WHAKATANE'S GROWTH

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 109, 12 January 1940, Page 5

WHAKATANE'S GROWTH

THE TOWN IN 1912 ONE-SIDED MAIN STREET Last Friday avc published Avliat we are now ready to admit Avas a 'howler.' Under the heading of Familiar Unknown avc stated that in 191.'} there Avere only two shops in Whakatane. We printed the statement in good faith, none of us having been here in that year, and the fact Avas given to us by an 'old! identity.' We arc still Licking our Avounds after coming off second best in the resultant battles Avith our subscribers, and Ave arc completing the job by rubbing in the salt of an apology made in the form of a brief sketch of this town in 1912. It may be as well to add that our previons informant, as an 'old identity,' Avas possibly confused in the matter of dates, this being a year of Centennials, and really meant 1813. A leading business man, who came to the toAvn in 1900. has recorded facts about the size of Whakatane in 1912 in the form of a Aery comprehensiAC photograph, and this he displayed for our information. The old method 'by AA'ord of mouth' does not appeal to us now. The photograph slioavs that the Strand at that time Avas only one chain Avide and there Avere shops only on the one side—the tide lapping the other. The wharf AA'as on the site at present occupied by Messrs Bridgers Ltd factory. There was evidently considerable trade carried on then because the record slioavs three coastal steamers Paroa, Daphne and Tasman in port together. Counting the buildings aa*c found nine shops, a hall knoAvn as McGarA*ey's AA'here the Maoris enjoyed their fling at the Mazurka, a bank,, two hotels, and sundry store-houses. Not exactly a metropolis, but a distinct improvement on our advertised conception of the toAA'n that year. In conversation Avith the OAA r ner of the photograph Ave learned that at the time he came here, 1906, a tAA*oday race meeting Avas held annually at Kopeopeo, that place then being one large farm. The pakehas raced on the first day and usually left their horses to compete on the second day, Avhen the Maoris staged their oavu excitement. KnoAA r n as Watermelon Day because the Maoris brought along some tons of melons, the race meeting Avas always a success. Of the shops or offices existing in 1913, Ave are informed that only tAVO remain, these being the premises at present occupied by Mr S. Brown, bootmaker, and Mr R. F. Smith, solicitor.