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

Aratika

Aratika.

Aratika is a flag railway station, nineteen miles from Greymouth, on the Christchurch-Greymouth line, ten miles from Stillwater, and thirty-two from Otira. It stands at an altitude of 269 feet above the level of the sea, and was previously known as Craig's Siding. Aratika serves the district of Kotuku, and is in the Red Jack's riding of the county of Grey, in the electorate of Grey, and in the provincial district of Westland. The Kotuku public school serves the settlement. No separate return of the population was recorded at the census of 1901.

The Kotuku Public School was established in the year 1899, and serves the districts of Kotuku, and Aratika. It is a wood and iron building, and contains one classroom and a porch. The school has accommodation for about thirty pupils, the roll number is twenty, and the average attendance is sixteen.

Miss Isabella Barnett was appointed sole teacher of the Kotuku public school in the year 1903. She was born at Balclutha, Otago, where she was educated, and afterwards removed to the West Coast with her parents. Miss Barnett was pupil teacher at the Dobson school before she received her present appointment.

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Ring, photo. Miss I. Barnett.

Ring, photo. Miss I. Barnett.

Kotuku Sawmilling Company (John Waller and Son, and R. W. England, Christchurch, proprietors), Aratika. This mill was long known as Craig's Siding mill, but owing to the alteration of the name of the siding it was changed to Kotuku. The mill has been working for about ten years. Timber is obtained from private property and from Government timber reservations. The mill is well fitted up, and the machinery includes a boiler by Luke and Son, a stationary engine of thirty horse-power, twin saws with a large Bullock's patent bench, an American planer, and a hauling engine, etc. It is capable of turning out 10,000 feet per day. Twenty-two persons are employed.

Mr. Arthur John Lloyd , Manager of the Kotuku Sawmill, was born in Dunedin in the year 1873, and began sawmilling at an early age. He worked in various capacities in several Southland mills, and served ten years with the Pine Company, and with Mr. Massey, a well-known Southland sawmiller. In December, 1903, Mr. Lloyd went to the West Coast, and took charge of the Kotuku Sawmilling Company's mill. When in Southland, he was a member of the Colac Bay Rifles. He is married, and has two children.