27 Sep 1877 "While we agree with the action of the Licensing Bench in declining to grant licenses for additional public houses in the city, it by no means follows that the same rule should always apply in the country districts. As a case in point, we are of opinion that the refusal to grant a license to Mr.Samuel Prosser, for the handsome new Empire hotel which he has just built at Pahautauui, was not warranted. For some years past the hotel accommodation at Pahautanui has been of the most wretched description. Time after time, passengers by Cobb's coaches have complained of the dirty and tumble-down house, the ill-cooked meals, and the general discomfort which they experienced when halting there. Since the present holder of the license, Mr. Henry Hiller, took the hotel, it is said that things have somewhat improved. The only proper way, however, to improve the existing building, was to pull it down aud build a new one. Now, Mr. Prosser built a new hotel on a site a little distant from the existing house, giving £400 for the land, and expending £1300 on the building. He was refused the license on Tuesday, while the existing utterly unsuitable premises still continue to be licensed. It is true that the licensee of the existing place commenced to build a new house a fortnight ago, and is thus at last making the long-desired provision for the accommodation of the public. We doubt, however, if this new building would have been commenced unless Mr. Prosser had erected his premises. The case is one of injustice and hardship. There is an urgent need of a comfortable hotel at Pahautanui for the use of travellers, and Mr. Prosser, as the first man who has had the enterprise to supply the want, should have obtained a license.

9 Apr 1878: Sportsmen who have but a few days at a time to spend in the country, will appreciate the enterprise of Mr. Hiller, of the Pahautanui Hotel, in purchasing the right of shooting over a large tract of country near the hotel, for the convenience of visitors from town. The hotel has recently been rebuilt, and will be found to afford excellent accommodation to those who make the house their headquarters for a few days.

 24 Apr 1878: A party of sportsmen went up to Pahautanui on Easter Monday for a day's shooting. In their list of intended victims they did not include wild cattle, nor did their plans comprise a hunting scene, in which they were to be the game hunted. Yet both of these unsought events came about. For those sportsmen suddenly found themselves the objects of pointed and unflattering attention on the part of a wild bull. At first they thought they wouid show a bold front, but on second thoughts they decided they wouldn't. Next they fancied they would have a much better chance of securing pigeons if they climbed up a tree to look for them, besides having an immeasurably superior view of the charming landscape. And so they went up a tree. They ascended quickly, not that they were in any hurry, but they were anxious to "see the prospect in a particular light and did not care to waste time in romping with common wild bulls. They duly admired the view, and the bull politely waited for them at the foot of the tree. At length they thought it was time to descend, and they were afraid that in going down backwards they might tread on the bull accidentally and perhaps hurt the poor thing. So they tried to frighten him away by just firing a few charges of shot into his face. Still he would not go, and at length a chance shot penetrated his brain, and he fell dead. Then those sportsmen descended the tree".

9 Oct 1879: a new school opened at Patahanui

23 Oct 1879: "The Chief Postmaster has not acceded to the petition of the Porirua and Pahautanui settlers to send the mails by Prosser's coach as last year. One reason given is that the subsidy of £60 per annum demanded by Mr. Prosser is too high, and another "the length of time taken to get up the petition— eight months is an indication that the settlers evince no very burning desire for the alteration."