WAIKAKA NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 20949, 5 December 1929, Page 3

WAIKAKA NEWS

(From Our Correspondent.) The weather has been anything but pleasant of late and it is somewhat difficult at times to realize summer is really here The P. and T. linesmen are busy in the district just now installing telephones into some of the residences. The School Committee has been busy of late improving the school ground, the money for the carrying out of this work being raised by a bazaar held in an earlier part of the year. On December 1 tho Waikaka railway celebrated its twenty-first birthday. Great was the excitement of this then prosperous little goldmining township when the first train arrived. Messrs Littlejohn and O'Brien were in charge of the engine and Mr Charles Green (who still holds the same position) was guard. The Gore Show was to be held the following day and it was for this show that the first passenger train ran between Waikaka and Gore. On the morning of this important event so eager were the residents to purchase the first ticket that the guard was awakened as early as 5 a.m. by eager would-be travellers. From 6 a.m. on a steady stream of people wended their way to the station. When the time came for the departure of the train the accommodation, of every carriage and the guard’s van was taxed to the utmost and a train as long as any of the longest present day main line expresses steamed out of the station. How different from that train was the one for the 1929 show when on Wednesday morning three small carriages were more than sufficient accommodation. For many years this large passenger traffic continued and it was usual for from sixty to one hundred people to travel to Gore by train on Saturday. As motor cars became more and more popular the number of passengers gradually decreased and now one small carriage is ample accommodation for the faithful few that still travel by rain. There have been many changes in the locomotive staff since then. Past drivers who have resided in Waikaka are Messrs Mackley and Fellows and the late Mr G. Walker.. Past firemen are Messrs O’Brien, Gregory, S. Donaldson, now driver at Waikaka, and T. Belesky. The present staff are: Driver, Mr S. Donaldson; fireman, Mr Scamell; guard, Mr C. Green.

Miss C. Corcoran returned from Invercargill last week. Miss E. Green is at present spending a holiday with her parents, Mr and Mrs C. Green.

Miss E. Donaldson, who has been an inmate of the Gore Hospital for some weeks past, returned home this week. Miss K. Curran (Wellington) is spending a holiday with her parents, Mr and Mrs M. Curran.

Inspector Service was in the township last week holding the proficiency examination at the local school. /

Miss Wills (Dunedin) is at present spending a holiday in the district.