RANGIWAHIA.

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 1783, 3 May 1912, Page 2

RANGIWAHIA.

Opening the Post Office.

Ceremony by Postmaster-

Gener ai.

To-day's Official Visit.

The Hon. Mr Ell Reviews

Postal History.

Tho development of a country township is generally marked by certain stages, of which the Post Office is.a central factor. AVheu the Department decides to depart from the system of store-postal offices and erects buildings of its own, eciuipped with up-to-date apliances and fully stalled, ono can be sure that the settlement around is good and the prospects for tlie future satisfacorv.

To-day the Postmaster-General (the Hon." H. G. Ell) arrived at Feilding by the 10.30 train from AVanganui and was motored out to Raugiwahia, accompanied by Mr D. H. Guthrie, M.P., Mr D. Robertson, Secretary to the Post Oflice, .and Mr Crow, Private Secretary. A stop was made at Kimbolton, where a capital lunch nad been prepared at Mr Poole's hostelry. Rangiwahia was reached shortly after 2 o'clock, and it was evident that the town was prepared for the Ministerial visit. Bunting wa s displayed on the main buildings and tho school children of the district were lined up as a guard of honour for the PcfttmasterGeneral. The members of the reception committee and prominent residents were introduced to the Minister, and afterwards the operation of opening the new office was- performed by the Postmaster-General."

In the course of his speech, the Hou. 11. G. Ell made the following references to the local history of the deiiartment: —

A post office was opened at Rangiwahia on July 19, 1893. The first Postmaster was Mr Thomas Moffat. Mr Molfat was succeeded on May 1, 1902, by Mr Charles Ringwood, and on July 1, 1904, Mr Ringwood was succeeded by Mr James Stent, the present Postmaster. In the early aays of the settlement mail matter was brought from Kimbolton by any chance traveller. A contract was arranged with Mr Arthur Rose from December 15, 1889, aud with Mr 0. L. Pemberton from -December 31 in the same year, for the carriage of mails between Fo'vler's (Kimbolton) and Pemberton once a week by pack horse. Air Pemberton was succeeded by Mr J. Pask, who held the contract from January 1, 1891. The service was improved to_ twice weekly by coach on March t , 1.92, when Mr S. Daw took over the contract. In 1902 Mr D. Stewart started to run a daily coach to Mangaweka. The principal coach route now is that to Manga-, weka. On the establishing of tlie post office at Rangiwahia a thriceweekly mail service was provided, the first contractor being Mr S. Daw. The frequency was increased to daily on the 27th February, 1899. The post and telegraph business at Rangiwahia has increased steadily during the last ten years, in 1900, letters, postcards, and other articles posted totalled 12,610, and in 1910, 16,510. In 1900, letters, postcards and other articles delivered were 27,690, and hi 1910, 32,340. A money-order office and a postal note office were opened on December 1,1895. The number of money orders issued anel paid in 190U was 312 of the value of £1200, and in 1910, 467, of the value of £2228. A telephone office and a telephone bureau were established on November 1 2-5 1897. Telegrams forwarded in 1900 totalled 597 of the value of £34, [ aud in 1910, 2011, of the, value of £63. Telegrams received' in 1900 t numbered 757, and in 1910, 1479; A ! savings bank was opened on Septem- . ber 24, 1904. The savings bank de- ' posits in 1905 numbered 1.8, amounting to £1155; and in 1910, 145, amounting to £2340. In 1905 there t were 51 withdrawals, amounting to ! £352; and in 1910, 40, amounting !to £85S. The new post office buildi ing, which is of wood, is a combined office aud postmaster's residence. ; The office portion comprises a porch, 1 a public office, a telephone bureau, a I mail room, a telephone {exchange j room and a store. The residence, | which has a private side entrance, [ consists of a sitting room, a kitchen, ; two bedrooms and a bathroom. A 1 washhouse and outbuddings are also ■ provided. The contractors for the ' erection of the building were Messrs j McKenzie Brothers, of Rangiwahia. i In 1596 the population of Rangiwahia I and Pemberton combined was 63. At ; the census of 1911, the I Rangiwahia had increased to 172, | while Pemberton had a separate popi ulation of 107. Rangiwahia was some 1 twenty-five years ago a natural I clearing in the bush. On SepteniDer 1 27, 1886, sections in the township were balloted for in AVanganui by members- of the Pemberton Small Farm Association. Sections were taken up on the deferred payment ! system, each member of the Association being entitled to one town acre and four suburban acres. A sum of about £450 paid to the secretary of the Association at the time was lost. About two years later the money was again subscribed, and the township paid for. The first settlement took place eadly in October 1886. The only means of access to Rangiwahia at that time was by a surveyor's- bridle track over the hills from Kimbolton as far as Peep - o" - Day, whence the bridle track was completed 'to Rangiwahia about twelve months later and was for over live years the principal outlet. AVith the assistance of the Kiwitea Road Board, the settlers then raised a loan for the purpose of converting the bridle track into a dray road. This road is now one of the best in the district. The first school was opened in 1889 in charge "of Mr Cov'enfbry. It was conducted in a hut built by the- settlers. About three years later the AVanganui Education Board provided a permanent building, which was afterwards removed to Rangiwahia. There are now five schools within a radius of five miles. In 1898, the settlers erected a co-operative' ' dairy factory, which has proved a great boon to the locality, and brings iritlo the district anl average, sum of about £5000 a year.

After the ceremony, Mr James ' Stent, who has been postmaster at Rangiwahia for some eight years, was presented by Mr. Guthrie, on behalf of the residents of tho district, with a token of their esteem and as , a recognition of the courtesy he had p always shown to those using the post office. In the course of a complimentary speech, Mr Guthrie eulogised Mr Stent's services, and wished him happiness and prosperity. Mi* Stent briefly acknowledged the liberality of the donors and the kindly sentiment accompanying the gift. j ' Several deputations waited on the ; Minister in reference to local matters during the afternoon. j In the afternoon a sumptuous ban- j quet is to be given to the Minister. j To-morrow the party motor to Man- ■ gaweka. | The car for the Minister was pro- j vided by Mr E. Short.