Tinui Public Hall (first)

First Tinui Public Hall gets underway

It appears planning for the first Tinui Public Hall got underway in January 1877, with subscriptions sought from local residents to meet the cost. 

At that point the only public building was the first Tinui Hotel, in Blackhill Road. With Tinui in those days resembling the wild west,  the pub probably wasn't the first place you'd consider for a dignified social event. Or to hold church services. 

A meeting of the Tenui [Tinui] Public Hall Committee was held lately [January 1877]. 

The plan of the quarter-acre section presented by Mr. Nicholls was handed in by Mr. A. D. Wilson, after being duly surveyed and mapped by him. He declined any remuneration for his services, and only desired that the work done might be considered as his contribution towards the hall. 

A plan and elevation of a building such as was likely to be suitable, was deposited at the office by a local architect and carpenter, and the committee adopted this plan, with several alterations. 

The specification and quantities of the timber required for the building as determined upon, were to be obtained from the person who presented the original plan, and an intimation was conveyed to him from the committee that any reasonable tender for the erection of the building from him would receive their favorable consideration. 

The offer of timber from Mr. Burnett at 9s. per 100ft. was accepted, and the offer to cart the same at 13s. 6d. per 100ft., from Mr. W. O'Neill, was also accepted, and the secretary was requested to forward agreements to them for signature as soon as possible. 

The chairman, Mr. R. Langdon, and Mr. Henry Wishaw were appointed public trustees, and the conveyance of the land to them as such was entrusted to Mr. Beard, solicitor, Masterton. 

The different members of the committee were urged to proceed with the collection of subscriptions without delay. The next meeting was fixed for the 20th inst. There were present Messrs. R. Langdon (chairman), Henry Wishaw, J. Groves, A. McGeogh, and J. C. Yorke (secretary).

New Zealand Mail, Issue 260, 20 January 1877, Page 7 

Building began on 28 May 1877.

We believe the Tenui Public Hall was commenced by its contractors yesterday [28 May 1877]. This centre with its hotel store, fine public school and other buildings is apparently just at present time growing more rapidly than any other portion of the Wairarapa.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume 7, Issue 622, 29 May 1877, Page 2 

Without any regulations or council inspections required to build any structure in 1877, it is highly likely that the Tinui Public Hall opened in late 1877.  There are no records to confirm that.

It seems that somewhere for the Court Forester No. 6382 (friendly society) to meet may have been a strong motivation for getting a hall built as soon as possible. The first two trustees were Robert Langdon (c1811-1886) and John Henley Whishaw/Wishaw (1850-1900).

The small hall rapidly became the focal point of the community. Social events - including Tinui School events - were usually followed by dancing which went on into the small hours of the morning. The pupils must have been tired at school the following day. 

Land title issued

Title was issued for the 1012 square metre section (WN341/131, Part Section 287 Whareama Block and defined on Deposited Plan 224) was not issued until 1 February 1927 when James Spinks Langdon and David Henry Speedy were recorded as the trustees.

The hall was mortgaged to Court Pioneer (Foresters) No. 6382 and was discharged on 19 November 1932. 

On 19 November 1935 the remaining trustee, David Henry Speedy (James Spinks Langdon having died in 1915) conveyed the ownership of the hall to the Castlepoint County Council.

When Castlepoint County Council amalgamated with Masterton County Council in 1960 ownership was transferred to the Masterton County Council.

In 1995 Masterton District Council sold the section to a couple from the Hutt Valley, who continue to own it.

At some point a truck barn was attached to the old hall, which was languishing after the Tinui War Memorial Hall was opened in 1954. 

The old hall itself was used for the Tinui Playgroup. At the time the above photo was published, John Andrew was keen to see the old hall building restored and the truck barn demolished as the hall itself was in repairable condition. But in 1987 the hall and the truck barn were demolished.