Nor'West News: January 15, 2019

20 Tuesday January 15 2019
Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
KIDSTUFF
NOR’WEST NEWS
Enrolments for Term
One at Anna Lee
School of Dance are
being taken now
DRINKS: This illustration from M. Bartlet, courtesy of Papanui High School,
shows how The Sawyers Arms, one of the first public houses opened in
Papanui, catered mostly for timber workers in the area.
Rich history behind one
of Papanui’s first pubs
Papanui Heritage Group chairman Murray Williams writes about
the history of The Sawyers Arms pub and its previous owners
ONE OF the first service
industries to be set up
to cater for the timber
workers of early Papanui
was a public house known
as The Sawyers Arms,
located on the road which
shared its name.
The licensees of this
establishment, Henry Roil
and Robert Carr, were
colourful characters who
before becoming owners
of the hotel had described
themselves as ‘timber
dealers.’
They had also acquired
land in Papanui and after
relinquishing their hotel
licence in 1854, tried to
generate some income
from this holding by
seeking lessees for two 12
acre (4.8ha) lots.
Over the next three
years, Mr Roil and
Mr Carr advertised
continually and
presumably fruitlessly in
the Lyttelton Times.
The lack of interest
on the part of potential
tenants could perhaps
have been because the
land, with its frontage on
Sawyers Arms Rd, would
have been the first part
of the native bush to have
been cut out and was then
considered to have little
residual value.
It was not until the early
1860s that it was realised
that, when drained, the
land could sustain a
horticultural and farming
future.
Mr Roil died in 1862
from the effects of an
accident when his dray
collided with a bullock
wagon but the fate of
Mr Carr and his wife
Elizabeth is less clear-cut.
Charlotte MacDonald,
in her book A Woman
of Good Character, has
attempted to document
their experiences.
In 1857, they left New
Zealand for Britain but
Mr Carr deserted his wife
and their two children.
However, Mrs Carr
displayed her tenacity
by following her errant
husband’s trail around the
world. In 1861 she turned
up in Sydney but by 1865
she was in London.
There she contacted
John Marshman, the
Canterbury immigration
agent, for help in tracing
her husband and was also
interested in establishing
his assets, specifically a
certain landholding in
Papanui.
After this reference,
MacDonald could find no
further record as to either
Mr or Mrs Carr, although
it is possible that Mr Carr
returned to the United
States, the land of his birth.
However, 156 years
after Mr Roil’s death, Mr
Carr’s erstwhile partner
earned somewhat tardy
recognition for his role as
an early Papanui settler.
In 2018, a new residential
development off Sawyers
Arms Rd was officially
named Henry Roil Ln.
The fun and supportive environment, with its
emphasis on enjoyment, ensures students feel
comfortable as they learn dance. Students in regular
dance classes benefit from increased confidence
and coordination, self-esteem and self-discipline.
Anna Lee School of Dance is one of
Canterbury’s premiere dance schools,
offering specialised classes in ballet, jazz,
contemporary and hip-hop. With studios
in Papanui, Ferrymead/Sumner, Halswell
and the Selwyn District (Ladbrooks
and Lincoln), we offer a unique blend
of a family focused studio with all the
benefits of a large, well-established
school – multiple exam/
grading opportunities, large
scale recitals at the beautiful
Isaac Theatre Royal, quality
teaching staff who really care
about their students. The
Papanui studio operates from
two purpose-built dance
studios in a modern building.
Anna Lee School of Dance
has a proven history of
students excelling with superb
exam, medal and competition
results. Dance classes are
tailored for preschoolers
through to advanced students,
catering for all levels of
commitment. There are classes
designed for those who wish
to dance for fun and fitness, as
well as those who are aiming
for a career in dance (we
have past students currently
dancing in companies,
professional shows and
full-time schools all around
the world!) The fun and
supportive environment, with
its emphasis on enjoyment
ensures students feel comfortable as they
learn dance. Students in regular dance
classes benefit from increased confidence
and coordination, self-esteem and selfdiscipline.
Enrolments are now being taken for
Term One 2019. Call 354 6228 or email
office@annaleeschoolofdance.co.nz to
secure your spot now!
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