PATEA TO-DAY

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 13 October 1931, Page 8

PATEA TO-DAY

Out-Door Attractions

BEACH, DOMAIN AND SPORTS

The attractions of the town of Patea are many and varied, the beaches and public domain being amongst the best on the coast. There is surf and rivei swimming and facilities 1 for camping at the beach or at the domain, where there are electric light and conveniences for a camping ground. The town has an excellent cricket and football arqa at the domain, in addition to tenuis courts and croquet lawn, with an excellent bowling green, which has a l° n 'o and interesting history. There is excellent fishing at the mouth of the river and along the coast and during the season whitebait are very plentiful. Patea had a post office in the very earliest days and so far back as 1870 the first little building was erected, Mr G. Hutton being the first postmaster. In 1880 a bigger place was built and this, with alterations and additions, served the town and district faithfully and well until 1923, when the present fine concrete building, was erected, bringing the postal facilities of the town up to a very high level.

THE FIRE BRIGADE A record or most userux service is wrapped up in the history of the Patea Fire Brigade, an institution which has been in operation for nearly 50 years and has done yeoman duty all that long period, making many , a good save, despite the fact that they had no up-to-date plant and equipment. Talking to a, “Hawera Star” representative of the old times, one of the pioneers, who lias been a captain of the brigade, said that the men were throughout imbued with a spirit of service, always on the alert in case of a call and ready to respond at any time of the day or night. It was a case always, lie said, of “down tools and awayd if a call came and employers were always very good in helping the men in their arduous work. “It is, .1 believe,” he added, “the social side of the work that helps materially for men meet in socapi intercourse and are assisted by the presence of their wives and friends. But it is always unselfish work, and unless o' man is ready to accept in that spirit, InNiad better not join.” w*

It will be of interest to know that the only engine the brigade has had is a Manual, which came from England over (10 years ago and was used by some of the soldiers resident in Patea. It is still going strong and gives most efficient service

Early members included Captain Kiely, Lieut. Carey, Fireman McKenna, Atkins, Collins-, H. Boyle, Sergeant Christensen,' McOomisky,' Holt-ham, Johnson, Spooner, J. Boyle, Malone, and Larsen.

The two earliest winners of medals were Messrs C. Ashby and M. Carey, and recently Messrs "F. Spooner, M. Carey, W. U. Glenny, Adams'and Neil--«eu received their gold star. Captain \V. Dixon was one of the first captains and others were Messrs A. A. Gower. C. H. Carey and F. Fitzwater (the present leader). During the captaincy of Air M. Carey occurred the biggest fire in the history of Patea, when the old Albion Hotel was destroyed. It was, of course, rebuilt-, though on a smaller scale.