archaeology and history of human occupation - Auckland Regional ...
archaeology and history of human occupation - Auckland Regional ...
archaeology and history of human occupation - Auckland Regional ...
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48<br />
' determination, at the formidable task <strong>of</strong> making good more than a century <strong>of</strong><br />
weathering.<br />
The house once had a substantial orchard, occupying most <strong>of</strong> the flat behind. Its<br />
composition was typical <strong>of</strong> the time, as shown by the remnants: gnarled figs, a<br />
thicket <strong>of</strong> quinces, two large but unproductive pear trees, an aged mulberry, <strong>and</strong> an<br />
inferior American grape, run amuck. The removal <strong>of</strong> the dominant privet trees by<br />
Friends <strong>of</strong> Mahurangi is well advanced, <strong>and</strong> a replanting programme has begun.<br />
A <strong>history</strong> <strong>of</strong> the Scott family appears elsewhere, while there is a local tradition that<br />
the present building was a licensed hotel, the family believed otherwise.<br />
According to Dulcie Bailey, gr<strong>and</strong>-daughter <strong>of</strong> Thomas Scott jun.: "Both Thomas<br />
<strong>and</strong> Janet were very strict temperance people <strong>and</strong> deeply religious Anglicans."<br />
After research, I conclude that the family was correct. In brief: Thomas Scott<br />
sen. certainly ran an inn on this site, which was inherited by Thomas Scott jun., but<br />
run by Thomas Short as publican. After its destruction by fire, Thomas jun.<br />
erected a large house, which became a private hotel or boarding house, then<br />
reverted to the family home. The building is the Scott House <strong>of</strong> today.<br />
Thomas Scott <strong>and</strong> his two sons arrived on the River after shipbuilding <strong>and</strong> trading<br />
in the Bay <strong>of</strong> Isl<strong>and</strong>s, Whangarei <strong>and</strong> Auckl<strong>and</strong>. Thomas launched his first cutter<br />
at Mahurangi in 1849, one <strong>of</strong> three built in that year, marking the birth <strong>of</strong> a local<br />
industry. In December 1853 he acquired the eight acres, now Scott Bay. There<br />
he established his home <strong>and</strong> shipyard, <strong>and</strong> soon after, an inn.<br />
In the first election <strong>of</strong> 1857, 18 votes were cast at "Scotts* Inn". The first village<br />
map shows Inn St passing from the beach to Scott St at the back <strong>of</strong> the flat. A<br />
sketch <strong>of</strong> the bay by Charles Heaphy is undated but probably <strong>of</strong> the 1860's. It<br />
shows two single-storeyed buildings. One must be the inn. An old map <strong>of</strong> 1867,<br />
shows two buildings in a dotted enclosure on Lot 43. -<br />
Scotts was the only stopping place for the first steamers, such as the<br />
' Wongawonga', which ran to fixed timetable, rather than to the tides. Thirsty or<br />
hungry passengers, embarking or disembarking, refreshed themselves at the inn. It<br />
also served as the first post <strong>of</strong>fice. In 1862, Thomas Scott jun. was appointed first<br />
postmaster. , < , ' -<br />
Auckl<strong>and</strong>'s Anniversary Weekend 1860, was a gala occasion there: "The<br />
Richmond Inn, a picturesquely situated house kept by'Thos. Scott sen., was<br />
thronged all day by a happy <strong>and</strong> well conducted number <strong>of</strong> holiday makers, who<br />
did ample justice to the good cheer, solid <strong>and</strong> fluid provided for them". (New<br />
Zeal<strong>and</strong>er, 28.1.60). , \ 1 ;V } /' J; '^'^Jr / '<br />
"~'C ,'f ' ? t4i K ~"^ t'-i't '<br />
A provisional licence was granted t<strong>of</strong>Thom^fcott'm 1862. In 1863 the<br />
Licensing Act was passed, <strong>and</strong> in 1864 thejBrst.Official licences were gazetted. In<br />
such rural places (at least 15,mile0y«rqa:d Spm^uckl_<strong>and</strong>), 'bush licences' were<br />
issued at 5 pounds per annum. •< In the meantime'Thomas Scott sen. had left<br />
Mahurangi in 1863 J <strong>and</strong> died in^AuqWMd^m^Sej^if seems that Thomas jun. .<br />
inherited the property, but a famUy ,fnen||rh;qmas;Sh6rt; had taken over the<br />
running <strong>of</strong> both hotel <strong>and</strong> sWpyard^xShMwas^fifst gazetted holder <strong>of</strong> a bush<br />
„ * & A v~ * v « ' * -'<br />
^x •** / -/• ><br />
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