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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]

Moutoa

Moutoa.

Moutoa, one of the small farming centres of the Manawatu District, is distant some seventy-two miles from Wellington, and three miles from the Shannon Railway Station and Telephone offices. A passenger coach runs daily between Shannon and Montoa, meeting the trains.

Mails close in Wellington daily for Moutoa at 6 a.m., arriving at 11.30 a.m. Mails close at Moutoa for Wellington daily at 4.30 p.m., arriving in Wellington at 10.5 p.m.

Moutoa Public School, which is situate between Foxton and Shannon, is a one-story wooden building having one class-room capable of accommodating from thirty to forty pupils. The master's residence is situated on the property, which is one acre in extent, and includes a large playground. There are twenty-four pupils on the roll, the standards ranging from one to six.

Mr. Samuel Dale McCosh, the Master in charge of the Moutoa Public School, was born in Antrim, Ireland, where he was educated. Mr. McCosh came out to the colonies in 1890, settling in Victoria, where he had charge of a school in Gippsland for three years. He has occupied the position he now fills since 1893. when he came to New Zealand.

The Moutoa Post-Office, which is carried on at the general store of Mr. E. Ashby, is the centre of the business locality of the settlement. Mr. Ashby, the Postmaster, is referred to below.

Mr. Edwin Ashby, the Postmaster at Moutoa, is a native of Northamptonshire, England, and followed the calling of a draper with his brother for some years. He landed in New Zealand in 1880 and subsequently purchased land in Moutoa, but sold out owing to the excessive damage caused by continual floods. He has been a prominent member of the school committee for the past twelve years, and has only of recent years been appointed to his present position.