FIFTY YEARS AGO

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 54, 22 March 1946, Page 3

FIFTY YEARS AGO

OPOURIAO REMINISCENCES MR J. MOODY’S RECOLLECTION Mr J. Moody in his speech in connection with the anniversary of the cutting up of the Opouriao Estate, mentioned that in 1896 the whole of the Opouriao Valley from Comiskey’s to the confiscation line near Ruatoki was planted in maize and that continued for four years when on New Year’s morning of 1900 there was a frost of such severity that the whole crop was wiped out. Settlers then realised that they must concentrate on obtaining a more secure income with the result that in November, 1900, the Opouriao Dairy Company commenced op-i erations. Since that time the Company had flourished and in 1909 the Ruatoki factory was opened as an adjunct to Opouriao to cater for the needs of the Maori settlers as well.

Mr Moody mentioned that in the 46 years of its operations Opouriao Dairy Company had had only four chairmen of directors. They were the late Mr W. Phillips, the late Mr W. Wardlaw, the late Mr W. Reid and the present chairman, Mr W. Richardson. To these gentlemen Mr Moody attributed much of the present prosperity of the company. (Incidentally he did not see fit to mention that he himself had been secretary to the company ever since its inception 46 years ago. A great record!)