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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Auckland Provincial District]

Okoroire

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Okoroire.

Okoroire is a flag station on the railway line from Auckland to Rotorua. It is forty miles from Rotorua, 112 from Auckland, stands at an elevation of 314 feet above the sea, and is about three miles from the Okoroire Hotel and sanatorium, with which it is connected by road. Near the sanatorium the Waihou river passes through a very remarkable natural bridge which is well worth a visit. There are a number of scattered settlers in the Okoroire district.

The Okoroire Public School was established in 1896, and has accommodation for forty pupils. There are thirty-nine names on the roll, and the average attendance is thirty-three. About half the children are Maoris. The land attached to the school, three acres in extent, was given by the Thames Valley Land Company.

Mr. A. E. Jackson, Headmaster of the Okoroire Public School, entered the service of the Education Board in 1893 as a pupil teacher, and was appointed to Okoroire in March, 1900.

Okoroire Hotel And Sanatorium (Laurence Callaghan, licensee), Okoroire. This popular health resort is about three miles from the Okoroire railway station, with which it is connected by a good road. The commodious buildings contain about forty rooms, and have accommodation for seventy visitors. There is a large hall. 40 feet by 25 feet, adjoining the hotel, and a store, with the post and telephone office attached to it. The grounds are well laid out in lawns and flower beds, and there is a splendid kitchen garden and nursery. The hotel stands on an eminence, whence visitors obtain fine views of the surrounding country, and the district is noted on account of the splendid hot water baths which have been constructed on the estate. There are four of these baths, which are well kept and have proved very beneficial in the case of many human ailments. The flow from the spring is at the rate of 4100 gallons per hour. There is plenty of game in the district.

Mr. Laurence Callaghan, who is in charge of the Sanatorium, was born in County Cavan, Ireland, in 1845. He was educated at the Model School, Bailieborough, and at Glasnevin School, Dublin. In 1865 Mr. Callaghan arrived in Auckland by the ship “Dauntless.” He has been in charge of the Okoroire Hotel since 1895. For a time he resided at Maketu, near Drury, where he was chairman, and also for some time secretary of the local school committee. Mr. Callaghan was married, in 1866, to a daughter of the late Mr. A. McCab.

Mr. and Mrs L. Callaghan and Family.

Mr. and Mrs L. Callaghan and Family.