WAIMATE TO BE CLOSED

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVII, Issue 21508, 22 November 1939, Page 4

WAIMATE TO BE CLOSED

Willowbridge Post Office Opened 35 Years Ago At the end of this month, the Willowbridge Post Office, which has been open since August 1, 1904, will be closed. The district is partly served by the rural mall service started six weeks ago, and a petition is being circulated to include the Willowbridge Settlement on the route as the settlers there still use the Post Office. When they made the decision agreeing to the closing of the Post Office at a public meeting recently, the residents did so in view of the fact that no one could be obtained to replace the postmistress, whose resignation takes effect at the end of the month. An interesting point about the Willowbridge Post Office is that it was built at the expense of the residents of the district, and they also stood the cost of installing 60 mail boxes. Telegrams were accepted from June, 1907. The first postmistress was Mrs W. Tomlin, and she was succeeded by Mr A. Robertson. Next on the list were Mrs T. Park and Mrs H. Beighton. After that the Misses Hollamby succeeded each other as postmistresses. Miss M. Blamires is at present in charge of the office. Willowbridge has been described as one of the most fertile areas not only in New Zealand, but in the world, a distinction due to climate, superior soil and the fact that the land lay m a virgin state for unnumbered years. The block was part of the Studholme estate. An indication of its fertility is given by the fact that in 1883, a block of 3500 acres of wheat averaged more than 45 bushels to the acre. That was without any manure of any kind. In the same year, the yield from 1200 acres of oats ranged from 50 to 107 bushels to the acre, and 400 of barley yielded 40 to 82 bushels to the acre. Mr Michael Studholme was such an extensive grower of grain that he chartered his own ships, and before 1883 he sent 1500 tons of wheat and 150 tons of flour to England in the Glenavon. A school was opened at Willowbridge in 1904 with 35 pupils on the roll. The railway went through Willowbridge in 1877, but it did not have a siding until about the time the school was opened, as since the land was not closely settled, the train did not need to stop. In later years, the district became famous for potato growing, and it can now be described as the largest potato producing area in New Zealand. BRIDGE UNDER WAY MORVEN DRAINAGE SCHEME Construction has started on the bridge over the Morven drainage canal on the Main South Road below Cooney’s. The contract was obtained by Mr W. Williams, of Oamaru, and concrete piles, which will be driven next month, are at present being made on the job. The drainage canal has been finished for some time, and the delayed construction of a bridge, whicn Was the responsibility of the Highways Board, created a dangerous point on the main road should flooding occur The danger of flooding is increased by the fact that the drainage canal has intercepted a natural Water course, over which there is a light traffic bridge. The bridge has been the scene of a considerable number of accidents, and it will no longer be needed when the canal structure is complete. NEW DECKING ON WAIHAO BRIDGE New decking is being placed on .me of the Waihao bridges on the Ma'n South Road. The main stream of the river flows under a heavy traffic bridge, and the structure at present being repaired crosses a flood channel. The bridge is only used in flood time, and while the repairs are being effected, it is barricaded at either end. FISHING IN THE WAITAKI

Fish in good condition are being caught in the Waitaki River as far as the Stonewall above Redclifl. Good catches are also being made in the lower reaches, the river being in excellent order. Thirteen trout were landed near the mouth by one maa in the course of three hours on Sa'urday night. For seven days' fishing, one angler secured 29 good fish ot an average weight of 31b, the heaviest scaling 51b. All were in good condition and were caught below the bridge. AMATEUR BOXING BOUTS The following amateur boxers wul contest bouts prior to the HanhamJenkin contest in Waimate to-morrow night: Morris Eathorne v. John Kaae, lan Fraser v. Jack Shirley, Dick Gaul v. Ray Eathorne, Ray Breslin (Waimate) v. Murray Joyce (Timaru), Leo McNamara (Waimate) v. Norman Joyce (Timaru), Jim Sheddan (Waimate) v. H. Sloan (Timaru), Scotty Cordner (Timaru) v. Lew Lister (Ashburton). The Cordner-Lister contest is a special heavy-weight challenge bout. Dave Sheddan (Waimate) is to be matched with a Dunedin lightweight. Mr Colin Jones, of Oamaru, will referee the amateur bouts. PERSONAL Miss P. Barr, Pareora, is spending a holiday in Waimate. Mr E. McElhinney has resumed duty at the Waimate Post Office after spending his holidays at Edendale. Major and Mrs Allott, of the Salvation Army, returned from Christchurcn yesterday after a week’s furlough. Mr G. W. Hossack, Arno, was elected a honorary life member of the Waimate Amateur Swimming Club at the last meeting of the Committee, in appreciation of the interest and encouragement he had given to swimming in the district.