Eight Miles Through Rugged Ranges

Te Ao Hou, June 1964, Page 21

Eight Miles Through Rugged Ranges The road, financed and built entirely by the Bayten Timber Company, took five years to build. It drives in eight miles across some of the most rugged range country in the North Island, reaching a mile beyond the village to tap one of the richest remaining timber sources in the Urewera. A huge hired marquee, other tents and the meeting hall were used on Saturday night as sleeping accommodation for more than 700 members of the Tuhoe people who stayed over the weekend. On Saturday night members of the tribe attended the annual meeting of the Maungapohatu Incorporation and discussed future arrangements for the farming operations due to start soon on the clearing surrounding the village. ? To commemorate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, the Wellington District Council of the Maori Women's Welfare League hostessed a social at the Presbyterian Hall at Stokes Valley last February 6. The guest of honour was the Mayor of Lower Hutt; invitations went mostly to residents in Stokes Valley who are members of kindred organisations, also to representatives of Maori clubs and committees within the Wellington district. Nearly 200 people attended a very happy and successful evening. ? Mrs Maria Totara, of Kaihu near Dargaville, last March celebrated her one hundredth birthday. Mrs Totara, who is also known as Aunty Pikaki, comes of a long-lived family. The eldest of eight children, she still has a brother and two sisters living. They are Mr Sam Daniels, also of Kaihu, who is aged 98; Mrs M. Makoare, also in her 90s; and Mrs P. Young, of Cockle Bay, Auckland, youngest of the family at 76.