|
Uawa County was one of the counties of New Zealand on the North Island. Today a part of the Gisborne Region, the county was constituted on 10 December 1918. The area had previously been a part of Cook County, and became a part of the county again when the two councils were amalgamated on 1 April 1964. ==History== Uawa County (constituted on 10 December 1918) made two attempts to secede from Cook County: in 1885 (with Waimata and Waiapu) and in 1909, when a separate county (Takirau County) was proposed. Although taxpayers had complained about the lack of infrastructure, a proposal to raise NZ£25,000 for roads and bridges was rejected in October 1910 by the slender margin of votes below the required three-fifths majority. The first council comprised: *Arakihi Riding: C. E. Smith, J. A. Moore and D. H. Hawkins *Tauwhareparae: F. Hutchinson and J. McNeil *Hauiti: E. B. Boland *Mangatuna: J. S. Paterson At the first meeting on May 12, 1919, Boland was elected chairman. One of the council's earliest decisions was that the county should secede from Gisborne Harbour District. A flat-bottomed boat was used to carry passengers across the Uawa River. Cattle from stations on their way to Gisborne were swum over, with residents who owned boats assisting. In 1883 a cable ferry, attached to an overhead cable and operated by a windlass was begun with W. Lockwood Sr. in charge. Between 1885 and 1893 the ferryman was Enoch Kirk, who was credited with ferrying 2,400 sheep in four hours. The ferry could carry a coach and five horses. At fist, a whaleboat was used for passengers and light cargo at Tolaga Bay under the direction of Lockwood, J. A. Moore, H. Glover and W. E. Holder. Oil launches were later used. The first bridge over the Uawa River was built in 1905 at a cost of £6,000. For two years, toll charges were levied (sixpence per person and a shilling for each horse), with W. E. Holder the first custodian. On 12 May 1916, a flood—the first of thirteen in twelve months—caused a portion of the bridge to subside. Two more bridges were destroyed during a flood in January 1917. Another flood on 4 February 1917 (when of rain fell in 18 hours) did further damage. So great was the rush of water that a bank over high formed at the mouth of the river. Until a new bridge was built, ferry service resumed. Another bridge was washed away by a flood in February 1938; however, a concrete bridge had just been completed and it was opened for traffic within 12 hours. When the county was established, the coastal road between Gisborne and Tolaga Bay and a new bridge over the Pakarae River were under construction. In 1922, taxpayers approved a £104,000 bond for road and bridge construction (including the metalling of the Uawa portion of the Gisborne-Tolaga Bay highway and improvements to the section linking Uawa and Waiapu). A crushing plant was installed at Mangatuna, and a fleet of five trucks acquired. Local officials included: ;Chairmen: *E. B. Boland (1919–30) *J. McNeil (1930–43) *H. R. Irving (1943–unknown) ;Engineers: *J. P. Guthrie (1919–30) *G. W. King (1930–38) *C. Percy (1939–unknown) ;County clerks: *F. T. Robinson (1919–24) *H. L. Tempest (1924–47) *A. B. Smith (1947–48) *R. Tregurtha (1948–unknown) 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア(Wikipedia)』 ■ウィキペディアで「Uawa County」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|