PLAINS TOWNSHIPS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4537, 9 March 1923, Page 2

PLAINS TOWNSHIPS.

NGATEA. Ngajea, about nine miles, up the Piako River, is probably the most progressive place on the Plains. The only bridge across the river is at Ngatea, and roads from all parts of the Plains converge there. It is the seat of the Hauraki Plains County Council, and the meeting place of most of the associations and societies that are active on the Plains. The N.Z. Co-operative Dairy Co., Ltd., has a big butter factory at Ngatea. and cream is drawn from almost the whole of the Plains. The Hauraki Plains A. and P. Show has been held at Ngatea for the past three years. The District High School, which has recently been established, is being conducted in the Public Hall until additions can be made to the primary school. A public library wi-1 be opened in a very short time. Ngatea is the only township on the Plains to be lighted with street lamps. There are two saleyards and two pig receiving depots at Ngatea. Although the post office is quite a new building, it is much too small for the volume of business done. The number of subscribers to the telephone exchange has increased to such an etxent that now no more can be connected until a new switchboard is installed. Enterprising business firms in Nga tea are Messrs H. and A. Dent,, casti grocers and tearoom proprietors ; W. G. Hayward, of the Central Butchery ; D. A. Vincent, storekeeper; C. MoTaggart, wheelwright and general blacksmith ; F. E. Stimpson, saddler ; J. Terrill, hairdresser, tobacconist, and stationer; W. A. Montgomery,' baker and pastrycook. The Bank of New Zealand, and Messrs Bryan and Walker, solicitors, open offices for a few hours weekly. The Thames Valley Electric ' Power Board has a “trouble man”~stationed at Ngatea. KEREPEEHI. Kerepeehi, about four miles up the Piako River from Ngatea, is a place with a great future. When the drainage works are completed Kerepeehi will be the geographical centre of the Plains. The proposed route of the Paeroa-Pokeno railway passes within two miles of the township. At present it is the headquarters of the Lands and Survey Department, and extensive wharves and workshops have"been erected. The township is situated on the' only high land on the Plains. Land has been secured for a hospital site, a hall site, a showground, and a racecourse. The police headquarters are at Kerepeehi. boardinghouse is in course of erection, and firms in business comprise a storekeeper, a butcher, and a blacksmith. An enterprising builder and contractor is Mr S. W. Bridge, who invites inquiries and will submit plans and specifications.

TURUA. Turua is a township situated on the western bank of the Waihou River about six miles from its mouth. Communication is by steamer to Auckland and Paeroa, amV launch and bus to Kopu and Thames. It was originally a timber milling townhsip, the saw-i mil] having been established in 1868, and was run continuously until 1915. Now, however, the timber is done, and the land is used almost exclusively for dairying. There is a cheese factory operating within the township and two others within a few miles. A town board was formed early last year. It covers an area of 710 acres, having a population pf a little over 300. The unimproved value of the land in the Town Board area is about. £44,000, and the capital value about £81,00(1. The Board x has done, much to improve the township, -and very shortly will submit a scheme for bituminous roads to the ratepayers. Street, lighting has been discussed, and probably will be gone on with ; n the near future. An up-to-date post office was opened in December, 1917'Turua is the telephone centre of the Plains, and a Morse telegraph set will be installed shortly. There is a public library, a nursing home, a large well-conducted prihotel. saleyards, and a cheese factory in Turua. The Turua Buildings contain the offices of the Town Board, Drainage Board, Dairy Company, Bank of New Zealand, and Messrs Bryan and Walker, solicitors. Enterprising firms doing business in Turua are Messrs Bagnall Bros, and Co., Ltd., general merchants ; C. Scott, of the Hauraki Plains Butchery ; J. H. Johnson, blacksmith and coachbuilder ; F. W. Clotworthy, cash grocer ; A. Jensen, painter and paperhanger; A. E. Aberhart, of the Turua Joinery Factory ; and A. P. Gardiner, builder and contractor.

WAITAKARURU. Waitakaruru, at the mouth of the Waitakaruru Stream, is one of the original settlements on the Plains, and is now a place with great prospects. When the Waitakaruru-Mau-koro canal is completed it will be navigable and will open up a big area. In all probability a butter factory will be erected in. a year or t,wo. Communication is by boat to Auckland or by a daily motor service to Pokeno, Paeroa, and Thames. The business portion is comprised of the saleyards,. Elliot’s grocery and general merchandise store and boardinghouse, Mrs Beaver’s boardinghouse and butchery, and a blacksmithy. PIPIROAPipiroa, near the mouth of the Piako River, was opened up about twelve years ago, and, as at that, time it was expected that it would grow rapidly a big area was cut up into town sections. The township has not progressed as anticipated, blit may, when the river is bridged at this point, become a busy place. The country around once an area of sea mud is now a place of smiling homesteads. T’ipiroajias a fine publically-owned hall and an eight-acre domain. The post office is at the post pffice store,

which business is now being carried on by Mr S. W. Rolfe. PATETONGA. Patetonga is a small township situated at the foot of the hills about 2% miles from the Patetonga landing, which is eight miles above Kerepeehi. Originally a milling township, it is now the centre of a dairying and stock-raising district. Several flaxmills and a sawmill are operating in the neighbourhood. Among the live business firms are Messrs Evans Bros, and Garry, general providers; W. Suckling, of the Ngarua Meat Supply ; T. Burgess, of the Pafetpnga Butchery ; Johnson and Main, butchers ; and Mrs E. Collins, of the Patetonga Accommodation House.