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If you think this year has been cold, spare a thought for the residents the year snow fell on the Kaipara Hills and Pakiri ranges.
In 1939 it was reported that hailstones covered the ground to the depth of several inches and a fall of snow occurred on the ranges between Leigh and Pakiri and at Kaipara.
The writer’s father would sharpen his wit on his children by telling the story that Warkworth had six feet of snow in the 1920’s. He was referring to Constable Charlie Snow who left the district in 1929 to be replaced by the popular Constable George Robertson.
From the earliest days when A.W. Hansard, estate agent, advertised land to intrepid settlers, life was much more difficult in winter. One settler, Rev J S Hudson spoke of his life since he was born in 1807. Steam had been introduced and slavery abolished. He liked to speak on prophecy but would he have imagined modern means of travel and communication?
One advance was the opening of the telegraph station in Warkworth, in 1875. The carrier- pigeon service, which had been operated by a local resident, was discontinued. During the Second World War, pigeons were again used to send messages. The fastest bird was clocked at 55 minutes between Auckland and the lofts at Kaipara Flats.
