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

Otakeho

Otakeho.

Otakeho is about midway between Opunake and Hawera, and has daily coach communication by a good road with each of these places. The village lies to the west of Hawera and to the south-east of Opunake, and is almost due south from Mount Egmont; it is in the Oeo survey district of the Taranaki land district, and the Waimate riding of the county of Hawera. The Kaupokonui Company has a branch dairy factory—one of the largest and most important in Taranaki—about two miles from the village. There is a telephone bureau at the local post and telegraph office. Otakeho has also a public hall, an Anglican church, a store, a hotel, a smithy, and a public school. The surrounding country is devoted entirely to farming.

The Otakeho Public School dates from the year 1885, and is conducted in a wooden building, which contains two rooms. There is accommodation page 214 for ninety pupils, and there are fifty-eight names on the roll. The teacher's residence stands on a glebe of seven acres. Mr. Jacob Honore is headmaster, and is assisted by a mistress.

Eaves, Hubert James, General Storekeeper, Otakeho. Mr. Eaves' business is conducted in commodious and well arranged premises. Full and varied stocks are carried in groceries, ironmongery, drapery, boots land shoes, and produce. Mr. Eaves is agent for the New Zealand Fire Insurance Company, the New Zealand Accident Insurance Company, Silver Dust Flour, Chamberlain's medicines, the Auckland Weekly News, and the Christchurch Press, etc. He was born in Tasmania, and arrived in New Zealand in the year 1902.

Gungall, photo.Mr. H. J. Eaves.

Gungall, photo.
Mr. H. J. Eaves.

Coxhead, Charles, Farmer, Otakeho. Mr. Coxhead's farm consists of 230 acres of excellent land. It is under thorough cultivation, and is stocked with about 1000 Lincoln sheep and thirty cows. The farm is a portion of Mr. Coxhead's late father's property, which was divided amongst a family of five sons and one daughter. Mr. Coxhead was born and brought up in Auckland, where his father landed from England in 1842. He is married, and has one daughter.

Mr. C. Coxhead.

Mr. C. Coxhead.

Le Fleming, William Hudleston, “The Pines.” Otakeho. Mr. le Fleming's homestead is situated on the Auroa road, near Otakeho, and comprises 300 acres of good farming land. He also holds 125 acres on another part of the Auroa road, 250 acres on the Skeet road, and 170 acres at Awatuna. These properties are devoted principally to dairy farming. Mr. le Fleming was born at St. Albans, Christchurch, in the year 1861, and was educated at the Kaiapoi borough school. He subsequently removed to Taranaki, and for some time managed a property of 4000 acres at Ngaire and Otako for Mr. Isaac Wilson, sometime member of the House of Representatives. He took up the Skeet Road portion of his property in 1882, and has added the rest since. Mr. le Fleming was a member of the Waimate Road Board for three years. He has been for many years chairman of the Otakeho school committee, is a director of the Kaupokonui Dairy Factory Company, and a member of the Farmers' Union, and the Egmont Agricultural and Pastoral Association. He is married, and has seven children. Mr. le Fleming is heir to the baronetcy of le Fleming, created in the year 1705. The second baronet was bishop of Carlisle. Sir Michael le Fleming, the founder of the family, was a kinsman of Baldwin, Earl of Flanders, and, having assisted William the Conqueror against the Scots, received various manors in Lancashire, Westmoreland, and Cumberland.

Gungall, photo.Mr. W. H. Le Fleming.

Gungall, photo.
Mr. W. H. Le Fleming.

Mr. Cecil John Hawken, formerly of “Opuhi,” Otakeho, is the eldest son of Mr. J. Hawken, a well-known colonist, and was born at Kakaramea in the year 1870. He was educated at Patea, learned farming with his father, and afterwards owned a farm in the same district for about two years, prior to settling at Otakeho, where he had 600 acres of first-class land, stocked with 2000 crossbred Lincoln sheep, and fifty dairy cows. Mr. Hawken subsequently removed to Hawera. He takes a lively interest in all that concerns the welfare of his district, and is a good allround athlete.