From Gordon, Lawrence and Yvonne Austin & Ray Mohring
In the floods of 1917, 7 inches
(140 mls) of rain fell between 1.00 p.m. and 3.30 p.m. up Mangawhara
Road.The school bus became
stranded up there and children were taken to their homes in Don
Cranes’ Landrover.
Robin Fielding’s bull hit by
Edwards Motors’ bus – the bus service that went from Auckland to
Rotorua and delivered the NZ Herald as it went – on a foggy night.
Jim Barrowcough built his own
plane, crashed another on landing.Also grew orchids on his property at the end of Tui Road (land
now owned by David Wilson).
Aeroplane reported to have
crashed in the hills at the back of Fielding’s property at the end of
Hapuakohe Road (now K Duncan’s).
Grassmeal factory opened 1966
– owned by B & A Orr and G Temm – closed down after a fire
destroyed it in the mid 70’s.
School trips to see the Kauri
trees at the back of Mohring’s farm
1992, someone failed to stop and
drove right into Corbett’s old house at the end of Tainui Road.
Colin Brown started a
personalised tourist service in partnership with Ray Mohring.
Ian Clarke getting badly injured
when helping to erect the concrete volley wall at the tennis courts.
Ranfurly Shield brought to calf
club in 1980.
Triplet calves born in 1972 on
Austin’s farm.
1978, old school building
shifted to Eric Pike’s farm (sold for $500).
Mohring Bros growing sunflowers
up until 1978.Demise of
bird-scarer, much to neighbours’ relief.
Mohring Bros fires of waste
copper wire producing huge plumes of smoke – which reportedly could be
seen from Morrinsville on a foggy day!!!No RMA in those days.
Successful cabarets held in the
hall by Indoor Bowls and Tennis Club.
Revamp of hall in 1979, stage
removed.Painted canoe on
one external wall that was used as a landmark by locals – now since
painted over.
House fires destroying Buster
Hodge’s and Malcolm Donald’s old homes.
Two of the original Mohrings
Bros passing away – Les in 1960 and Ray (Rayde) in 1982 aged 86.Rayde, a bachelor, lived in the same house for 66 years.
Mohring Bros contracted to
supply timber from their mill to the Auckland City Council Sewage Dept.
for 4 years.
Blowing up of the bridge on
Hoe-o-Tainui – Ohinewai road outside Austin’s farm by the army in
March 1989.Army camped in
paddocks for a week.
August 1988 a milk tanker
driving off Austin’s farm bridge on a stormy night resulting in the
driver and a passenger being killed.
Snake Hill (next to K McDonald
farm) – many accidents happened over the years, Yvonne Austin (Young)
recalls waking up and finding police in their house investigating
another fatality on the hill.The
road has now been realigned.
1969-70, retention dam and
stop-banks on the Paranui built for flood control by the Taupiri
Drainage Board.
Two notable Maori identities
passing away – Mannie Pairama in 1992 and Ron Koinaki in 1993.
Farms farmed by families of
original settlers: Mohring Bros 1920-2000; Reeves’ farm now farmed by
Colin Reeve; Leigh and Mary Pettigrew (Orr) on the old Orr property;
Stewart farm now worked by son Ross;Keith McDonald but not on the original farm; David Wilson on Tui
Road.
The chequered life of the
Hoe-o-Tainui Store and the different shop-owners.Now turned into an upgraded residence.