North Sultan Hotel

North Sultan Hotel

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History
Town	Barry's Reef
Known dates	1874-1876

The North Sultan Hotel was a hotel in Blackwood, <1874-1876>.

Site

The hotel was in Barry's Reef, about 2.5 kms north of Blackwood

History

In June 1875 the hotel was the venue for an enquiry into a baby's death:

A magisterial inquiry was held at the North Sultan Hotel on Tuesday by D. G. Stobie, Esq., J. P., concerning the death of an infant son of Richard Downing, residing at Split Tree, Barry's Reef. It appeared by the evidence that Mrs Downing was confined of the child by midwife named Miers at about 4 a.m. on Monday, a Mrs. Rees being present also. These two witnesses and the father of the child declared that the child never showed any; certain signs of life. They put it in a warm bath and otherwise tried to restore it, and these means having failed Mrs. Miers and Mr: Downing took the child to Red Hill, to Dr. M'Namara, who stated that the child was dead when, brought to him. By a post mortem examination he found that it had been born alive. He considered it died from want of care and had some stimulant been administered and the child not submitted to exposure, it might have lived. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the Doctor's evidence, and considered the father and the midwife committed a great error in judgment in not trying to procure medical assistance sooner, but that there was no criminal intent on the part of either. Mr. Stobie gave the father and the midwife a suitable reprimand.

In July 1876, Mary Jane Hodgson applied for a license:

Mary Jane Hodgson applied for a license for the house and premises known as the North Sultan hotel, Barry's Reef. Objections were taken by the police on the ground that sufficient hotel accommodation was already provided at Barry's Beef. Constable Hawkes stated that these was a hotel at the reef for every fifty of the adult population. A petition from thirty of the ratepayers residing at Barry's Reef was presented by Mr W. Powell, showing that the number of public-houses now open was more than sufficient for the requirements of the place. The bench did not set much value on petitions, and were not influenced by the one presented. However, the evidence of Constable Hawkes, and the testimony of Mr Powell, as ratepayers, was sufficient to uphold their determination not to grant any more licenses for Barry's Reef. The application was therefore refused

In September 1876 Mary Jane Hodgens again applied unsuccessfully for a license for the hotel:

Mary Jane Hodgens applied for a license for a house known as the North Sultan hotel. Application withdrawn, as it was within six months of a former application.

In December 1876 T. Hodgens tried again to get a license for the hotel. The police had no objection, but a group of local residents successfully lobbied the court to refuse the license:

T. Hodgens' application for a license for the North Sultan hotel was unopposed by the police, but Messrs J. Williams, T. Scales, and J. Donnathorne appeared on behalf of a body of ratepayers to oppose it, on the ground that the house was not wanted, as it was only about 400 yards from another public-house: and that for an adult population of 800 there were now nine licensed houses, which they thought quite sufficient.

The People

• In December 1874, the license was granted to Mary Jane Johnston.
• In July, September and December 1876 Mary Ann Hodgens and T. Hodgens tried unsuccessfully to get a license for the hotel.