30 years ago

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 3, Issue 33, 28 January 1986, Page 13

30 years ago

King Country Hotels: Applicants for hotel licences at Raetihi, Ohakune and Pipiriki have approached the Patea Licensing Commission. The applicants were — - Raetihi: K. Boyd, manager of the Valley Inn, Lower Hutt; Ohakune: R. Todd, manager of the Commercial Hotel, Te Awamutu; and Pipiriki: H. Rowe. The chairman of the commission, Mr S.S. Preston, said plans for the Raetihi and Ohakune hotels were attractive and well-laid out, but before licences could be granted the plans had to be amended to provide fireproof construction of brick, concrete or concrete blocks. Mr K.L. Usmar, Auckland representative of the National Council of the NZ Licensed Trade, gave evidence in support of the Ohakune and Raetihi applicants. He said he had been actively engaged throughout the King Country assisting companies to establish hotels. The sites selected in Raetihi and Ohakune provided room for expansion. The hotels were to be set back from the road with lawns

and shrubs in the foreground. The estimated cost of the hotels was $35,000 each. One third was subscribed by the sponsoring interests, one third by licensees, and one third by local residents — 20 in Raetihi and 18 in Ohakune. ★ ★ ★ Maori housing: Concern over the state of Maori housing in the area attracted over 200 people to a public meeting at Maungarongo Pa. As a result of the meeting a good number of enquiries were made, and applications under the Maori housing scheme. Among those present were the Under Secretary of Maori Affairs, Mr T. Sullivan; Registrar of Maori Affairs Department Wanganui, Mr J.L. Brooker; Maori Welfare Officer for the district M.K. Puohotaua; and the Mayor of Ohakune Mr F. Martin. The chairman of the meeting, elder of the tribe Mr T. Akapita, welcomed the visitors. ★ ★ ★ Veterinary field day: Local farmers attended a veterinary field day on Mr C. Allerby's property at Makaranui.

Mr B. Cooper, a vet from Taihape, demonstrated an effective method of throwing a cattle beast. ★ ★ ★ Hemlock: Was prevalent throughout the Waimarino, and as it contained two alkaloids toxic to human and animal life, ruthless measures were recommended. Sometimes called the wild carrot, the plant was described as growing from a stout white tap root, sending up a furrowed, hollow and purple-spotted stem, which reached a metre in height. V Leaves were dark green like those of a carrot. Any recognised weedkiller would destroy it. It was to be remembered that even a small quantity could cause the death of a child. From Mr N.D. Culpan, Inspector of Noxious Weeds * ★ ★ Parapara Road: The Ministry of Works was calling for tenders for three reconstruction jobs on the Wanganui-Natitmal Park (Parapara) state highway. One was to be the reconstruction of a two mile 17 chain stretch north of Horopito, which extended the sealing completed until then immediately south of Horopito. Work was also done at

Mangaturuturu between Horopito and Pokaka. Covering a mile, this took the form of a deviation parallel to the railway line, and cutting out three bridges. ★ ★ ★ Ohakune swimming baths: With the success of the Ohakune queen carnival three months before, another programme of wide community interest was taking shape. This was the swimming baths project, a site for which had already been excavated adjacent to the Ohakune tennis courts. The size of the baths was to be 100ft by 35ft, with one and three metre diving boards. A maximum depth of 1 0ft was to allow competition of championship standard. T o cater for smaller children a toddlers' pool of nine inches and a learners' pool of two foot six inches was planned. The pool was set in sheltered surroundings of native bush and was to provide the people of Ohakune with an amenity equal to any in the dominion. ★ ★ ★ Maori cemetery: Mr G. Taura, on behalf of the Maori community, was engaged in collecting funds for memorial gates for the Maori cemetery.