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

Kanieri Forks

Kanieri Forks.

Kanieri Forks is a gold mining settlement about seven miles to the eastward of Hokitika, and is in the Kanieri riding of the county of Westland, and in the electorate and provincial district of Westland. Mining in the vicinity, however, has to a large extent decayed. The beautiful Kanieri Lake is about five miles distant, and there the Westland Acclimatisation Society has its fish hatchery. As a tourist resort the district is becoming increasingly popular, owing to the lovely scenery, both on the lake itself, and on the way through the settlement. Most of the buildings are residences for the few remaining miners; there is, however, an accommodation house, which is also the local store and post office. There is no regular coach communication, but mails arrive by mailmen on Mondays and Fridays. At the census of the year 1901, the population was returned as forty-six, with seven additional at Kanieri Lake.

The Post Office at Kanieri Forks is conducted at the store of Mr. F. J. Havill, who acts as postmaster, and has also an accommodation house and general store. He also acts as mailman, and conveys the mails to and from Hokitika on Mondays and Fridays.

The Kanieri Forks Accommodation House , in the palmy days of Kanieri Forks, was an hotel, but in 1903, it was licensed as an accommodation house. It contains thirteen rooms; the best liquors are kept, and there is good accommodation. Mr. Havill's store was established about the year 1870, and contains a good stock of general groceries, drapery, mining supplies, etc.

Mr. Frederick James Havill , Postmaster, General Storekeeper and Accommodation House Keeper, was born in the year 1869, at Hokitika, where he went to school. He followed goldmining for some years, and was mining at Ross for four years. At Kanieri Forks, Mr. Havill was one of the party that, as owners of an important claim, brought in the large pipe line from Kanieri Lake. In the year 1903 he acquired his present business. Mr. Havill has been a successful competitor as an athlete, particularly swimming, in Ross and Hokitika. In 1898, he married a daughter of the late Mr. Joseph Kennedy—formerly owner of the property now owned by Mr. Havill—and has two daughters.