On the Te Kuiti - Piopio RD 1914
In 1914 it was the local newspaper editor who often got called in to decide a bird’s merits, as Meghan Hawkes found out.
A serious coach accident occurred at Hangatiki to the coach returning from Waitomo Caves with I4 passengers, including Mr Wilson of the Tourist Department.
The breaks failed rounding a corner at the foot of an incline and the coach swung into a bank. Fortunately, the horses remained quiet. Several of the passengers were injured and Dr Gilmour, of Wellington, who was a passenger, rendered first aid. The passengers were then taken to Hamilton by the Main Trunk train.
Ōtorohanga residents were considerably annoyed by the number of stray cattle and horses roaming the streets at night. One businessman found no less than four horses camped for the evening under his office verandah. Mr Banner, storekeeper, had his shop window broken by a horse which had pushed against it. Mr J Ormsby was also unfortunate in having a valuable cow injured by a steer which broke into his paddock. On hearing of this state of affairs a member of the Town Board had a general round up and succeeded in impounding 19 head of cattle. Some amusement was caused next day when it was discovered that 13 of the impounded cattle belonged to the impounder’s family.
Pegging out an uncompleted section of the Marakopa to Te Kūiti telephone line, which had been the subject of a great deal of heated correspondence, was finally begun, two men leaving Te Kūiti for that purpose. Hollow iron telegraph poles, fireproof and light, were used throughout. These solved the difficulty of transportation in rough bush country, being easily carried from point to point as the work progressed.
The head and feet of shag were forwarded to the editor of the King Country Chronicle for inspection by an astonished angler. The shag had been very large, his wings from tip to tip measuring 4ft 8in. The angler over the previous eight years had dispatched about 30 shags all about half the size of this one. The demise of the shag would make a big difference to the fish in the Awakino River. The editor agreed that the specimens forwarded indicated a very big bird which would do enormous damage in a trout stream. It appeared to be an ordinary shag of extraordinary size, and the appendages were now forwarded on to an authority for his opinion.
Early rain began on the morning of Pio Pio’s Anglican Church bazaar and continued far into the night but in spite of this everything went with a swing from beginning to end. The children’s dip, the produce and lolly stalls sold out. The heavy rain made it impossible for many mothers to travel from a distance, and many of the useful things on the sewing stall were not sold, though very good business was done. Mr Warmington showed Punch and Judy both afternoon and evening to appreciative audiences. An enjoyable dance to excellent music followed.
