Raetihi's 100

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 476, 9 March 1993, Page 11

Raetihi's 100

With the celebration of 100-years of European settlement at Raetihi, many people are looking into their histories. Here, Betty Bryers writes of her pioneering family background. The Ashwell Family Arriving in New Zealand from Bishop Stortford in 1893 Alfred Ashwell, his wife Ellen and family consisting of three sons Earnest, Frederick and Walter and daughter Nellie travelled to Raetihi to take up a section of 400 acres about three miles up the Ameku Road alongside Peter Brass's property. Peter Brass and the Ashwells worked together to make their own access to their farms. They suffered all the hardships of the pioneers of the day. My great grandmother Ellen, who was 54 - eight years older than her husband showed a great spirit and set about making a beautiful old-world garden as described by my aunt in later years. "One entered the front gate and passed through a long tunnel of laurel

trees, crossed a fem-clad gully by a bridge formed from a felled tree with a side rail and cleated bottom to a gorgeous oldworld garden, no lawn, surrounded by shrubs and trees. Apple, pear and plum trees and hazelnut trees grew, well sheltered from the weather" Turn to page 15 Shorts Hill work one day Concern was once again expressed at the very long delays in carrying out repair work on the Shorts Hill road, at the Waimarino Community Board meeting last week. Board member Winstone Oliver said he very much hoped the work would be done before winter, but expressed doubt as tenders had not yet been let. The road suffered flood damage more than 18 months ago. The board heard that the work, along with the Ohura Deviation and Pipiriki Road repairs, were awaiting final design detail before being tendered.