HISTORIC DATES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 March 1940, Page 5

HISTORIC DATES

MILESTONES IN WAIRARAPA’S PROGRESS Early Explorers and Founders of Settlement VISIT BY ROBERT STOKES IN 1841 FORMATION OF SMALL FARMS ASSOCIATIONS A list of dates is given below, ..compiled by the Centennial Council, relating - to events of historical significance in the exploration and settlement of the Wairarapa district: — 1841— November 27: Robert Stokes and party entered Wairarapa after traverse of Rimntaka Range. 1842May 5: Charles IT. Kettle and party leave KareNare on the banks of the Manawatu River on exploration trip tlirough the Manawatu Gorge to Wairarapa. May 1.9: Kettle and Wills cross the Ruamahanga; 25th. the Waingawa; 26th the Waiohine2Bth. the Tanheienikau and June 3, summit of Rimutakas. 1843December: Samuel C. Brees ent a track from the head of the Pakuratahi Stream to the Wairarapa. 1844— January: IT. S. Tiffen. after an exploration of the Wairarapa, recommends road via Waiorongomai. May .9: F. Weld, IT. Pel re, . Vavasour, W. Swanson and Charles R. Bidwill arrive at month of Ruamahanga. with the first sheep driven round the coast from the Hutt. October 9: Thomas and Harrison leave Wellington for Hawke’s Bay via Lake Wairarapa and across eountiw to the coast north of the Haurangis. 1847February 27: Bell and Clark leave for the AYairarapa on the first attempt al purchase negotiations with Maoris. 1849“” January 8: Official negotiations with Maoris as a result of efforts of Kemp and Bell commence.

1853March 18: Meeting to form Working Man's Land Association (later Small Farms Association.) August 18: George Grey sails for Palliser Bay en route for Hawke’s Bay to create favourable attitude for purchase. September 1-19: Wairarapa land purchases take place. 1854March 14: Foundation of Masterfon and Greytown. Small Farms Associations formed at each place, at which members selected town acres in each of the two places. 1855January 29: Earthquakes destroy To Kopi anchorage. ? Foundation of Featherston. 1856Rimntaka Road opened for vehicular traffic. 1857Foundation of Carterton. 1873March 4: First Scandinavian settlers in the ForlvMile Bush arrive in 'Wellington to found Eketahnna.' 1876““ June 10: Featherston constituted a town district. 1877“*“ July 10: Mastertoil proclaimed a borough. 1878““ October 16: Kaitokc-Foathersfou railway opened for traffic, December 1 : Greytown proclaimed a borough. 1880— Railway communication established between Wellington and Masterton. 1883- I Jannary'2: First dairy faeloiw in the Wairarapa opens at Greytown. 1887July 1 : Carterton constituted n borough.