Difficulties experienced during the past year by Te Awamutu’s St John’s church were outlined at the annual meeting of parishioners. The church had lost the services of two valued members, with one going to war and another leaving the district. Support for the Church Gazette had not been satisfactory and had resulted in a loss. They were now passing through dreadful times and as munitions were required to carry on war, money must be given.
Reverend Greer, however, was thankful that a motorcar had been purchased for his use. He urged parents to send their children to Sunday school and encouraged all members who were musically gifted to help in the musical portion of services. He was keen to see a mothers’ union, girls’ friendly society, and Church of England men’s society underway.
St John’s Church, Te Awamutu, 1916
The disgraceful state of the stretch of road between the Rukuhia creamery and Mystery Creek on the Hamilton – Ōhaupō Road was the subject of a deputation to the Waipā County Council by the Ōhaupō branch of the Farmers’ Union. The road had been almost impassable for months and those wanting to get from Hamilton to Ōhaupō had to make the very circuitous journey round Cambridge. Two motor springs were recently broken along this strip, while motorists had constantly to be helped out of the morass. The trouble was an old drain which years previously had been ploughed in causing water to pool. The council chairman said he was living in hopes of seeing a good, metalled road the whole way from Te Awamutu to Cambridge on the one hand and Te Awamutu to Hamilton on the other. The war had, however, upset all calculations.
Much excitement was caused at Kihikihi by the advent of a young man who was believed to hail from the Te Kūiti district. He first devoted his attentions to the hotels, where he proceeded to make merry, and in the end, Constable Woodley had to be summoned. He deeply resented any interference in his very real effort to paint the town red, and it was only after a series of somewhat exciting incidents that he was safely deposited in the cells. He looked rather meek and mild when he appeared in court but then looked positively dejected when fined. He was told that if he attempted to repeat his performance, he could safely expect to give a few weeks of his precious life in working out the penalty.
Despite war conditions progress had marched steadily on in Harapepe. Six months earlier most of the old township sections which had become a thicket of gorse were sold at auction by the Crown Lands Department to local farmers. These were cleared and ploughed and soon in grass. The Harapepe cream depot was extended which was a decided advantage to many suppliers and Mr Parkes, the cream contractor, was always on time no matter the weather. Eleven settlers had telephones installed, which meant that residents could be quite in touch with their friends, besides everyone having the consolation of knowing that a doctor could be called at any hour of the night.
