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

Government Institutions

Government Institutions.

Post Office.

The Hawera Post and Telegraph Office was erected in the year 1896, and stands in a central position in PrincesStreet, near the intersection of High Street. The department was represented in Hawera for about thirty years before the erection of the fine two-storey brick building with its clock-tower, which is now in use. The ground floor of the building contains the public office, a private box lobby, with 180 boxes, and the postmaster's room, a mail room, and the telegraph room. There is a telephone exchange, with 150 subscribers, and seventy-two bureaux connections. There are two town, deliveries daily, and many mails are received and despatched from the office. The staff consists of about twenty officers.

Mr. James Hopkins Stevens, who has been Postmaster at Hawera since the year 1896, joined the department in 1871.

Stock Department.

The Stock Department for the Hawera district has its offices in the Post Office Building in Princes Street. The district extends from Eltham to Waitotara, and is under the charge of an inspector, who has two assistants.

Mr. Joseph Maynard Hignett was appointed Inspector of Noxious Weeds, in connection with the Hawera branch of the Stock Department, in the year 1905. He was born in 1866, at Birkenhead, Cheshire, England, where he was educated, and subsequently gained experience under Messrs J. C. Houghton and Co., fruit brokers, of Liverpool. Mr. Hignett came to New Zealand in 1882 by the barque “Horsa,” and shortly afterwards settled in Taranaki. He was engaged for a number of years in farming and dealing, and was afterwards a member of the firm of Wyllie and Hignett, auctioneers, of Waitara, for about six years. He joined the Agricultural Department in 1902, and was stationed in the New Plymonth district for over two years before being transferred to Hawera. In 1891 Mr. Hignett married a daughter of Mr. J. Goble, of Inglewood, and has two sons and four daughters.

Gungall, photo. Mr. J. M. Hignett.

Gungall, photo.
Mr. J. M. Hignett.

Police Department.

The Hawera Police Station is a sub-office of the Wanganui district. The building, which was erected about the year 1883, stands on a-half-acre section in Princes Street, in addition to the office and residence, there are four cells, and stabling for two horses. Sergeant I. S. Bernard has been in charge of the station since the year 1898, and is assisted by two constables.

Railway Department.

The Hawera Railway Station is situated on Glover road, and consists of a commodious wood and iron building, with a statiomaster's room, a lamp room, parcel department, a ladies' waiting room, porters' room, and vestibule. The office of the inspector of permanent way and a refreshment room adjoin the main building, and on the opposite side of the station yard there is a large goods shed, measuring 190 feet by thirty-two feet. Ten trains arrive and depart daily. Large quantities of butter are carried, but in 1905 the freights included also 12,000 bags of chaff. The stationmaster is assisted by a staff of about forty persons.

Mr. Henry John Day has been Stationmaster at Hawera since the year 1898. He is an old officer of the department, and occupied many positions before he was transferred to Hawera.

Mr. Charles Crutch was appointed Inspector of Permanent Way at Hawera in April, 1905. The district under his charge extends from page 232 Momohaka to New Plymouth, and includes the Waitara and Oruru branches. Mr. Crutch was born in Kidlington, Oxfordshire, England, where he was educated; and after serving six years on the Great Western Railway, he came to New Zealand, and landed at Lyttelton in 1874. He then entered on railway work in Canterbury, under the late Mr. E. G. Wright, contractor. He was employed in construction work for three years, and in March, 1877, he joined the Railway Department, in the maintainance branch of the Albury section. Later, he was for a time stationed at Makikihi, and was subsequently promoted to the position of Inspector of Permanent Way at Oamaru. For two years and three months, Mr. Crutch was in charge at Lumsden; then, after eight months in Canterbury, was transferred to Invercargill, where he served in a similar capacity for sixteen years and a-half. He was then appointed to Aramoho, and was there for five years and nine months before being transferred to Hawera. In 1871 Mr. Crutch married a daughter of the late Mr. David Clifford, of Charlbury, Oxfordshire, England, and has three sons and six daughters.

Gungail photo. Mr. C. Crutch.

Gungail photo.
Mr. C. Crutch.