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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Taranaki, Hawke's Bay & Wellington Provincial Districts]

Otaki

Otaki.

Otaki is an historic settlement situatedon the Otaki river, forty miles south by rail from Palmerston North. It is in the Otaki riding of the county of Horowhenua, in the provincial district of Wellington. Otaki is noted for being one of the centres of Te Rauparaha during the Maori wars. This blood-thirsty warrior, who was ultimately captured by Sir George Grey, became a convert to Christianity after his return from captivity, when he made Otaki his head-quarters. It was mainly due to his efforts that the natives erected a mission church there, which is unique in construction. The roof is supported by three solid totara logs, measuring nearly fifty feet in height by about two feet in thickness. It is a mystery how the natives succeeded in bringing these a distance of some twelve miles to the site of the building, and how they were placed in position. The interior of the old church, which was erected in 1848, is wonderfully rich in Maori carvings. An obelisk erected by the Maoris to commemorate the jubilee of the Otaki Maori Missions stands near the church, and also a monument to Te Rauparaha. Te Rangiatea, which is the name of the mission church, has seating accommodation for 250, but as many as 700 Maoris have been inside the building at one time. A native minister is in charge of the Maori mission, and adjoining the church there is a native college. Otaki was formerly the county town and head-quarters of the Horowhenua county, but owing to the rising importance of Levin, the head-quarters have been removed there. The population of Otaki at the census of 1906 was 700. Owing to the excellence of its climate Otaki has been selected by the Hospital Board of Wellington as the site of a hospital and sanitarium for consumptive patients. There is a public school (with accommodation for 200), a convent school, and the Native college. Besides the Maori mission there are Anglican, Roman Catholic, and Methodist churches in the settlement, and the Salvation Army is also represented. The post, telegraph, and money order office is a modern building at the corner of Mill road and the Main street. Otaki has a library, several hotels, a bank, and a tri-weekly newspaper. The chief industries include sheep and dairy farming, agriculture, creameries, and fellmongeries. Good fishing is obtainable and game is abundant. There are good roads for cycling. The Otaki Maori Racing Club hold a two days' race meeting. The Maori meeting house is a large building, ornamented with grotesque carving, and is used for tribal meetings, etc. The Magistrate's Court serves the purposes of the Native Land Court, as well as of civil and police sittings of the local court. There is a police station in charge of a constable, who also acts as clerk of the court. Rangiuru-by-the-sea is a suburb of Otaki, and is about two miles from the town. This charming watering place, at the mouth of the Otaki river, has a remarkably fine beach, which extends for miles. Both salt and fresh water bathing may be indulged in. In clear weather views of the Kaikouras in the South Island may be obtained, while Mount Egmont, Mount Tongariro, and Mount Ruapehu may be clearly seen to the northwards.

The Otaki Post Office is a modern two-storeyed brick building, standing at the corner of Mill road and Main road. The building contains a large public office (with mail and telegraph room combined), post-master's room, and a private box lobby, containing forty boxes. Five mails are received and despatched daily and there is a daily delivery by letter carrier. The hospital and the doctor are connected by telephone with the post office, and a special night service is open as far north as Shannon.

Mr. James George Poynter, who has been post-master at Otaki since 1904, joined the service in 1877. He was engaged principally in telegraph work, having been stationed at Wanganui for many years in connection with the cable station, before receiving his present apointment.

Otaki Consumptive Sanitarium . The land devoted to this sanitarium comprises about eighty acres, mostly of sandhills, varied with patches of native bush, and is decidedly warm, sunny, and dry. In 1903 experiments in connection with consumptive patients were begun, tents and canvas shelters being used for the purpose. At first two patients only were received, the number being afterwards increased to five, and as several were discharged cured, and others vastly improved, the idea of a special building as a sanitarium took root. In June, 1907, the Otaki Consumptive Sanitarium was formally opened. It is a two-storeyed building, with accommodation for nineteen men and eleven women. Both the hospital and sanitarium are under the supervision of a medical superintendent and a resident matron. A very fine electrical plant has recently been installed for the purpose of lighting the two institutions.

Kirk and Stevens (R. C. Kirk and J. G. Stevens), Barristers and Solicitors, Otaki. This firm was constituted page 715 in the year 1906, prior to which the practice had been conducted by Messrs. Kirk and Wilson. Messrs. Kirk and Stevens act as solicitors to the Government Life Insurance Department.

Mr. John G. Stevens, of the firm of Messrs. Kirk and Stevens, was born in Wellington, and was educated at Wellington College. He studied for his profession under Messrs. Kirk and Wilson, of Wellington, and was admitted a solicitor of the Supreme Court in August, 1900. Mr. Stevens also conducts a land agency business, on his own account, for properties in the town or any part of the Dominion. He is president of the Otaki Football Club, and chairman of the management committee of the Rugby Union.

Farmer, Gordon Maitland, Surgeon Dentist, Aotaki Street, Otaki. This practice was established in the year 1906, and is conducted in convenient premises, containing a surgery, a workroom (fitted up with every modern appliance), and a waiting room. Mr. Farmer was born at Sandon, near Bulls, in November, 1882, and was educated at the Wanganui Collegiate School. He after-wards spent eighteen months at farming pursuits, then studied for the dental profession under Mr. C. Hayns, of Palmerston North, and was registered as a dentist in June, 1906. Mr. Farmer subsequently removed to Otaki, and opened his present practice. He is a member of the Otaki Club, the Otaki Golf Club, and the tennis club, and is an enthusiastic angler.

St. George, Louis George Varnham , Pharmaceutical Chemist, Aotaki Street, Otaki. This old-established business was acquired in the year 1898 by the present proprietor, who keeps a complete stock of drugs, proprietary medicines, etc. The establishment is well fitted up, and contains, in addit on to the shop, a dispensary, an office, and rooms for bulk stock. Mr. St. George was born in the Wairarapa district in March, 1872, and is a son of Mr. L. St. George, a well-known chemist of Masterton. He was educated at the public schools, was subsequently indentured to his profession, and spent four years with his father. Mr. St. George then spent six years with Mr. A. E. Kitchen, of Wanganui, where, in 1893, he qualified as a chemist. He afterwards managed a pharmacy for fifteen months at Kaponga, Taranaki, and then removed to Otaki and started his present business. Mr. St. George is a 'cello player in the local orchestral society, and is a member of the tennis, golf, and rifle clubs. He is married, and has two children.

Parrant, James Lewis, Hairdresser, Tobacconist, Bookseller, Stationer, and News Agent, Mill Road, Otaki. This business was established in the year 1906, and is conducted in convenient premises. The saloon has two chairs, and is fitted up with all the latest improvements. The shop carries a large stock of tobacconists' wares, books, stationery, periodicals, and newspapers. Mr. Parrant was born in Wellington, in February, 1875, was educated at the public schools, and then learned the hair-dressing trade. He subsequently started business on his own account in Petone, and conducted it for eight years. He then removed to Otaki, and took over his present business. Mr. Parrant served with the Ninth Contingent in the South African Boer war. He is a member of the Orders of Foresters and Druids, is married, and has two children.

The Central Hotel.

The Central Hotel.

Central Hotel (W. McKegg, proprietor), corner of Main road and Mill road, Otaki. This hotel was established in the year 1893, and was rebuilt in 1907, the old building having been destroyed by fire in December, 1906. It is an imposing wood and iron building, two storeys in height, and contains about twenty rooms, including ten bedrooms, four sitting rooms, two sample rooms, a commercial room, and a large dining hall capable of seating forty persons. The hotel occupies a central position in the town, and is lighted by acetylene gas.

Mr. William McKegg, proprietor of the Central Hotel, was born at Taieri, Otago, where he was educated and brought up to farming pursuits and engineering. His father was proprietor of the White Horse Hotel, Henley-on-Taieri, and there Mr. McKegg gained experience in hotel-keeping. He bought the Central Hotel in May, 1907.

The Family Hotel (W. Tompsitt, proprietor), Mill Road, Otaki. This hotel, one of the oldest establishments in the district, is a two-storeyed wooden building, containing thirty rooms. The ground floor contains three comfortable sitting rooms, a large dining room (capable of seating twenty-four guests), the bar, and other apartments. The first floor contains two sitting rooms, the bedrooms, and bathrooms. The house is well furnished throughout, the best liquors are stocked, a good table is maintained, and guests receive every attention.

Mr. William Tompsitt, proprietor of the Family Hotel, was born in Victoria, Australia, in March, 1850, and was educated and brought up to the grocery trade in Prahran, near Melbourne. In 1866 he joined the “rush” to the West Coast gold-fields, New Zealand, and after following various occupations, including mining, cattle-droving, and coach driving, he removed to the North Island, and took over the management of a store for Mr. Donald Blythe, in Masterton. Later, he opened business on his own account, which he conducted for fifteen months, then spent three years in the Government Survey Department, and afterwards settled in Otaki, where he remained for about page 716 nine years. Mr. Tompsitt then built the Manakau Hotel, which he successfully conducted for nine years, afterwards conducted an hotel for four years in the Taranaki district, and in 1904 took over the Family Hotel. He has served on the Horowhenua County Council and the Otaki Road Board.

Telegraph Hotel (J. Woods, proprietor), corner of Mill Road and Main Road, Otaki. This hotel is one of the oldest hotels on the Coast, and was rebuilt in June, 1907; it stands on the old main road from Wellington northwards, along which Cobb's coaches ran in the early days of settlement. It is a substantial two-storeyed wood and iron building, and contains eighteen rooms, including eight bedrooms, and a large dining room, which has accommodation for fifty guests. The house is replete with every modern convenience, and in connection with the establishment there are good stables, which contain ten stalls and nine loose boxes.

Mr. James Woods is the son of the late Mr. James Woods, who was for some time proprietor of the Telegraph Hotel. He was born in Christchurch, where he was educated and gained his experience in his father's hotel. Mr. Woods was for fourteen years a professional jockey. He takes a keen interest in football, and is president of one club and vice-president of another.