the wharf. It is a two-storied brick building with wooden facings, has been excellently finished throughout, and commands a fine view of the harbour. There are two entrances to the building, both from London Quay, and both through large plate glass folding doors. The commercial room is a large and well lighted apartment, with a massive register grate, over which there is a heavy mantelpiece of beautifully grained rimu. It is furnished with three commercial tables, and a suite of easy lounging chairs, stained in walnut, and suitably upholstered in brown Morocco leather, with a couch to match. The sittingroom at the back of the commercial room is also tastefully furnished, and contains one of Paprica's pianos. The bar and bar parlour are in the centre of the building, and connected with each other by sliding windows; the best of spirituous liquors and Dunedin and Blenheim beers are kept on hand. At the east end of the building there is a commodious and beautifully furnished club room. The dining-room is a large, airy, and well arranged apartment, with a table which extends the entire length of the room, together with a number of smaller tables, which give accommodation for over eighty persons, and a tastefully mirrored over-mantel, and side board stained in mahogany with bevelled glass. The dining room is well kept and attended, and the kitchen is superintended by an experienced and expert male cook. On an average, thirty-five persons sit down every evening to dinner. A massive winding staircase communicates from the private hall to the second floor, where a long carpeted passage runs through the centre and opens out on to a fire escape and balcony, whence a splendid view of the harbour is obtained. There is also a second balcony approached through the sitting-room at the west end of the building. Upstairs there are twenty-three bedrooms, a private drawing room, and a private sitting-room, covered with a finely designed Axminster square, and furnished with a handsome suite and a piano. A large well-lighted billiard room is situated at the back of the premises. It contains a full-sized Alcock table, which is well patronised by local residents and travellers. There are two large bathrooms in the centre of the house on the second floor, with a good flow of hot and cold water and shower baths. The whole of the building is lighted by means of acetylene gas, and is well finished in every respect. The ceilings are all of corrugated iron, while the walls on the lower floor and the passage upstairs are suitably covered with rich papers, and dadoed up to fortyeight inches with oilclothes which accord with the patterns of the papers. The principal rooms are fitted up with electric bells, and for the convenience of travellers arriving late at night, an electric button has been placed at the private entrance. Under its present popular proprietorship, the “Federal” has become the first tourist hotel in the province of Marlborough, and is daily growing in popular favour and patronage.

Mr. Thomas James Storey , the Proprietor of the Federal Hotel, is one of the best known and most popular hotelkeepers in the colony, and by his endeavours to ensure the enjoyment and comfort of his patrons he has personally done a great deal to make the “Federal” the first tourist and travellers' hotel in the province of Marlborough. He was born in the Kaituna Valley, in Marlborough, on the 26th of May, 1865, and after passing through the standards at the local public school he learned agriculture and sheepfarming. About 1891. Mr. Storey bought a farm of nearly 700 acres, in the Fairhall district, about five miles from Blenheim, and successfully conducted it for eight years. In 1899, however, he disposed of his farm, and established an agency business, and was the Marlborough representative of Messrs Booth, Macdonald, and Company, of Christchurch. From this Mr. Storey resigned before taking over the Federal Hotel. Mr. Storey is a life member of the Marlborough Agricultural and Pastoral Association, and was for many years a member of the committee. He is president of the Picton rowing and ericket clubs. Mr. Storey is further referred to as a member of the Picton Borough Council.

Macey, photo.Mr. T. J. Storey.

Macey, photo.
Mr. T. J. Storey.

page 391
Oley's Pier Hotel (Francis A. Oxley, proprietor), Picton. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. This fine two-storey wooden hotel was established in 1870. It is situated on the corner of London Quay and Wellington Street, and is directly opposite the wharf and post office. During 1899 the house underwent extensive alterations, and ten rooms were added to it. The hotel has three entrances, including that to the public bar, and the entrance from Wellington Street into the new wing opens into a most commodious and elaborate hall. The dining-room is a spacious apartment with four tastefully laid out tables, each of which has seating accommodation for eight persons. The commercial room is furnished with a large commercial table, with all the necessary writing material, and a suite of easy lounging chairs upholstered in green
Mr. F. A. Oxley.

Mr. F. A. Oxley.

electric velvet, with couch to match. There are twenty-nine rooms in the hotel, including sixteen bedrooms, a billiard room, bar, and bar parlour, four sitting rooms, and a convement bathroom, with shower, and hot and cold water laid on. The billiard room contains a full-sized Alcock table, and is much frequented by travellers and town and country residents. The second floor of the hotel is reached from two portions of the building, and the principal ascent is a massive winding staircase, which rises with an easy grade from the hall at the private entrance. Electric light is used througnout the Pier Hotel, and is supplied from Mr. Oxley's private dynamo. The plant is the only one in the district, and is situated in a building erected for the purpose about fifty feet to the back of the hotel. The dynamo was made by Messrs Crompton and Co., of Clens ford, London, and was fitted up by Messrs Turnbull and Jones, their Wellington agents. It is driven by water power, and has a Pelton wheel, 18 inches in diameter, made by Cousins and Black, of Wellington. The principal rooms in the hotel connect with the bar by electric bells, and the new portion of the building is extremely well finished; every room having metalled ceilings, with elaborately designed ornamental centres.

The Post Office Hotel , Wellington Street, Picton. This hotel was formerly known as the Ship Hotel, and was first established nearly fifty years ago, but has been several times rebuilt. The present house was erected in the early nineties by Mr. Janson, and is a two-storied wooden building with a small balcony. It contains four comfortable sitting rooms, a large billiard room, with an excellent table; fourteen bedrooms, and a large bath room with hot and cold water laid on. The bar is stocked with the best of wines, spirits and cordials; and a good table is kept.

Mr. Henry Berg , Junior, Proprietor of the Post Office Hotel, is a son of a shipbuilder, now of Nelson, and was born in Auckland, in April, 1870. He was educated at the Wellington public schools, and afterwards worked successively at carpentry, boat building and farming for many years. Mr. Berg took up the Post Of-fice Hotel in the year 1904.