Visit of Sir Joseph Ward.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7990, 29 November 1905, Page 2

Visit of Sir Joseph Ward.

OPEN IMG OF PUNGAREHU POST OFFICE. I Starting from New Plymouth lit G.BU a.m., Sir Joseph Ward, Mr E. M. Smith, Mr dray (secretary to the Post Office) Mr W. Skinner and others arrived at Pungarehu about!) o'clock and were met by Messrs Fleming, Ivnowles, Pelhsui,, and a large gathering of settlers. The weather was anything but pleasant so that the formal ceremony of opening the neiv Post Office there was necessarily brief. An adjournment was then made to the Public Hull where Sir Joseph Ward was warmly thanked for attending to perfoim the ceremony. In reply the Minister expressed his pleasured being able to visit the district. In referring to its progress lie mentioned that Pinigarehu was in the pre-European days the centre of a great Maori population and at the lighting pa of Okonieko, across the stream from

the Pinigarehu recreation grounds and at the Tapui-nikau towards Warea, the Northern invading tribes under ltauparalia and others slaughtered the men of Taranaki in the early years of last century. Tracing events up to the present time Sir Joseph referred to the battle of Waireka and the disturbed state oKthe district for years after, mentioning the events of 1880, when opposite the Pungarehu post office site hundreds of stalwart Maories were taken pi isoners for blocking the highway. He also mentioned the names of some of the early settlets such (us Mr M. J. Maclteynolds, the father of the settlement. Constable Thomas Wick-: mail, Mr bayard and Mr Fleming. Sir Joseph quoted statistics showing the increase Jn the postal and telegraph business at Pungarehu for the last ten years, and described the new building which he had that day formally opened, He hoped his next visit would be for the purpose of enlarging the present post office. At the conclusion of his adddress the Minister was accorded a vote of thanks and three hearty cheers, Mr E. M. Smith being also given three cheers. Hefreshments were then partaken of, and the party started on the return journey, reaching town about. l.fiO p.m., somewhat damp after their long drive in the rain. The party were driven to Pungarehu by Mr M. Jones who provided a most creditable turn out for the occa sion. The journey of 55 miles (there and back) was accomplished in -1 ,lours 5.J minutes, including 59 minutes' stoppages. Mr Jones was complimented both by Sir Joseph Ward and Mr Giay on the excellence of his cattle.