TOM WOOD ON HIS TRAVELS
Many of our readers will remember Mr Thomas Wood who was for a considerable time lessee of the billiard room at the Commercial Hotel, Milton. He is now in London, living at the Britannia Hotel in the City Road, kept by Mr Drummond, the husband of Dolly Green, the well-known actress. By the last mail, a lady residing in Dnnedin received a letter from Mr Wood, and she has kindly placed it at our disposal:
London, 22nd May, 1876.
Dear Madam, After four months' travelling, I sit down to acquaint you with a few of my "sights." You know the grand sights and display that are to be seen at Cadova by seeing the natives come off to the vessels, and through the tropics to the Sandwich Islands. There I stopped one day, and was much delighted by seeing about 15 mules coming down through the valleys, loaded with bananas, to our good ship, consigned to merchants in 'Frisco.' After leaving the Islands, Washington's birthday came on, and we had a grand ball on board. We enjoyed everything right through to 'Frisco.' Then agony began; for it hailed and rained in torrents. I saw all I could possibly see in one week - then for the snowy mountains. I stopped at Hogden, and went to the salt lakes but returned the same night, for I could see nothing but snow, and the Tabernacle resembled a mushroom top among the snow. I went on to Sacramento; there had been no trains through for three weeks. We had five engines on, and one snow plough. We buried one engine and smothered three chinamen. At last we got through to Chicago, where I saw Julia Matthews and Johnny Hall. I stopped there two days, and then went to the Exhibition, where, in three days I got disgusted, for the buildings there bear no comparison to our Crystal Palace or the Alexandra. I then went on to New York where I expected to see Mr Moody, but did not through Mr C— giving me the wrong address. I stopped in New York a week, and then left for Liverpool. As I do not like Liverpool I went on to London.
Since I have been here we have had nothing but rain and bad weather, and I wish I had taken your advice, and stayed a couple of months later. However, I pased my time seeing the fair sex: — in Rotten Row, the morning flower-shows, in Albert Hall, and at the Operas and fireworks in the evening. I have been to all the races, and saw the Inflexible launched at Portsmouth — the Prince's arrival, the banquet, the procession, and ball - a sight I shall never forget. As the song says, "I wish I were a boy again, and had but a thousand a year, gaffer." I saw Mr Sam Lazarus and several more old faces, and they all wish they were back in Dunedin.
To conclude — I hope this will find you in good health, as it has left me at present, thank God! Remember me to all old friends.
Yours respectfully, Old Tom Wood.
PS.— If all is well, I will be back by November. I have not made up my mind which way I shall come. I can get plenty of rooms in London but I cannot sit down to mark a game of billiards for sixpence, as the Summer is setting in, and very little play. TM -Bruce Herald, 25/7/1876.
Mr Thomas Wood, or "Old Tom Wood" — to use a name by which he is more generally known — has returned to New Zealand, and in a very short time he will be in Milton to entertain us with stories of his wonderful adventures on land and sea. It will be remembered that he left here less than a year ago to visit the Philadelphia Exhibition, and since then he has visited the Eastern and Western States of America, Great Britain, and the continent of Europe. Society in San Francisco did not suit Tom Wood, so after becoming pretty proficient in the use of the revolver he left for the East, carrying with him as mementos of his visit three revolver bullets in the calf of his left leg. He found Salt Lake City more to his taste, but there he narrowly escaped having thirteen wives and a small family of forty-seven children "sealed" to him, so he determined to move eastward again. At Brooklyn he met the Rev. Ward Beecher, who was delighted to hear that the people of Milton sympathised with him in his late troubles. Tom resisted the earnest entreaties of his eminent friend, and declined to take shares in a new church about to be started on Long Island. After being introduced to President Grant, he left New York for Liverpool, and soon found his way to London, where he was hospitably entertained by the Colonial Secretary. With much good sense, Mr Wood gracefully but firmly declined the honor of knighthood, and after wandering over the continent for a month or two became so disgusted with the effete civilisation of the old world that he determined to return to New Zealand once more. He will tell the rest himself.
John Smith. -Bruce Herald, 12/12/1876.
Town Topics
Most residents of Milton will remember Mr Thomas Wood, or if they don't remember him they may perhaps be able to recall "Old Tom" to their recollection. He left your township nearly two years ago, and after enjoying the hospitality of the King of Samoa, Brigham Young, the President of the United States, and an old lady who keeps a tea and shrimp shop at Gravesend, he returned to New Zealand firm in the conviction that marking billiards at sixpence per game in the old country was more than he could stand. Some months ago Thomas entered into arrangements with Mr W. L. Philp, of the Shamrock Hotel, who has just erected one of the most comfortable billiard rooms in town, and furnished it with one of the most handsome and expensive tables made by Alcock and Co, of Melbourne. The room was opened to the public on Friday night last, and the occasion was celebrated by an inaugural game at general pool and a grand supper. Tom did not succumb until a late hour in the morning, when he was borne on two billiard cues to his bed, where a facetious member of the company read the rules for devil's pool over his remains. He's better now; but a strong demand has increased the price of brandy and soda. -Bruce Herald, 26/6/1877.
Public Notices
NO MORE BAD GAS
IF you wish to see a Brilliant light visit the Shamrock Billiard saloon.
TOM WOOD. August 8. -Evening Star, 8/8/1877.
An invitation was extended to our City Fathers by letter at last night's meeting, in the following terms: "Northern Hotel, Oamaru Feb. 3, 1881. — To his Worship the Mayor and Councillors of the Borough of Oamaru Gentlemen, — I have the honor to invite you to inspect the splendid billiard saloon at the Northern Hotel this evening, where will be seen the prince of tables, the prince of markers, and the prince of lights; open for inspection uo to 12 o'clock. — Yours faithfully, Old Tom Wood." Councillors smiled blandly as the letter was laid on the table. -North Otago Times, 4/2/1881.
BILLIARD CHALLENGE £500 For the Best Table in the Colony.
THE PRINCE OF TABLES,
THE PRINCE OF MARKS,
AND THE PRINCE OF LIGHTS,
To be found at
THE NORTHERN HOTEL.
Grand Room. Furniture unsurpassed.
OLD TOM WOOD, (From the Shamrock Hotel Dunedin,)
Has the pleasure to announce that he has brought up his Magnificent Alcock Table for the use of the Oamaru players; and by his well-known attention and civility, hopes to meet with the public patronage.
Pool every night. -Oamaru Mail, 23/2/1881.
Amusements
BILLIARDS. BILLIARDS.
OLD TOM WOOD (late of the Shamrock Billiard Room) is now in harness, having taken the Royal Exchange Room, which is furnished with two of Alcock’s best Tables, and invites his old friends to rally round.
Pool Every Night. -Evening star, 3/9/1881.
Amusements
THE ROYAL EXCHANGE BILLIARD-ROOM
Is now Open under the management of the renowned TOM WOOD. For style and comfort this Room stands unrivalled in the Australasian Colonies. -Otago Daily Times, 1/3/1882.
Mr Thomas Wood, better known as Tom Wood, a well-known resident, and somewhat of a celebrity, died yesterday of heart-disease and dropsy, in his 75th year, at the Shamrock Hotel, after a long and painful illness. The deceased, who was a native of Devonshire, came out to New South Wales when a boy of 16 as a servant to the late Dr Finlay, one of the earliest stockowners of that Colony. In the early digging days of Victoria he was the second, if not the first, to drive the coach between Melbourne and Ballarat on the breaking out of the goldfields. He arrived in New Zealand about 23 years ago, where he followed principally the two occupations of coachdriver and billiard-table keeper. He was much liked and respected by all who knew him for his genial and hearty manner, and kindly disposition. -Otago Dauily Times, 4/8/1885.
Dunedin Gossip
Genial, jovial, light-hearted Tom Wood has also joined the majority, and his well-known figure and "frosty now" will be no longer seen in our streets. Thomas Wood was known to most people in Dunedin as the lessee of several billiard-rooms — and those he kept were always distinguished for their freedom from the objectionable features common to some — but old Victorians will know him best as the second, if not even the first, driver of Cobb's coach between Melbourne and Ballarat, and many will remember him when handling the reins for Cobb in Otago. Vale! -Cromwell Argus, 11/8/1885.
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