Raetihi carved t'rom the bush

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 469, 19 January 1993, Page 12

Raetihi carved t'rom the bush

From page 4 and Rangataua^ a distance of only 10-miles. Timber which had been carted to Pipiriki to be loaded on to the boats was now to be railed to the cities, so the line took away much from the Whanganui River waterway, when previously it had been the only service. Tourists had flocked to Pipiriki from all over the world. Pipiriki had a fine hotel and up-river a house-boat which catered on a grand scale for its visitors. After an overnight stay there, they would go on by stagecoach, through to Raetihi, Ohakune and Waiouru to Tokaanu and Taupo. In 1917 Raetihi had power, water and a sewerage system. The railway branch-line also opened. The Raetihi fire in March 1918. Much has been written about this disaster which swept through the area taking all in its path. So fierce

were the flames, fanned by a strong gale that boards off buildings went flying through the air like paper, three lives were lost, homes were burnt in minutes, stock units perished by the thousands. Once again it was time to re-build, and much help was given from around the country. The fire did have the beneficial effect of cleaning up the previously milled areas and so farming steadily developed. In that same year Hohepa Kanawa offered the Wanganui Hospital Board five acres of land across the Makotuku Stream for the purpose of building a hospital for Maori and Europeans. He wanted Maoris to occupy one end the Europeans the other. He even stated he wanted a 'native nurse' and interpreter if need be. However the board advised an area had been set aside for a hospital to be built. It was 15-acres. A govemment subsidy was forth-coming.

Building began in 1921 and the hospital opened in 1922. The Raetihi Borough Council was formed in 1921. Both Catholic and Anglican churches were re-built about 1923. The Mangaparua Valley was settled with Returned Servicemen after the war but poor access and hard conditions proved tough and many farms were eventually abandoned. As the land was cleared, farming became the biggest industry. Thousands of ewes were being sold at ewe fairs. Between 1935 and the 50 's numbers exceeded 30,000. These were keenly sought by buyers from all parts of the North Island because they were bred in hard climatic conditions. The rail branch-line was the chief means of transporting stock to the rail-head and all parts of the island. The line eventually closed in 1968. Through the 40's and 50' s New Zealand had prosperous years. Hundreds of tons of fertiliser was spread and aerial top-dressing came into its own. Fat-lamb saies from the area exceeded 150,000 annually and the district had a great input into the export market. Land prices soared. The Waimarino County Council kept the rural area in good-heart. For many years it ran a debtfree council. Much work was done in roading and re-placing bridges. The Chinese played an important role in the area. They realised the potential of the soil. Hundreds of acres of vegetables are now grown in the district and this is now one of our major industries.

Another interesting feature of the area being in the King Country, is that for over 60 years it was a 'dry area'. This meant that intoxicating liquor could not be sold. This rule must have been broken a thousand times and many are the humorous stories told of how the people managed to get their 'spirits' in. In 1977 a large thermo mechanical mill was built at Tangiwai. It brought people and work to the area. The mountain provided a big draw for tourists. Ohakune has reaped the benefit of a good many property saies, however Raetihi, only seven-miles away, has also benefited. Tourism to the district is a steady industry as not only have we snow in winter but summer activities, fishing in un-pol-luted streams, bush walks, tramping and being central to Lake Taupo for boating, hot mineralpools, white-water rafting and hunting in the Whanganui River backcountry and Kaimanawa Ranges. Raetihi, while feeling the impact of the economic down-tum at present is a fine little town. Those who have settled here love it. We are proud of our district and we owe much to the pioneers who worked so that we might benefit.