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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Taranaki, Hawke's Bay & Wellington Provincial Districts]

Ruakituri

Ruakituri.

Ruakituri is an outlying district situated twenty-five miles north from Wairoa, and is rugged land, suitable only for sheep and cattle farming. It was at Ruakituri that the Maori warrior Te Kooti escaped, on the 8th of August, 1868, from the New Zealand troops, though wounded in the foot during the fight of that day. The Te Reinga Falls, at the junction of the Hangaroa and Ruakituri rivers is one of the sights of the district. There is a bridle track to Waikare-Moana, and a weekly mail service to Napier and Gisborne. The local store has a telephone connection with Frasertown. Good trout fishing can be obtained in the neighbouring streams.

Boothman, William, Sheep-farmer, Ruakituri, Hawke's Bay. Mr. Boothman has a run of 3,000 acres on a twenty-one year's lease, with the option of renewal. When first taken up it was nearly all bush land, but by dint of hard work and perseverance, the property has been converted into a desirable sheep run. The land is chiefly rugged, with the exception of 200 acres of river flat on the banks of the Ruakituri and Wairoa rivers, which is specially adapted for root and other crops. The stock comprises about 3,500 sheep (Lincoln and Romney-Marsh cross-breds) and thirty head of cattle, but when fully cleared the run will be capable of carrying two and a-half sheep to the acre, besides a much larger mob of cattle. The property is exceptionally well watered, there being upwards of four miles of river frontage. Mr. Boothman was born in Bradford, Yorkshire, England, and came out to New Zealand in the year 1893. He found employment with Mr. W. Douglas at Tuhanga for one year, and worked at various other stations in Hawke's Bay. He then decided to operate on his own account, and secured his present property in 1895. In 1904–5 Mr. Boothman took a trip to the Old Country, accompanied by his sister, and experienced great pleasure in revisiting
Gisborne Coaches leaving Morere.

Gisborne Coaches leaving Morere.

page 433 the scenes of his boyhood. He subsequently returned to his station at Ruakituri.