PAKIRI.

Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette, 19 February 1936, Page 3

PAKIRI.

(Our Own Correspondent.)

Presentation

Gilbert and. Sullivan have made it a household word that 'a policeman's life is not a happy one.' So also it is with other" men in the service of the public. Mr A. Gravatt, who recently retired from the Wellsford-Pakiri mail service can bear adequate witness of that During the seventeen years of Mr Gravatt's service, the conditions with which he had to contend have shown great improvement. For many years the only means of transport in the winter months was a pack-horse, and in the summer a two-horse conveyance. The rough road and the 32-mile journey meant that horses had to be changed half-way, at Whangaripo.

The floods in the Whangaripo Valley in the winter-time made doubly difficult Mr Gravatt's arduous duties; yet if it were humanly possible, the mail always went through. The advent of motor-cars in the North meant a very great easing-up in the day's work, in summer, at least. But where perhaps the horses could go through the flooded areas, the car would not. So it was necessary for the vehicle to be left on the roadside while the driver waded perhaps waist-deep across the flooded portion, carrying the mail on his shoulders. The difficulties of transport were not the only ones which fell on Mr Gravatt's broad shoulders; the responsibility was his of procuring a yard of ribbon or of matching a reel of silk—"urgently," not to mention parcels of bread, general' provisions, spare parts for farm machinery, vegetables, medicine, papers, change for cheques, and a thousand and one other little amenities of civilization which mean so much to people off the beaten track. It is not to be wondered at, therefore, that a large nutnber of people assembled to show Mr Gravatt that his little kindnesses were appreciated, and to assure him of their unbounded good wishes for many happy years of life without making their little •worries his—twice a week.' The evening, which took the form of a concert and dance, was an eminently successful one, due, in the most part to the concert party, which Mr and Mrs Gulpan arranged. Every item was enjoyed thoroughly. Dancing helped to shake down a bounteous Pakiri supper, and Scholium's orchestra kept the dancers busy. Mr F. Pratt made an efficient M.C. .^;:-:-/^./':, : ;,;-:_. : ';;,.■,;■■ ■•;;■>: y";

The speech-making was in the very capable hands of Mr Culpan (VifeUsford), Mr W. Armour (Whangaripo); and Mr H. Greenwood (Pakiri.) Mr Greenwood presented Mr Gravatt with a handsome Chesterfield easy chair, especially* for use on wet Tuesdays and Fridays, when he could recline by the fireside secure in the knowledge of the manifold little duties passed on to his successor, for whom he has created a~precedent which will take a great deal of effort to uphold. :' •