In Hawera the gaps in Regent street are being gradually filled in. It was not long since Messrs. J. McCutchan and Co. put up their large store, next to the Star Office, and now a blacksmith's shop is in course of erection on the other side, near Mr. McGuire's office. A few days ago we had the pleasure of inspecting the new cottage built for Mr. John Prosser, landlord of the Hawera Hotel, who is about to retire into private life. It is a very snug dwelling. There is a front room 14 x 16 feet, a kitchen 16 x 16 feet, one bedroom 12 x 12 feet, and another 12 x 10 feet. There is a passage running right through, 5 feet wide, with a verandah in front, and a nice garden at the rear. Mr. J. McGuire was the builder, and he appears to have done his work well; whilst the painting and papering have been executed in a very creditable manner by Mr. J. Tingey.

31 May 1882: Drainage made for a much needed improvement for settlers and stock buyers to Mr. R. H. Nolan's stockyard at the rear of the Hawera Hotel by contractor  Mr. W. Stanley. The yards were at times a quagmire with holes making it almost  impossible for the auctioneer to present the lots to advantage. The area has been drained, and the ground has been raised 14 inches with good dry gravel, topped with a liberal quantity of hand-broken metal to give a binding conglomerate now hard, substantial and durable. The contract included raising the gates so when completed, the work will be appreciated by the public.

June 1882: The licensing Committee required a 2nd staircase be built at several hotels including Prossers Hawera Hotel - the Empire hotel said their staircase was quite wide but  the licensee would "affix ropes to the feet of each bedstead in his house". Fire evacuation in many two story hotels was by the provision of rope ladders.

17Jul 1882 A sale of cast troop horses was held at the Hawera Hotel yards on Saturday afternoon. The horses were good upstanding weight-carriers, but were cast either for age, unsoundness, or some fault. Nearly fifty persons attended, and the horses fetched higher prices than was expected - £14 for an aged chestnut by Warwick and £12 was given for the "Doctor"

6 Jun 1885: HAWERA HOTEL: Patrick Maxwell applied for a license renewal. The police objected that the place was so old and in such utter disrepair that it was unfit to be licensed. Mr. Maxwell, said he had spent considerable sums of money and that everything possible would be done to put the house in a good state of repair. He hoped that the committee would not depreciate the value of the property by refusing the license and repairs should be. put in hand at once. The Committee announced that their decision was, that a renewal would be granted, but a new house must be erected within three months. If not,  the license would be taken away - they were told it might be necessary to appeal against that decision.

5 sep 1885: Felix McGuire sole legal owner of the Hawera Hotel

15 Apr 1886: The Hawera Hotel has undergone a thorough overhauling, add presents inside quite a different aspect. The older portions of the building have been removed, new additions made, and the place generally renovated. The block of tumble-down apartments attached to the main building, at the rear, in which a fire occurred, have been entirely removed, and a substantial building erected in their stead. Two rooms, one upstairs and one below situated to the left of the main passage, inside the hotel  have been removed, and a handsome staircase substituted. Along the back new fencing and outhouses have been erected. The work of painting and decorating inside and out of the building was carried out by Mr. Syme and has given it quite a finish, and have made it quite an ornament to the town. .

21 Jan.1890 Mr John Prosser, formerly well-known along the coast as the host of the Hawera Hotel, after an absence of seven years, has returned here and taken the Railway Hotel.

6 Aug 1892: The Hawera Hotel had a narrow escape of being destroyed by fire.  Between one and two am  a lodger sleeping in a front room on the ground floor awoke to find the room full of smoke. He immediately gave tae alarm to the proprietor and other inmates, and the fire was extinguished. It was found that the cause was a defective hearth in the sitting room upstairs, and the fire burned through the ceiling floor into the room below. Abt £8 or £10 damage was done.

March 1893: Tenders invited for extensive renovations to the Hawera Hotel

FIRE IN HAWERA: A fire broke out in Mr M. Kelly's Hawera Hotel Sunday morning, shortly before 6.30am,  the building narrowly escaping total destruction.  A strong smell of smoke was detected and at once occupants were aroused. The thick smoke made it difficult to locate the seat of the fire but it was found in a cupboard used for the storage of bottled liquors, candles, matches, etc in a sitting-room behind the bar. The fire bell rang the alarm and the brigade and many volunteers were soon successful in quelling the flames. The damage done was pretty severe for the flames had burnt a hole from the cupboard into the passage and all the wall and ceiling paper was ruined. A room upstairs was also damaged, the flames running up and burning through the wall, all the bottled liquor was destroyed - Mr Kelly puts his loss down at £100 Had the fire not been so quickly detected so soon, the result would have been major - fragments of nibbled candles found in the cupboard point to rats as being the cause.

10 Apr 1893 Sale by Kelly to Driscoll

4 July 1893 THE HAWERA HOTEL: The extensive additions which have been made to this well-known hotel have quite transformed its appearance, and the building is now practically a new one. The frontage to High street has been brought out some distance from the original point, and the Union street frontage extended considerably. The exterior presents a handsome and solid appearance, and than building is quite an addition to the architecture of the town There are two entrances, the main one from High street,  the other from Union street. The main entrance leads into the hall, which is in the shape of an arch. On the left is a large and comfortable sitting room, from which an entrance can be made to billiard room. The bar is situated on the right-hand side, and can be entered in several directions. It is very roomy, and a fine counter runs round right from the front to the Union. street entrance. At the rear of the bar is a nice sitting-room, with fire-place, The billiard-room has been improved, and the appointments would be bard to beat. The dining-room is a fine apartment, with usual fittings. It is a most commodious room, and connection with the kitchen is perfect. The furniture is well worthy of the room, and everything betokens comfort. The ceiling is varnished, and the wall paper is of a vary tasteful design. The second story has been entirely renovated, and has been added to by four commodious bedrooms, which, with all the rooms in the building, are nicely furnished. A new bath-room has also been added, and the old one improved and hot, cold, or shower baths may be obtained. The upstairs passage leads to a Dew fire-escape, there being now two modes of egress in case of a fire. Than whole of the building has been neatly papered, some designs being very pretty, and the whole interior has a most pleasing appearance. The doors throughout are varnished, and some are most artistically grained. The painting of the building has. been done most tastefully. The hotel is now a decided credit to the town, and for comfort will be hard to beat. Mr Kelly, the proprietor, has spared no expense in the renovation, being satisfied that a good article is, in the long run, the cheapest. His enterprise is commendable, and will doubtless receive its reward. The work has been executed under tab superintendence of Mr Brodrick and the builder, Mr G. J Syme, Jun., has carried out his contract to the satisfaction of the architect and Mr Kelly.

Oct 1895: Mr F. S. Anthony has purchased the interest of his partner (Mr D. Mackay) in the Hawera Hotel, and will be conduct  the establishment solely himself.

15 May 1896: This morning there was an alarm of fire - one of the chimneys of the Hawera Hotel were on fire. A number of willing hands had the engine quickly on the scene, but it was unnecessary as the fire was smothered in a couple of minutes.

20 Feb 1899: Fire: Excitement and anxiety were at high pitch on Saturday afternoon at about 3 o'clock due to fire in a building used as a stable and storeroom at the rear of Mr Knight's stables. It was discovered by an employee of Mr Connell's and had then a good hold. Mr Knight's stables which was as usual on Saturday and on account of the ram fair, was choke full of horses and two or three were in the burning building. The building was full of black smoke and stable men began with considerable difficulty, the work of rescuing the stupefied horses, one being singed. To clear the decks in the stable meant  startled horses with all kinds of equipage careering madly in every direction, whilst buggies, traps, harness, horse feed, etc  littered Union street for some distance. The Fire Brigade were promptly at the scene, but hampered because the two first wells they tried failed, and in the words of a bystander "it was pitiable to see such good men so heavily handicapped." However, water was eventually reached, and with relays of willing volunteers a good head was kept up. However, the building was doomed from the start and attention was directed to saving two uncomfortably adjacent buildings, Bartlett's paint shop on the one side and the stables on the other. Captain Bartlett directed his forces specially to the stables, and a bucket brigade fought the fiery element off the shop, which despite all efforts was alight twice. In 20 minutes all danger was over, and nothing but admiration was expressed on every hand for the energetic and systematic way in which the brigade had prevented the fire spreading. Despite their difficulty, handicapped as they were, the firemen acquitted themselves in a manner worthy of the greatest commendation. The building, which is portion of the Hawera Hotel property, was insured, but Mr Connell was a considerable loser of stores and saddlery, whilst Mr Knight's loss will also be rather heavy, especially in want of accommodation.

7 Mar 1901: The Borough Inspector reported the complaint of nuisance at the urinal of the Hawera Hotel. Messrs Cole and Donnelly erected a repairing shed in rear of their premises however one corner of this building was built over a cesspit with which the urinal is connected. This fact was known to the firm when they built. The Inspector had seen Mr Connell, who could not see a remedy without demolition of closets and urinal, so advised a more liberal use of disinfectants. However, last month Mr Donnelly again. complained again so Mr Connell, of the Hawera Hotel said having been rebuilt and with drainage being almost completed, he wanted no further expense.

The Mayor said the nuisance was becoming greater and the course to pursue was to serve a notice to the tenant or the landlord of the hotel to connect with the sewage system. Cr Davidson said it was hard to compel Mr Connell to connect, as he had only twelve months of lease to run. The matter was deferred for a month, or until such time as connection could be obtained and Mr Connell requested to use disinfectants.

Aug 1901: INSPECTOR'S REPORT. The Borough Inspector reported that during the month sanitary matters, owing to continuous wet, were unsatisfactory - backyards are inches deep in liquid mud and impossible to keep clean. There were several very dilapidated w.c.'s,  remedies were suggested but the cesspit between the Hawera Hotel and the blacksmith's shop should be filled up at once.

27 Mar 1903: A short time ago an old land mark, the Hawera Hotel disappeared, and due to the enterprise of the proprietor, Mr T. O'Neill, now in its place, a fine large Hotel has been erected.The old hotel required replacing it had been standing since the foundation of Hawera distance back from the street, on a corner section. Now called "The Central" it occupies the whole corner, and corresponds in every way. with the prosperity of the town. It is built of wood, with a brick party wall and concrete foundations, and is one of the largest in the district, containing over fifty rooms. It has a frontage of 76ft on High street and 90ft on Union street, and the general effect is handsome and imposing. On the High street frontage there is a balcony 10ft wide, supported by handsome cast iron pillars 16ft high and fretwork brackets. A great improvement would be effected in the appearance if the balcony were continued along the Union street frontage. The High street entrance leads into a vestibule, which is shut off from the hall by double spring doors. The hall is 40ft long by 10ft wide; it, however, has the appearance of being much larger, owing to the fact that two large corridors, which are entered through arches, meet it at right angles. An entrance from Union street leads into one of the corridors and into the hall. The other front entrance leads into the bar, which occupies a corner of the building. The bar, parlors, and office altogether take up a space about 26ft by 32ft, and are very handsomely decorated. The bar is what is known as a circular one, and the divisions and parlors, are very convenient and snug. The stock is artistically arranged on, a handsome stand in the centre. On entering from High street, the first room on the left is the sitting, room, and a little farther down a corridor is the commercial room. Both of these are large and lofty and are nicely papered and furnished, the suite in the former being carved and covered with green and red plush, and that in the latter being of leather. Across the. corridor from the sitting room is the dining room, a commodious room 40ft long and 22ft wide, nicely papered, and well lit by several large windows. The usual long table gives place to or number of small ones, which are dotted about here and there, and are capable of providing for between thirty and forty people. The kitchen is right at the back of the house, and is fitted with a large double stove and provided with all necessary culinary utensils. Adjoining are a scullery and a kitchen.. Among the other rooms on the ground floor may be mentioned an exceptionally well-lit billiard room, a large store room, and a sample room, 24ft x 16ft, with a private entrance on to Union street. From there a handsome staircase leads upstairs. It is six feet wide, and is carpeted with leather, and, with the hall, is lit by a large colored-glass window. As giving some idea of the size of the place, it may be said that 184 feet of corridor upstairs gives access to 30 rooms, three being parlors and the rest, bedrooms. These are all large, lofty, and well furnished. The balcony may be reached from either of the two front parlors by means of French windows. All conveniences, such as lavatories, bath rooms, etc., are much in evidence, and are fitted up in the latest and most up-to-date style. Tho matter of fire escapes has received attention from the architect - in the front is the Balcony, while at the side and back a gutter and a hand rail will lead escapees to the ground. It is hard to imagine, a more satisfactory system. The drainage, also, has received very particular attention, and all has been carried out by the latest hygienic principle. The hotel certainly enhances the look of the western end of the town, and the architect (Mr T. H. Battle, of Wanganui) is to be complimented on his design.

29 Apr 1912: A DESTRUCTIVE FIRE -. CENTRAL HOTEL. McGRUER, BONE AND CO.'S SHOP COMPLETELY DESTROYED BY FIRE:  INADEQUATE WATER SUPPLY.  The fire originated in the hotel - a boarder was awakened about 4.50 o'clock by dense smoke in his room. He got up and found fire breaking through from the, billiard room and the storeroom, downstairs. He quickly aroused the licensee Mr Barclay Harrington, Mrs Harnngton, the boarders and the servants and summoned the Fire Brigade who turned out promptly and soon got to work with a couple of leads but the brigade were considerably handicapped by a poor water supply, the pressure being very small. In one instance the water would not reach above the verandah. A strong westerly wind was blowing at the time, and the flames, fanned by the wind, spread with remarkable rapidity and in a very short time the whole building was one roaring furnace, the fire already having obtained a firm hold by the time the brigade arrived. The brigade tackled the outbreak manfully but were powerless to do any good with the poor water pressure, and the building was destroyed in something like fifty minutes. When the fire was at its fiercest, the heat was so intense that it cracked the plate glass windows of Messrs McGruer Bone and Co.'s premises on the opposite corner. The windows contained blankets, and these were set alight. A strong wind greatly assisted the flames m their destructive work. The brigade, seeing that it was impossible to save the hotel, concentrated their efforts on McGruer, Bone and Co's premises but were unable to extinguish the blaze which soon enveloped the building, and in less than forty minutes, only the brick walls of the building remained. By six o'clock the two corners were a mass of burning debris and ruins with only brick walls and chimneys left standing. There was an 18inch brick wall separating McGruer, Bone and Co.'s shop from Mr Bach's saddlery premises. Had it not been for this wall, the whole block might have gone, with the conditions prevailing at the time—the westerly gale and ineffective water pressure. As it was, the upper storey of Mr Bach s shop did catch alight, but the brigade subdued the flames before they got too strong a hold. When the fire was at its height at McGruer, Bone and Co's. it was noticed that the premises of Mr Tonkin, baker on the opposite side of High street were alight on the upper storey. A lead of hose was brought over, but the water would not even reach to the verandah A ladder was procured and a fireman got on to the roof of the verandah - even then it was with difficulty the water reached the flames. The distance that the water rose above the nozzle of£ the hose at this time was not more than. eight feet. The Bank of Australasia and three of the shops facing the Central Hotel were scorched, while the windows were cracked with the heat. The origin of the fire is a mystery. The billiard room was leased to Mr John Greavey, hairdresser, who had a fire m the grate in this room on the previous evening, but he states that the fire was about out when he left the premises at 10 p.m. The licensee and his wife retired to bed at 11.30, and as far as they know there was no one in the billiard room. after Mr Greavey left. The storeroom was near the billiard room and no one was in this room after 10 o'clock The nightwatchman, Mr R. Burke, passed the hotel shortly after 10 o'clock on Saturday night, when everything appeared to be quite safe. There was then no sign of fire. He was near the hotel at four o'clock on the Sunday morning, an hour before the outbreak was discovered and he did not notice any sign of smoke or fire. A local milk vendor is said to have seen what he thought to be" a chimney ablaze about four o'clock in the morning, in the direction of the hotel. The inmates of the hotel had barely time to escape in their night attire and practically lost everything. Nothing was saved from either the hotel or from the drapery shop - the proprietors of the latter will be heavy losers. The telegraph, telephone and electric light wires were considerably damaged and a couple of the poles were burned. As a result 130 subscribers to the telephone exchange were disconnected. The employees of the various departments were early astir and all connections were restored by nightfall. The electric light was on about six o'clock. The water was concentrated to the business area, yet it was a mere trickle, and although the brigadesmen did their best, they were utterly unable to cope with the outbreaks. A fireman informed a reporter that when the brigade first arrived on the scene they had difficulty in locating one of the fire plugs, which had been covered with metal from different operations in High St. which prevented the lid being lifted.

11 Jun 1913: THE CENTRAL HOTEL. THE LATEST AND MOST UP-TO-DATE IN HAWERA. "Situated on an excellent position in Union Street, the fine new ferro-concrete building which forms the subject of the above illustration has an interesting history, dating back to the early days of Hawera. The original, then the Hawera Hotel, stood on the corner and was then some years later rebuilt on the old site. Then, the fire of 1912, completely demolished that building. The land was purchased by a local syndicate, who built the present magnificent building, and sold out to the present licensee, Mrs. Cramp. Instead of keeping it on the corner, they moved the site a little down Union Street, to a position on the leading street which communicates in a direct line with the Railway Station. Patrons will realise, therefore, that for convenience of situation the present building is better off than any hotel in Hawera. The house has a very handsome front of rough stucco design, which gives it a remarkably fine appearance. There is a good verandah and a fine wide balcony running the whole length of the frontage. This, in fine weather, is much appreciated by boarders, and even in stormy weather is, by reason of its being glassed in at both ends is nearly always well sheltered. Entering by the wide front door, the visitor comes into a large, lofty, and well-lit hall. On the one side are the office, men's smoke room commercial room, writing room, and the dining room. On the other, the comfortable well-arranged bar. The dining room is a very fine room, about 50ft, by 30ft, and capable of accommodating up to seventy guests. The furnishing of all the rooms right through the house is plain and simple, yet good, and in excellent taste. The plain oiled woodwork gives a very artistic tone to the whole building. The quality of the meals served and the excellence of the waiting have been the theme of much favorable comment by local and outside visitors. The Central was chosen as the place in which the complimentary banquet tendered to the Honorable the Premier, Mr .Massey, was held and many were the favorable opinions expressed of the spread given. The bar is most suitably arranged and artistically finished.

By means of a circular counter a large amount of accommodation is provided with considerable economy of space. A broad staircase leads upstairs, where the bedrooms are so laid out as to secure the maximum of accommodation with the least waste of space The single rooms are all of good size, lofty ceilings, and well lit. There are in addition a number of double rooms and some to accommodate children. Ample sitting rooms are provided on both floors. The rooms for the staff number six, are most comfortably furnished, and include bedrooms, sitting rooms, and bath rooms. Throughout, the furnishing has been carried out on a most liberal scale and visitors may look forward to accommodation that will compare more than favorably with the best houses on the Coast. Culinary arrangements are most complete, and enable the proprietress to guarantee absolute satisfaction. Gas stoves in the kitchen, hot and cold water, and electric light throughout minister to the comfort and convenience of guests. In short the very latest and best methods and ideas have been followed in the whole equipment of the hotel. The travelling public may rest assured that they can get at the Central Hotel, Hawera,  attention and accommodation as good as they can get in the cities. The house is rapidly growing in popularity. A letter or telegram to the Proprietress will secure immediate and full attention."

Hawera is Maori for burnt place, from fighting between two local sub-tribes, which culminated in the setting ablaze of the sleeping whare (house) of the tribe under attack The name became apt when the town suffered extensive blazes in 1884, 1888, and 1912. For this reason a large water tower was built in the centre of town to increase water pressure; and this became one of Taranaki's best-known landmarks After falling into disrepair the tower was closed to the public in 2001, but after an extensive restoration program it opened again in 2004. After this fire the huge Water Tower was built in 1914.

The water tower and surrounding buildings, including the Taranaki Stables building, Hawera, circa 1915. Photograph taken by Frederick George Radcliffe.

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