Centennial meeting to be called

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 424, 18 February 1992, Page 1

Centennial meeting to be called

The Waimarino Community Board is to leave the decision on the Raetihi & Districts' centennial to the public. At last week's board meeting it was decided to hold a public meeting to discuss how, where, when, and also what to celebrate in the centenary year. The board heard that the townships of Raetihi and Ohakune were surveyed in 1892. An article from the Waimarino Museum Society written by Dorothy Battersby, notes that in April 1893 John Punch and his wife Rose came from Palmerston North to settle at Raetihi (then known as Makotuku). "That date may be appropriate for a fix on a subsequent centennial," said council

general manager Cliff Houston in his report on the matter. But the board was at odds over whether the centennial should be just Raetihi and districts or include the whole Waimarino, so it was decided to leave that to a public meeting also. Board chairman Colin Webb said there would be a lot of knowledge among members of the public which would help in the decision. He said Ohakune was sold at a public auction held at the Raetihi town hall in 1907. FOOTNOTE: Member John Compton suggested a phone box at Whakapapa would be a good "neutral" venue for the meeting!