WAIMATE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 11 June 1924, Page 5 (Supplement)

WAIMATE.

A GREAT METAMORPHOSIS. .

I cJSH SETTLEMENT TO MODERN TOWN.

Sixty years ago, Waimate, then a bush settlement, was a very-different place from what it is to-day. In 1864 a Waimate correspondent wrote as follows, to the “Timaru' Herald” *'Tne other day we had a visit from our worthy pastor the Rev. G. Foster. Something, I believe, was said about church matters, but it seems to me high time that something was done; and so, no doubt, the majority of your readers will agree when they learn that by a moderate computation the population of Waimate is found to number nearly three hundred souls, living within a radius of two miles from the centre of this township, and this does not include aboriginal natives. “Now within twelve miles of Arowhenua, a somewhat similar place to Waimate, in point of

size, there are no less than three places of public worship (shortly there will be four), and at least two schools; but there is not a single chui’ch or school within twenty-five miles of Waimate. Arowhenua has its doctor, Geraldine its member, but Waijnate appears to have no one to look after its interests; so nearly three hundred inhabitants of a community priding itself on being one of the most advanced in the southern seas, are without moral teaching of any kind, and one hundred of them are children without any means of education. ? Our member is a non-resident, and we have no stern patriot of a doctor, like our fellow bushmen on the Opihi—nay, we have no medical man at all

"I hear that a sum is to be placed on the Estimates this session for a lock-up, magistrate’s court, and a constable’s house; also for the survey of the Government township—the'latter, at any rate, should have been done before this. One would have thought the Government would have profited by their Timaru experience, and not have left the position of a town to be decided

by private enterprise. Besides, when sites for a school and church are given us, we can petition Exeter Hall for a missionary or two: We shall soon want them as much as ‘our benighted brethren of the Feejees.’ ” The following appeared on December 10: — “Six months ago trade was represented by a firm of storekeepers and a blacksmith. Now we have, in addition, two' new stores, a baker, a butcher, a bootmaker, and a public-kouse. In those days if a man broke his neighbour’s head, the injured individual was compelled to send thirty miles for a surgeon to dress his wounds, and for a constable to arrest the aggressor. There is now not only a medical man residing with us, but through the care of the constable stationed here, not only is fighting almost unknown, but drunkenness appears to be on the' decrease.” " ■- WAIMATE COUNTY, Waimate county is the largest county in South Canterbury, and it has always been noted as one of the most favoured spots, from the

point of view,of the agriculturist and the.pastoralist, in New Zealand—a reputation which it is never likely to lose In 1864 a Road Board was formed. The first Board consisted of J. Studholme (chairman), Geo. Buchanan, John Manchester, J. Thomson, Geo. Parker, E. F. Bai'nes (engineer), and F. Mayor (clerk). The first meeting of the Waimate County Council was held in the Resident Magistrate’s Court, when there were present: J. Bruce (chairman), McGregor, J. Louden, J. Miller and J. Manchester. The county was divided into ridings consisting of Deep Creek, North Waihao, Parcora, Otaio and Makikihi. W. Moody was elected chairman in 1878 and held that position until 1880. Mr J. Manchester was the next chairman, being in office from 1881 to 188 C when Mr E. Elworthy took over, and was in the chair until 1887. Mr D. McLaren was elected to the chair in 1887 and remained in office till 1802 when he was succeeded by Mr E. Elworthy, who remained in the chair till 1899. From 1899 to 1902 Mr J. Douglas occupied the position of chairman and was followed by Air R. H.

Rhodes, who remained in the chair for sixteen years, from 1902 to 1918. Mr T. L. Hart was then appointed chairman, and held the position until 1923. The present chairman (Mr H. B. S. Johnstone) was elected in May 1923, and was re-elected chairman at the annual meeting of the Council last month. The following have held the position of county clerk:—G. Tennant, 1878-1883, D. Jackson, 1883-1895, G. Y. Cochrane 1896-1922. In May of the latter year the present clerk (Mr <j, C. McLauchlan) was appointed to the dual position of clerk and engineer. The engineers were as follows:—N. Hillary 1870-1885, W. J. Black 1885-1900; C. E. Bremner, 1900-1920, S. R. Wright 1920-22. The area of the county is 1343 square miles. The population, is 7509, compared with 4700 forty years ago. The revenue to-day is £30,122 compared with £6BOO forty years ago. The ratable value to-day is £6,756,064, compared with £2,098,483, forty years ago, when a consolidated rate of 9/16ths of a penny in the £ was struck. To-day the rates are as follows: Upper Pareora riding, 13/20 of a penny in the pound on the unimproved value; Lower Pareora riding, 3/5 of a penny in the pound; Otaio riding, 11/20 of a penny in the pound; Makikihi riding, 11/20 of a penny in the pound; Deep Creek riding, 7/10 of a penny in the pound; Waihao riding, 3/5 of a penny in the pound; Hakataramea riding, j-d in the pound. There is a Hospital Board rate of 9/40 of a penny in the pound, on the capital value of the county, and a Harbour Board rate of l/8d in the pound on all ridings except Hakataramea and part of Waihao riding which pay harbour rate to Oamaru,

1 V/AIM ATE BOROUGH. The Borough of Waimate has grown out of all recognition of its old self, and the unanimous opinion of visitors to it is that it is one of the most attractive'places of its size in the South Island. In 1883 the total rateable value of the Borough was £9716, the rate being 1/- in the pound on the annual value. In 1901 the rating on unimproved value came into vogue and a rate of 4}d in the pound was struck. Figures for 1924 are:— Total capital value £449,523 —■ unimproved £129,540, improvements £319,983. The population is 2120. The rates struck are: General, 5 13/32d in £; Hospital and Charitable Aid Board rate, -Jd in £; street improvements, Id in £; harbour rate, 7/16d in £; septic tank rate jd in £. All are on unimproved value.