Address: right bank, Wanganui River
Special Wanganui census enumerator Fiona Lundy had some interesting times on census day last week. She and ranger John Lythgoe set off at 10.00am that morning and went first to Te Iki hut where they found two Norwegians and one Finn, very cold and wet, who promised to return their forms to Pipiriki the following day but didn't. "If they read this would they please get them in as soon as possible," said Fiona. As they progressed up the river they came across canoeists and campers from many nations, and all were slightly surprised and amused to be discovered. They visited Kahura Station, where the shearers' quarters were empty, and Tangahoe Station where they found a new house not shown on Lands and Survey maps, and recorded for the census for the first time. At John Coull Hut where there were parties from the M.V. Wakapai and three double canoes, a total of 18 visitors. One camper by the Reperepe rapid filled in her household questionnaire under a tent fly and gave her address as right bank, Wanganui River.
Fiona had one criticism of the census organisation that instructions to people in unusual situations, such as on the river, were not clear enough. "Some had been told to take their forms from their homes while others just ignored me," she said. One comfort is that an American at one of the camp sites remarked that the form he was filling in was small and very simple compared with the minute detail demanded by the American census. Meanwhile in the rest of the Waimarino the census was efficient and successful, apart from a few hitches, according to Judy Doyle, area supervisor for the 1986 census. She said that isolated rural people had been particularly helpful, often arranging to send their completed forms through the post or leaving them with neighbours. Her most time-consuming activity was tracking down the many people who stayed in normally empty ski cottages or lodges for a few days around 4 March. A number of work gangs and contractors also stayed in the area but left their forms at homes elsewhere, and Mrs Doyle had to fill out missing persons enquiries to check that they had in fact filled in their forms. So far 25 enquiries have been filled out and there will probably be more to come. A few houses were missed because they were behind, or above shops, however most residents contacted Mrs Doyle or one of the enumerators and forms were delivered to them. Mrs Doyle hopes that most census forms will be collected by Friday so that two clerical staff can check the enumerators' work, and the forms can be sent to the Department of Statistics. Her position as census supervisor finishes on 25 April.
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Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 3, Issue 39, 11 March 1986, Page 2
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467Address: right bank, Wanganui River Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 3, Issue 39, 11 March 1986, Page 2
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