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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Nelson, Marlborough & Westland Provincial Districts]

Lower Mokihinui

Lower Mokihinui.

Mokihinui is often known as Lower Mokihinui, to distinguish it from Mokihinui, Mine. However, the railway siding, which is twenty-seven miles distant from Westport, is known as Mokihinui. The surrounding country is covered with bush, and the public school, which is not far from the railway station, is named Summerlea. The nearest post office is one mile away, at St. Helen's. At the census of 1901, the village had a population of twenty-nine, and Mokihinui Beach, of fifty-one. The district is in the Karamea riding of the county of Buller, in the electorate of Motueka, and in the provincial district of Nelson. It lies on the south side of Mokihinui, river, which takes its rise in the Lyell ranges, and divides into north and south branches a few miles to the eastward of Seddonville. Some remarkably picturesque peeps present themselves to the visitor as he travels up the lovely valley of the Mokihinui.

page 205

Ratcliffe, William, Farmer and Market Gardener, Lower Mokihinui. Mr. Ratcliffe has a farm of 100 acres, on which he grazes a few head of cattle and horses. Most of his attention, is devoted to market gardening, and he supplies the various mines in the district. He has attained splendid results in vegetable growing, particularly in marrows and pumpkins, on ground recently cleared. Mr. Ratcliffe was born in Wigan, Lancashire, England, in the year 1852, and was brought up to coalmining from a youth. For some years afterwards he was in the service of a railway company—successively as a cleaner, fireman, and driver. In the year 1879, Mr. Ratcliffe came to New Zealand, and settled on the West Coast. He has been engaged in coalmining, golddigging and coppermining, and worked at the antimony mines at Endeavour Inlet. Mr. Ratcliffe subsequently built intel Summerlea school, and was manager of the Mokihinui Co-operative Coal Mine for about two years. He is married, and has four sons and one daughter.

Vinsen, photo. Mr. and Mrs W. Ratcliffe.

Vinsen, photo.
Mr. and Mrs W. Ratcliffe.