POPOTUNOA.

Otago Witness, Issue 3313, 12 September 1917, Page 23

POPOTUNOA.

September 9.—1 daresay some, when reading this heading, will say, "Where is Popotunoa?" Well, this district lies a little to the north-west of Clinton. It is called after the Papotunoa Hill, at the foot of which Clinton is situated. This hill occupies a very prominent position, . and its northern end is covered with heavy bush. The Popotunoa Estate was owned by the late Mr Logan, whose homestead was situated at the foot of the hill just in front of the bush. I think the township and railway section should have been called Popotunoa instead of such a common-sounding name as Clinton. About 23 years ago this estate was cut up into farms, and now there are many flourishing homesteads and fertile farms where once only sheep roamed. One homestead I know of is now, unfortunately, empty, its owner, Mr Felix Murray, having gone with the Main Expeditionary Force to Gallipoli and thereafter to France, where he laid down his life for his cormtry. He was accompanied by another Popotunoa young man, son of Mr Hall, who has a farm near Clinton. This young man—John Hall, once in the National Mortgage and Agency Companyis now a prisoner of war in Germany. Popotunoa Parish.—ln Clinton there are three churches—the Presbyterian, the Anglican, and the Roman Catholic. When I came to this district, 23 years ago, the parish of Popotunoa included Wairuna, Pomahaka Downs, ClydevaJe, Waiwera, Popotunoa, and Kuriwao Gorge, so one can imagine that services in each district were not very frequent; but with the growth of settlement the parish has become smaller; but even now it covers a considerable area. The Presbyterian manse is situated a little out of Clinton, and the minister, Rev. Mr Mason, has the supervision of Clinton, Wairuna, Poniahaka Downs, Popotunoa, and Kuriwao Gorge—not a small undertaking. Mail Delivery.—ln the early part of this settlement residents had to go to Clinton for their letters, or else trust to the storekeepers' carts bringing them; but now up-to-date rural deliveries are in force. There is a tri-weekly Wairuna delivery, which also serves the most of the Popotunoa settlers. Then there is the delivery to the Taumata Settlement, separated from the Popotunoa Settlement by the old Lake road; but this delivery is a daily one. There is also a delivery once a week to Pomahaka Downs. This delivery is called the Popotunoa delivery—rather a misnomer', as it serves none, of the Popotunoa settlers, —biit this name was given to it instead of the Pomahaka Downs delivery, as letters very often went to Pomahaka, near Tapanui.