Wains Hotel founder’s busy life
Advice was received of the death of Mr Job Wain, an old resident of Dunedin. Mr Wain was well known in municipal life, and was returned without opposition to represent High Ward in the Dunedin City Council in 1867. A few weeks after this election, however, he was compelled, through an alleged informality in the proceedings, to retire from the council, and on again submitting himself as a candidate for the seat, was opposed by Mr McLaren, whom he defeated by a large majority. Mr Wain was born in London, in November,
1826 and was the eldest son of a soft goods merchant. After leaving school he entered the office of the late James Macandrew, with whom he embarked for New Zealand in the ship Titan in September, 1850. During the year 18512 he was engaged at farm work on Mr Macandrew’s property at Mornington. In December 1852 he went to Australia with the intention of trying his luck on the goldfields. After passing a few years in Australia he returned to Dunedin, where in 1857 he found employment with Mr George Duncan, at that time proprietor of the Commercial Hotel. In 1859 Mr Wain entered into partnership with Mr Wilson to buy the livery stables previously conducted by Mr Duncan in Rattray street. The firm of Messrs Wilson and Wain lasted for years, and in 1865 Mr Wain opened a hotel in Manse street, and conducted it for about 12 years. He was engaged in railway contracting, his chief works being the construction of the Manuka Creek tunnel and the permanent
railroad from Clarksville to
Lawrence. In 1878 Mr Wain erected, in Princes street, the hotel which still bears his name, and six months after its completion he retired into private life. After five years, much of which he spent in travel, he returned to the management of his hotel. In 1888 he finally retired and has since resided on a block of land in the village of Opoho, in the northeast Valley. Mr Wain was connected with the Dunedin City Fire Brigade for upwards of 12 years, and was for seven years its captain. Before his resignation he was presented by the city corporation with an illuminated address, a gold watch and chain and a silver tea and coffee service in recognition of his long service. Mr Wain married Miss Catharine Jenkins, of Dunedin, in May 1860 and has three sons and four daughters.
First Maori doctor knighted
An investiture was held at Government House on Saturday
evening, when his Excellency the Governorgeneral (Lord Jellicoe) knignted and invested the Hon Sir Maui Pomare CMG as a Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.
Soldiers’ wives on settlements
Colonel T.W. McDonald. in the course of a supplementary report regarding the soldier settlements of Otago and Southland, states in regard to the Benmore runs that from the manner in which this land was subdivided one would imagine that those responsible for it had workers’ homes in their minds rather than discharged soldier settlements, as the holdings are only large enough for the former purpose. There is no school nearer than 40 miles from the settlement, and he understands that the Plunket nurses do not get within about 40 miles of the settlement. The predicament, the settlers’ wives, about to become mothers, are in, is simply appalling. Oamaru is the
nearest place where they can receive proper attention. One case had to be sent to Oamaru the day he arrived at the settlement, and one a short time before. The expense is enormous, to say nothing of the inconvenience. Unless much larger areas are given the rentals of the hill lands will have to be reduced also. One settler’s wife lost her husband during an attempt to rescue his sheep from the swamps or creeks, where they had to wander in search of food. His wife ran the section, even to following the plough, milking the cows and attending the sheep. She married an adjoining soldier who through war service became practically disabled, and she ran both sections. The day he was there she was prostrated with a nervous breakdown, her daughter was dangerously ill in a tent outside, and the husband was minding a little cigarette and tobacco store about three miles away. How this place was selected to put men on he could not understand. — ODT, 20.9.1922