KAITANGATA’S PROGRESS.

Evening Star, Issue 14633, 1 August 1911, Page 10

KAITANGATA’S PROGRESS.

ITS NEW POST OFFICE. [Special to ihs Star.} BALCLUTHA. July 51. The Acting Postmaster-General (Hon. T. Mackenzie) was entertained at luncheon to-day by the Kaitangata Borough Council at the Bridge Hotel, prior to the ceremony of laying: the foundation stone of the new post office. Mr IV. Duncan (Mayor) presided over a representative gathering, including Mr Lee (managing director of the Coal Company), Mr Boyd (Mayor of Baldiitha), and Mr Jas. Allen, M.P. The Hon. T. Mackenzie, in laying the foundation stone of the new post office, gave a short history of Kaitangata. tn the late fifties the mail from Dunedin to Balclirtha, Inch Clutha, and Coal Point (afterwards Kaitangata) was carried by Jock Graham, Inch Clutha being served by a letter box affixed to a cabbage tree at Stirling. Subsequently there was a service from BaJclutba- via Upper Inch Clutha to Coal Point. Mr Lindsay was the first postman, with Mr Lewis in charge at the Point. The first office was apepod in 1863, the first postmaster being Mr Andrew Chapman, now in Baklutha. subsequent offices were in stores occupied by Mr Desire Coste. Mr Reginald McDonald, and Mr J. P. Stcddart. A permanent officer was appointed in 1875, in the person of Mr Jas. Owens, .now at Taihape. He was followed by Messrs J. A. Algic, A. A- Winterburn."* and J. Sarjeant (the present officer). A telegraph office and money order office and savings bank were opened in 1877, and the telephone in 1898. The business at Kaitangata has increased considerably during the last 10 years in all branches. In referring to the early history of Kaitangata, Mr Mackenzie said schooners used to come up to the Gran ton wharf laden with produce for the Tu.ipeka Diggings. Many miners came this way. Among the old settlers still at Kaitangata were Messrs Frazer brothers (1857). Win. Carson. Michael Muir. Donald Mitchell, and Win. Aitchison (1858), Haggart brothers (shipmates of the speaker) and Mrs W. T. Smith (1859), Mrs Henderson (1850). Mrs Harold Clements. sen., and John Welsh (1851). Win. Kelly (18621. And. Carson (1864). Louis Apderson (1875), John Todd (1877). Joe. Robertson (1878). Wm. MTnnes (1879). Malcolm Morrison, Jas. Smith, and A. W. Mosley. In the early days there were no roads, mere bridle tracks, and communications were by means of canoe-boats on the river, until a punt was placed there, which, 10 or 12 years later, was superseded by the bridge. It was believed 50 years ago that coal might be obtained, as Mr J. T. Thomson, Surveyor-General, had found cool on the surface.* It was not till the early sixties that coal was worked in a small way, and the coal was taken away in sailing vessels and up the river. In 1873 the Kaitangata Company was formed, and two years afterwards was reconstructed and the Kaitaneata-htirllng lino built. The first coal was trucked to Dunedin in June of 1875. The first year the output was 7.000 tons. It was now over 120.000 tons annually. The area of coal would be workable for another century. The company were not altogether free from disaster. Serious stoppage was occasioned' through the flood of 1878 blocking the railway traffic, and in 1879 the explosion whereby 33 miners were killed. The annual wage-sheet amounted to nearly £40,000, and about 550 men were employed. The first school was built in 1868. Mr A. X. Hi?lop being the schoolmaster. The Kaitangata Rifles were formed in 1885 by Captain Sinai 11. and afterwards were commanded by Captain Owens and Captain Rutherford.' Kaitangata was proclaimed a borough in 1887. the members being A. X. Hislop (Mayor). W. Aitchoson. Matthew Carson, Henry Kerr. W, T. Smith, and W. Middlcmass' The'population at the 1911 census was 1.158. Other speakers at tire ceremony worn Mr IV. Duncan (Mayor), Mr Yates, Mrs Boyd, Mr Fitzgerald, and Mr James Allen. The contractor (Mr Watson Rhodes) presented the Minister With a silver trowel. The pipe* band and brass band were in attendance, and there was a large crowd of residents. The function was a great success.