The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Canterbury Provincial District]
[Hororata]
The Hororata Hotel, Hororata. This hotel is situated in the centre of the district, about four miles from the Coalgate railway station, and stands back a few yards from the main road, on a block of fertile land, seventeen acres in area, lying between the Hororata river and the main road. It was built of wood in the early eighties by a local tradesman, and is two stories in height. The rooms are large and lofty, and there are several private sitting rooms, and a spacious commercial room, in addition to a large number of bedrooms, the dining room, and the private rooms of the proprietor and his servants. The management of the hotel reflects credit upon the proprietor, who exercises every care on behalf of visitors. Only wines of the very best quality are kept, and the table is well catered for. The hotel is almost entirely surrounded by tall pines, and the crescent-shaped road way by which it is approached from the main road, gives it a pleasing appearance.
Mr. Patrick Crowe, Proprietor of the Hororata Hotel, was born in 1875, at Killinchy, Canterbury. He was educated at the public school there, and was afterwards engaged for a time at farm work in the neighbourhood. Later on he went to the North Island, where for two years he worked in the Wellington and Hawke's Bay provinces. He then returned to Canterbury, and found employment for five years at “Highbank,” which he left in 1902 to take charge of the Hororata Hotel. Mr. Crowe was married, in 1897, to Miss Mary O'Reilly, of Rakaia, and has five children.