"Ohakune could grow" - 1908 quote

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 241, 26 April 1988, Page 9

"Ohakune could grow" - 1908 quote

Exactly 80 years ago today, on April 27 1908, (though the day was a Monday), the Waimarino County Call was published. A seiection of stories and advertisements from that edition will no doubt interest readers of today's B ulletin . Under 'General News' the following stories appeared: •"When replying to a deputation at Ohakune last Friday, the Hon. Hall-Jones (Minister of Railways) is stated to have said that Ohakune could grow beyond the comprehension of most of the present residents and be one of the most important towns between Marton and Hamilton. •"A man apparently suffering from the jim jams or ding bats was found wandering on the Ongo Road, Hunterville, last Saturday. He was then in a deplorable outward condition but inwardly apparently quite contented having (in his mind) just recovered the snug sum of six thousand pounds. He had, it appears, been sleeping out for two nights and anyone sleeping under a wire fence on Saturday night could wish for nothing better. He was sent down to Wanganui for seven days medical treatment." A Step Omvard: Following the frequent references made in these columns to the need for improved mail facilities in the Waimarino, an-

other step has been made by the postal au- . thorities towards making the local service meet the increasing demands of the settlement. From last Saturday an additional mail daily will be carried from Ohakune to Raetihi and vice versa ... a concession which will meet the warm approval of the business sections of each town. Up till the present only one mail a day has been carried by coach between Ohakune and Raetihi although two coaches per day have been running for many months past so the granting of the second mail is not a matter that would entail any great new understanding. This saving of time (in the delivery of mails) will be readily appreciated by the peo-

ple concerned and is worthy of praise to the department who, it is hoped, will be equally prompt in their actions

•when other reforms are warranted." •"Typhoid Epidemic: it is reported that there is an epidemic of typhoid fever among the Maoris up the (Wanganui) River and that there had already been eight deaths."