Life in New Zealand George Ruddenklau

original houses between high , colombo streets in 1860s: ruddenklau, eales boarding house, hopsack (grocer) , t. thompkins (baker)

ruddenklau opened bakery @ northern end of high street, i.e. meets colombo , hereford streets, on 7 may 1859; premises leased william wilson. in 1861, enlarged premises , started selling cordials , other goods. in june 1861, applied wine , beer licence. ruddenklau gradually took on 4 shops @ end of high street facing triangle has since 2008 been known stewart plaza , many decades held stewart fountain. in august 1861, opened city wine vaults newly gained alcohol licence, , bakery shifted around corner colombo street nearer cashel street. @ same time, ruddenklau entered partnership james s. hawley lasted until july 1863. when annual renewal of alcohol licence discussed in april 1863, ruddenklau told had complete building had shown resident magistrates, or otherwise not expect renewal following year.

hansom cabs , carriages in front of city hotel in 1884

exactly year later, ruddenklau opened two-storey city hotel on site. frontage covered whole length between colombo , high streets. 2 months later, fire broke out in building on opposite side of colombo street , due night being still, fire contained cutting fire break through block. in total, 14 houses lost. @ 1 point, heat great fire ignited building across road, situated next city hotel, fire service extinguish flames. yet fire occurred in pretty same location in june 1867 , time, heat caused damage ruddenklau s building.

in june 1864, ruddenklau elected president @ annual meeting of licensed victuallers association. in december 1864, gas network installed in christchurch, , city hotel 1 of first premises made use of new source of light. 2 months later, ruddenklau had defend breach of public house ordinance failing keep entrance lamp of hotel lit during prescribed hours. on occasion, proprietor got cautioned resident magistrate charles bowen, in september 1866, fined nz£1 same offence. in august 1866, ruddenklau enlarged city hotel premises. engaged fellow christchurch city councillor, architect samuel farr, design adjacent brick building facing colombo street. upstairs, billiard room fitted table acquired john thomas peacock, 1 of richest people in christchurch. in 1867, ruddenklau 1 of founders of canterbury brewing, malting , distilling company chaired , directed george oram, eldest of 5 brothers working in hotel industry. ruddenklau retired business in august 1869 , sold hotel john william oram, second-oldest of oram brothers (matthew oram, son of third brother, nephew).

in late 1871, ruddenklau founder of german benefit association. object of association germans support each other during times of sickness or distress. objectives closely related religion, wasn t long before proposed build church german protestants. funds raised committee presided ruddenklau, , in november 1872, foundation stone of german church laid. ruddenklau travelled germany in february 1873 , among other duties, found pastor , arranged transport 3 bells church building committee had requested german chancellor, otto von bismarck. ruddenklau returned pastor, rev. l. lohr, on rakaia in april 1874, , church formally opened on 14 may 1874. bells arrived later month, new bell tower had built, , not before christmas eve of 1874 bells inaugurated.