A small Government township, situate at the junction of four roads, each being the highway to a large district, Taihape is the stopping place of the line of coaches to and from the Hot Lakes District, Mangaweka, and the Hunterville Branch Railway, the traffic having largely diverged in this direction. It is the centre of the famous Awarua Block, which contains some very superior land. In 1894 the site of the settlement was all standing bush, a great deal of which has now been cleared. At the leading local store the work of the post-office is conducted, two mails per week being received and despatched, both north and south. Taihape, which is in the Electoral District and County of Rangitikei, had a population of eighty-six at the last census.

Taihape Accommodation-House, (Fred. Ely, proprietor), Taihape. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. Established in 1898, having as good accommodation as can be found in the township, the house has ten bedrooms, besides a good dining-room and ladies' parlour. Having lived in the district for eleven years, eight of which were spent at Moawhango as a saddler, Mr. Ely is well known, and visitors may rely on every attention being paid to their needs.

Ellis Bros. and Valder, Storekeepers, Taihape. Head Office, Hunterville; branches, Ohingaiti and Moawhango. This branch was opened in 1896, when the firm bought a business page 1300 then conducted by Messrs. Jackson and McCormick, They have since built a large shop, with dwelling attached, which contains a floorage space of about 2000 square feet. The Taihape business is managed by Mr. W. A. Ellis, who has had a large business experience, chiefly in the iron trade. An engraving of the branch store at Ohingaiti will be found in this volume under that place.