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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 4, Issue 9 (January 1, 1930)

Along the Northern Wairoa

Along the Northern Wairoa.

Next morning (Monday, 18th November) found the travellers in quite another part of the province, the north Kaipara and northern Wairoa country, after a smooth night run.

After breakfast the party went on from Kirikopuni to Tango-wahine; thence there was a run by motor cars to the metropolis of the northern Wairoa, the town of Dargaville, crossing the great river by the new bridge. The Commerce Train made history by being the first to carry passengers over the ten miles of new line between Kirikopuni and Tangowahine. It was predicted by Public Works officials that the remaining seven miles to Dargaville would be completed in a year's time.

There was a hearty welcome from the Mayor of Dargaville, Mr. F. A. Jones, and the president of the Chamber of Commerce, Mr. W. Whitmore, and more cordial greetings came at Ruawai, where the travellers were entertained at lunch by the Otamatea County Council and settlers. Mr. Rodney Coates, the County Chairman, was the chief spokesman.

Hokianga County Council. Left to Right: Messrs. W. H. Kirkpatrick, R. E. Hornblow (president), N. J. Doherty, F. J. Pender.

Hokianga County Council.
Left to Right: Messrs. W. H. Kirkpatrick, R. E. Hornblow (president), N. J. Doherty, F. J. Pender.

From a hill at Rehia, there was a remarkable panorama, the look-out over this great reclaimed swamp land of Ruawai. Once this area, 30,000 acres, was nothing but a great marsh; now it was drained and settled, and this season it is expected the local dairy factory will turn out from 800 to 900 tons of butter.

A particularly interesting speech was made at Ruawai by Mr. L. A. Paish, Commissioner of Trade for Great Britain, who had just arrived from London and was greatly pleased to find New Zealand so far advanced in industry. “It had sometimes been said,” he told the audience, “that there was a danger of over-production, but there was little danger on that score. The imports of butter into Britain were at the rate of 6,000 tons a week, of which New Zealand supplied 1,500 tons.” They could aim at securing more of the balance supplied by the other countries, and this applied also to other produce. In this endeavour the Empire Marketing Board was going to be of great assistance.