Page 9 Advertisements Column 3

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21361, 4 March 1941, Page 9

this district, judging by the size of the herds, and has been reflected in the yield of butter and cheese, which grows greater year by year. Better access to the rich farming lands of Morrinsville district was gained when work began, in 1880, on the construction of the railway line to Rotorua, by the Thames Valley Railway Company. The railway bridge was then built and so were the station buildings and cottages. The line was not extended to Hamilton until some years later. It is stated that one of the conditions attached to constructing the line was that the company should have Rotorua, but the Maoris objected to this and in the end won their case. It was then the Government took over the line and the increased population, due to the railway works, meant further expansion for Morrinsville. Prior to the extension of the railway system, mails and goods had to be carried by coach and when the. roads were bad by pack-horse. The freight charges were determined by the condition of the roads. All goods came up the Waihou and Piako Rivers at one time and the freight charges to Te Aroha were about 25s per ton. Cartage rates between Morrinsville and Te Aroha amounted to about 70s per ton. While these charges were ruling the farmers obtained little for their produce, and around 1883 fat cattle were sold for about £3. The. railway greatly improved this position. Like the rest of New Zealand Morrinsville experienced the slump of the ’eighties and ’nineties, but conditions improved toward the beginning of this century and the district as a centre of the great dairying industry has never looked back. Morrinsville has advanced with the rest of New Zealand in this industry and to-day some of the finest types of daily stock in the country can be seen on the estates ground the township. It will be at the. forthcoming show of the Morrinsville Agricultural and Pastoral Association that the wealth of the dairying industry will be demonstrated. The Show, which caters for old and young alike, is Morrinsville’s big annual event. A new feature, this year, is the National Dancing Competitions which are certain to attract large entries. The Girl Guides and Boy Scouts will be competing in an Ambulance Competition for the shields now held by St. Peter’s and the Morrinsville troup respectively. Next Saturday in fact, will be a red letter day in Morrinsville when, if fine, all town and country residents will be found at the Showgrounds.