Katikati in 1883 by Ellen McCormack
3 March 1883 B.O.P. Times.
Report of sale of the B.O.P. Times by order of the Mortgagee. Purchased by George Vesey Stewart and Rev David Bruce of Auckland for 1000 pounds. Rev. Bruce took over as manager. [This is the second time G.V.S. has owned the B.O.P. Times.]
Katikati Highway Board became the Katikati Roads Board.
The ship ‘Northumberland’ arrived with more settlers.
The ‘Orange Hall’ was erected in Lemon Street [nowMacmillan Street]
May 1883
G.V.S. sailed for England to raise capital for the proposed railway line between Tauranga and Rotorua. He set up an office in London as an Emigration agent. [G.V.S. did not return to N.Z. for five years.]
21 June 1883 B.O.P. Times.
The work on the Thames-Tauranga main road has been completed under Capt. Turner’s supervision. A cutting has been made to divert the course of the Waitekohe river. The bank is 5 chains long, height of bridge, 10 feet; length of cutting, 2 1/2chains; breadth of cutting 50 feet. This has been done to obviate the necessity of continually tinkering at the road. This work has been done by contract.
11 July 1883 My Simple Life in New Zealand
Punctually at 9o’clock the following morning, July 12th, the Gov; A.B; Lou and her son, with much luggage, left in a coach and five for Tauranga, thirty –five miles. They were nearly twenty –four hours on the road on account of its muddy, soft state and their heavy load.
They had three breakdowns, the use of fifteen horses all told, and invasion in the middle of the night of a roadside settler’s home for shelter while help was coming. But they bore it cheerfully, and for many years loved to speak of this and other adventures inNew Zealand. After seeing them off from Athenree Hugh and I drove to Martray for the old folks’ entertainment of the Orangemen, who marched in with drums, fifes and flags
A party of twenty-.four sat down to dinner, followed by loyal speeches and songs.
On our return home we let Agnes and Mary ride to the Uretara for the Orangemen’s ball in their hall in the township, from which they did not return till 7.a.m.
Having changed their dresses they at once sat down to milk the cows, as the day wore on taking a nap now and again over their work.
2 August 1883 B.O.P. Times.
The road between here and Tauranga is in consequence of the heavy rains in a very heavy state. The great drawback to this district at the present time is a dearth on the circulating medium—to quote the words of an old setter “the colour of coin is seldom seen in Katikati.
22 August 1883 My Simple Life in New Zealand.
On August 23rd of this year 1883, we awoke to find the distant mountain ranges white with snow, and how we felt the cold! Fires were going all day, which the cadets kept warm!
This unexpected cold was very trying to all.
18 October 1883 B.O.P. Times.
A public meeting is convened for Saturday, the 20th inst., at 2o’clock p.m., to give the ratepayers of the Katikati Riding an early opportunity of expressing themselves on the careless and unjust way the property tax valuation roll has been got up for the Katikati Riding, and other important matters seriously affecting their district. It is earnestly hoped every ratepayer will roll up and express his views on subjects brought before the meeting.
6 December 1883 B.O.P. Times.
Great dissatisfaction exists in this district re the action of the County Council in delaying the very necessary repairs on the main road, causing great inconvenience to settlers and business people generally.
There is also great room for improvement in our steam service, as there have been only two trips of the steamer this month. It is mooted, however, that sailing vessels are to be put on the trade, with every prospect of support.
