NEWS ITEMS
1871 - Hit Or Miss Hotel
James W. Huey Begs to announce to his old friends in Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales that he has opened the above hotel in Herbert Street north.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 45, 23 December 1871
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 51, 3 February 1872
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 52, 10 February 1872
1871 - Police Court
Maltreatment – Dr. Frederick Lewis was charged with having caused the death of John Gordon at Gulgong, by administering certain drugs to him, which accelerated his death. Defendant pleaded not guilty. Sergeant O’Donnell made the arrest and produced two bottles of medicine the deceased had been taking.
...
[Note the P.M. was held at the Hit and Miss Hotel in Herbert Street]
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 45, 23 December 1871
1872 - Birth
On the 30th March, at her residence, Hit or Miss Hotel, Herbert Street, Mrs J.W. Huey a daughter
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 66, 3 April 1872
1872 - Death
On the 31st March at her parents residence, the “Hit or Miss Hotel”, infant daughter of James W. and Sarah Huey.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 66, 3 April 1872
1872 - Electro-Plating and Gilding
A. Solomon - Has commenced business at Mr. Huey’s Hit or Miss Hotel, Herbert Street.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 71, 20 April 1872
1872 - Destructive Fire
On Wednesday morning, about half-past two o’clock, the town was startled by the alarm of fire; joining in the crowd of people hurrying to the scene, we found that the Hit or Miss Hotel, Lower Herbert Street was enveloped in flames and a helping crowd energetically at work endeavoured to arrest the progress of the fire and save property. Finding it impossible to save the hotel or its contents from utter destruction, every effort was made to confine the fire to the smallest limits. A couple of small buildings—one used as a dwelling house and the other as a bakery—were promptly pulled down so as to cut off the fire on the southern side. This effected the object though not without considerable risk as the greater portion of the dwelling house materials were consumed as they lay.
An inquest was held on Thursday by Mr. T.A. Browne, District Coroner, when it was clear by the evidence that the cause was purely accidental, through the carelessness of one of the female servants falling asleep without blowing out her candle, with which the muslin curtains of her bed must have come in contact. Much sympathy is felt for the proprietor of the hotel, Mr. Peter Lohnart, who only a few weeks ago purchased the house and refitted it. To add to his misfortunate, he received on Thursday a large supply of liquor from Sydney, all of which with everything under the roof was utterly burned up. It was fortunate that the fire occurred in a part of town not thickly built on, otherwise it would be difficult to say where it would have ended. The necessity for a vigilant night watchman during the summer months is, we should think, apparent to all. Every care should be exercised by house holders in seeing that every light is extinguished or protected from danger in their houses each night as if a fire occurs in the busy portion of the town, it would rival Boston on a small scale.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 133, 23 November 1872
This morning at 3 o'clock, Lomax's [sic] Hit or Miss Hotel and thc home adjoining, occupied by Mrs. Lazarus, in Lower Herbert-street, was destroyed by fire. Nothing was saved, the inmates escaping without their clothes. The cause of tho fire is supposed to have been by a candle being left burning in tho servant's room. The adjoining shops were razed to stop tho progress of the fire.
Source: Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1919) Sat 23 Nov 1872 Page 41872 - THE FIRE.
On Wednesday morning last, at about 2 o'clock the inhabitants of Gulgong were startled from their slumbers by the alarm of fire. Upon proceeding to the locality at the lower end of Herbert-street, we found the Hit or Miss Hotel, erected about a year ago by Mr. James W. Huey, and sold by him to Mr. Lonarht, a month or two since, in flames. The building was composed mostly of wood and bark, and the
rage of the fire, fed by these inflammable materials, was something awful to look upon. To add to their fierceness we learn that Mr. Lonarht had received, only on the Saturday previous, a consignment of about £200 worth of spirits.
At the inquest, held by the district coroner, T. A. Browne, Esq, and a jury of twelve, with Mr. Robert Jones as foreman, on the afternoon of the same day, it appears from the evidence, that Miss Katherine Carroll, the landlord's wife's sister, must have left a light burning too near her bed curtains, and that the fire originated by them being ignited. All was confusion, and the adjoining house, owned by Mrs.
Lazarus, was also totally consumed. There was no insurance upon either the house or stock, and consequently, the loss will fall very heavily upon Mr. Lonarht. The crowd had sufficient presence of mind to pull down the buildings above that of Mr. Lazarus, and by this means stopped the progress of the fire. The loss of Mrs. Lazarus was estimated at £35. Every disposition was manifested by all to aid in arresting the progress of the fire. Mr. and Mrs. Lonarht and Miss Carroll barely escaped the flames in their night clothes, the alarm was so sudden.
1873 - [MINING]
A party bottomed a shaft at 112 feet just below the spot where the Hit or Miss hotel stood last week.1873 - [MINING]
A lot of 24 loads was also puddled from the olaim, back of the Hit or Miss Hotel at the head of the Black Lead.
