OLD TIMES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 95, 12 June 1911, Page 6

OLD TIMES.

o J t 3 I' C 'if V 2 K r i OPTJNAKE VETERAN REM INloCENT. An old settlor supplied the following information to tlie lion. Mr. Buddo” in'connection with the opening of the Rost Office at llahotu-The proitjcss of the district lias been seriously handicapped by Maori troubles from time to time, and also by lack of communication Ivy rail and sea, lint wo have amongst us still some oi tiioso early settlers who braved the dillicnlties and capycd out lor themselves conjfoi table ’ homes, and although they have not become wealthy they have laid a good Inundation tor their posterity. Amongst these, may ho mentioned Messrs. Richard Morrow, Richard and Michael Homing, Jesse Phillips, J.P.y F. M. Chapman, -J.P., andW. R. \\ rigid. Mr. Chapman secured for the village the cemetery and recreation reserves; also the'first town hall. This hall has recently boon supplanted by a more up-to-date structure. Wo have also amongst us some Maoris and Europeans who may also prefer a prior claim as settlers of the district—viz., those who served in the Armed Constabulary, etc. About 18cl a disturbance took place in Opimako between Marais and Kniopcans over running a ilaxinill. '1 his caused the Wov-i muon to send an aimed force to Opnnake. Cominunication was then canied on between Opnnake aiuTOkato by means of .mounted orderlies, reliable Maoris and Europeans performing this duty. Eonr of those Mam is now living amongst ns look back on those days as (lavs of adventure; but they say. “We were well paid, getting as mucji as £2,15s per day each.” The Maoris referred to arc Rangi Tariwan, 'I annul, Abraham and Creed. All communication was then by the bead) track until ISSI, when a start was n ade by the Armed Constabulary under Colonel Roberts,. Major 'Take, and others, to survey an 1 maim the present South Road. With a. detachment of about o!J0 of the Anno 1 Constabulary at each end, Opnnake and Okato. together with a like number o) “unemployed,” the work was pushed on. in contradiction to a prophecy hy To Wliiti that the road would never meet, tiio meeting took place between Rahotn and I'ungarolm. We have amongst ns tiioso who wore members of the Armed Constabulary, and who ultimately settled in this district viz., Messrs. Tims. Conroy, Charles Cbrisp, A. Cillmolv, T. P. Ilnghson, ,i.P., 15. Layard, C. Solo, T. Rilling, and Major E. Maxwell. The Armed Constabulary camp was on the present site of the recreation grounds, which therefore arc of historical interest. r i bo first building in the townsi ij), the present hotel, was creeled by Mi. John Stevenson, of i’ibama. Mr. Stevenson, Insides conducting (lie post office, was a storekeeper, in ISP2 Messrs. Colmer and Bradley opened a Ni.cksinil.Vs shop. Tin’s slum is still canied on by Mr. Colyicr. Mr. ilnghson, J.P., after serving ( iw years in the Armed Constabulary, took up a faun near Okato. Mr. Hnghson persr rally managed tlie farm for some \cars, but drifted into storekocpdig, iiist at Okato, and later at Raliofu. Mr Hall was the first to start coaching on 11 io present roarl, carrying mails and passengers. Prior to tins the mails were carried on horseback Horn Nov. - I > lvmont!i. It may bo mentmned Imre that tlie orosent M.P. for N(w Plym'intli faithfully carried out the contract of carting the timbci from the bush, for tlie palisading round the redoubt wb m Ihe Armed Constabulary look up ti cir ((carters at. RaJ otu.