Thirty years ago

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 2, Issue 32, 29 January 1985, Page 3

Thirty years ago

This week in 1955 a petition was circulating in Waiouru, the aim of which was the appointment of a doctor for the town. The young husband who started the petition got the idea after his wife became ill . and he was forced to borrow a Ministry of Works truck to take her to hospital in Taihape. Mr R. McCarroll, secretary of the Workers Union branch in the town, said there was ample justification for the petition. The army hospital in the camp was not designed for the needs of civilians, he~

said, and the army ambulance could only be used for army personnel, unless the case was extremely urgent. However, residents of. Waiouru acknowledged that in cases of emergency the army medical staff were "superb." Mr McCarroll, whose union backed the petition, concluded, "It certainly seems that the idea of a maternity annexe at Waiouru and the stationing of a private medical practitioner merit favourable consideration." ★ ★ ★ There was also "dangerous vandalism" this week thirty

years ago when an iron spike and a piece of timber were placed across a rail on the main trunk line close to the tunnel near the Makohin viaduct. The objects were found by a railway ganger whose jigger struck them as he neared the tunnel portal. It is questionable whether the objects would have been sufficient to derail a locomotive, but railway staff believed they were placed on the track deliberately and the police were asked to investigate the incident. ★ ★ ★ Raetihi was 'soundly

beaten' by Karioi in a Ruapehu sub-association cricket match. The match, a round of the Edward Beck Cup, was played at the Karioi ground. Battingfirst Karioi compiled the useful total of 117. Raetihi replied with 42 which, a match reporter commented, "must be the team's lowest tally for many a long day." ★ ★ ★ Finally, Markham and Youngman Motors of Ohakune Junction were offering the latest David BroWn wheel models — "the safe tractors" — for the sum of 599 pounds!