Tokirima History
Tokirima Post Office
Opened 16th January 1909
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Tokirima History Tokirima Post Office Opened 16th January 1909
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Tokirima has had a postal service since 1909, with the mail coming from Ohura by packhorse. The first Postmistress was Christine Murphy, followed by Mr Brownlie the schoolteacher, and then by Micky Craven about 1911/12. When Mr Fred Blank (Senior) took over in 1913 the inward mail came from Taumarunui, via the river steamer to Aukopae, with Mr J MacKay delivering the mail by horseback to both Roto Rd and Tokirima. From 1917 there was a mail coach service from Taumarunui, operated by R H Henderson. Miss Maude Henderson (later Mrs Dick Howard) acted as Postmistress about this time. By 1920 Mr Micky Craven again had the contract, bringing the mail in from Ohura by horse or horse drawn vehicle. This was later taken over by Mr Tony Christensen, (Turoto Rd - now Mangatarata Stream Rd) in 1923. When the rail link was established in 1932 the mail came daily by train, from Ohura. In 1933 Mr Blank's farm was purchased by Mr Dave & Mrs Minnie Blanchard with the latter taking over the the Post Office duties. Settlers decided in 1937 to build a separate Post Office on a corner of land cut off from the school grounds. The local women who worked here were-
When it was realised that the local Post Office was to close early in 1988, a petition asked for an extension to the proposed Rural Delivery(RD) Service from River Rd down to the end of Tokirima Rd. The proposal was rejected and the Community Mail Boxes were placed outside the Post Office building and serviced weekdays by the RD contractor, Tony Carroll. The boxes were very exposed and a successful complaint had them moved into the now closed building. Subsequent applications for Rural Delivery were finally successful and this commenced on 5th January 1996. The post office opened on 16. 01. 1909 and closed 05. 02. 1988. An A class datestamp has been recorded from 12 AP 15 to 8 JL 68. Later information has probably extended this time range. It is possible that a manuscript cancellation was used before the A class datestamp was issued. The A has a rating of 3 on a 1 to 10 range so it is reasonably common. The J class datestamp was proofed on 11 Sept 63 and introduced 7 Oct 63. The J has a rating of 2. In 1997 the Historic Places Trust registered the Post Office building as a Category Two Historic Place, acknowledging the historical and cultural significance of the building originally erected in 1937 Severe flooding in 1998 (which also resulted in the demolition of the original school building) and again in 2000 left the inside of the building in need of restorative repairs. A community grant allowed it to be cleaned up and painted in 2003 and it remains a permanent memorial to years of faithful service.
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Whilst we believe this information to be correct we look to you, the reader, to comment and endorse, or reject, these historical details. E-mail us with comments please. Return to History Index - Time line or Return to Tokirima Home Page ©Tokirima Community Association 2002/7-------------------------------- WEBMASTER |
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