Foresight remembered

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 240, 19 April 1988, Page 6

Foresight remembered

With the change that took place to the Local Government structure in the Waimarino on April 1, 1988 it is timely to look back and appreciate the foresight of the councillors of the first Waimarino Council. The early settlers approached the Government to obtain a sepa-

rate area of land on the north of the Wanganui County and eventually the Waimarino County was constituted. The first meeting was held on May 28, 1903. Members of the first Council were Crs Brass (Chairman), Bennett, Punch, Harris, Merson, McLeod and Ford. Mr W. S. King was appointed Treasurer and acting Clerk (later appointed). The business of the meeting was mainly involved with setting up an administration including bankers and solicitors in Wanganui, but included a resolution which instructed the Clerk to write to the directors of the bank of New Zealand re "establishing a branch of the Bank in Raetihi." This was followed up at the July 15, 1903 meeting by appointing a committee consisting of Crs Punch, Ford and

Bennett "to act in cooperation with the Clerk in bringing about a supply of fuller and more definite information of Raetihi and district, for consideration of Board of Directors BNZ in our advocacy for the establishment of a Bank in Raetihi."

This approach must have borne fruit as the BNZ in Raetihi opened in 1905. Also mentioned with increasing frequency was the querying of the Roads Board with regard to the expenditure of Thirds". A lot of road work was financed by this means. By late 1904, loans were being authorised for the formation and metaling of roads within the County and township. A considerable amount of Council time was spent dealing with the finance and contracts

and maintenance of roading developments. The first road inspector was Mr Gould who was appointed on December 2, 1903 at the rate of ten shillings per day. This followed an advertisement for "a person competent to lay off, supervise, prepare plans and estimate value of road work". On September 28, 1904 Mr Armstrong was appointed Clerk and Engineer at a salary of 200 pounds per year and he was succeeded by Mr Sinclair, also as

Clerk and Engineer, on December 9, 1905 at a salary of 250 pounds. In response to a telegram from the Minister of Public Health regarding a possible outbreak of plague, an Inspector of Nuisances was appointed in 1904. This was followed soon after by the introduction of the first by-law, which dealt with public health nuisances. On August 15, 1904 a resolution was carried authorising a telegram to be sent "re: authorising a railway line to Raetihi and a

committee draw up reasons for wanting a branch line form the Main Trunk to Raetihi". An approach was also made to the PostmasterGeneral to request an improved mail service. This was followed by the Council calling a public meeting to - "consider the question of arranging for a more suitable mail service". Road works were no accomplished without accident and the first mention of a fatality Turnpage 7

Foresight remembered

From page 6 was when a Mr Rob King was killed on August 7, 1908 when a tree fell upon him. On June 14, 1905 a resolution to "consider an approach to the Wanganui Hospital Board for the establishment of a Cottage Hospital". In the ensuing years the Boroughs of Ohakune and Raetihi were constituted and they were able to concentrate their efforts and resources on the further development of their areas. In 1918 the disastrous Raetihi fire occurred and this was followed later by the influenza epidemic which severely affected the community. Now at the time of uniting again as one Council we are able to see that the vision and efforts of those first Councillors have come to fruition. The infrastructure of our society has been established over the

previous 85 years and from now on the concentration of resources will be required to maintain those developments and encourage new endeavours to support our society.