Glen Massey

Although the Kupakupa, Renown and Kemps Seams are all present, only Kupakupa has been worked to any extent. Kupakupa Seam reserves are estimated at less than 40 000 tonnes, although 2m tonnes may be concealed under the northern area, and over 1m in 'sub-economic' seams of the old Waipa Colliery.[23]

The beds are in a graben and dip gently N or NW. Major faults strike N or NNW and minor faults NE.[23]

Glen Massey's coal was known of by 1867, when it was suggested a tramway should be built down the Mangaohei valley.[4] However, seams closer to river transport were available, so no significant exploitation began until 1907.

Between 1914 and 1977 about 3.5m tonnes of coal were dug in the Glen Massey coalfield,[24] as follows -[25]

A 1976 estimate said 30,000 tons might remain in the coalfield, but a 1984 report suggested it was too deep for economic opencasting.[25]

Waipa Colliery about 1917

In 1907 a request was made to transport coal by motor vehicle[26] and, in 1908, the Ngaruawahia Dairy Association took 3 tons of coal a week from the seams that were to become Waipa Colliery,[25] during a strike at Huntly mines.[27] A start was made on a tramway in 1908,[28] soon described as a light railway[29] for the Co-operative Coal Co Ltd, set up by 3 farmers,[30] soon renamed Ngaruawahia Coal Co Ltd.[31] and merged into Waipa Railway and Collieries Ltd.[32] An adit into an 11 ft (3.4 m) seam had been started by 1911.[33]

The China Clay and Porcelain Co Ltd was formed in 1924 to export china clay and make bricks, tiles and bathroom-ware. It probably only made bricks in any quantity.[25] It went into voluntary liquidation in April 1930.[34]

Te Akatea bushfire in 1911

After confiscation in 1863,[9] the area was next mentioned in 1879 as not belonging to the Waste Lands Board.[38] At Te Akatea, in 1887, a village settlement of 22 families was formed.[13] An 1888 report said, "I determined when opportunity presented to see if the solution of the problem here was to be a success. These settlements extend from Firewood Creek to within 7 miles of the Hot Springs, and about the same distance from Ngāruawāhia. The land being of fair quality, consisting of both bush and open fern land. They erected 12 timber houses, felled bush, sown grass, orchards, gardens, fenced, grew wheat. Around this settlement 20,000 acres of Government land are now being surveyed for settlement."[39] Te Akatea post office opened in 1889.[40] The first mention of Te Akatea in the annual sheep returns was in 1891.[41]

At its peak Glen Massey had a general store, butcher, post office (replacing Te Akatea in 1914),[42] hall, church and a fire station.[43] The medical association had 120 members in 1919[44] and 90 in 1920.[45]

A 1919 Board of Trade report described Glen Massey's poor housing, saying it, "is totally inadequate for the needs of the workers, and overcrowding exists. In one case, a miner, with his wife and five children, is living in a two-roomed cottage, and in another ease there are five persons (three children) living in two rooms. At least 10 roomy houses are required for immediate needs. The huts provided by the Waipa Company at present have no fire-places or water tanks, and both these necessary conveniences should be provided."[46]

The village also had a sawmill, brickworks and a pottery. The butcher closed in 1962, the store in 1967 and the post office in 1984.[25]

Glen Massey on the day the railway closed in 1958

By 1886 there was a route between Waingaro Landing on the Raglan Harbour and Ngāruawāhia via the Waingaro Hot Springs.[43] In 1888 it was still only a bridle track and the settlers were asking for government employment on the roads.[39] By 1929 it was said to be in "fair order" and metalled. Road improvement is being carried out.[47] relief work on the road.[48] inspected by minister.[49] The road from Ngāruawāhia to Te Akau was sealed by 1976.[13]

In 1921 Bob Gibb of Ngāruawāhia took over the mail run to Waingaro and Te Akau and cream run to the Ngāruawāhia butter factory, with a solid tyred International.[50] Daily buses ran from 1930[51] until between 1958 and 1961.[25]

Derelict house

The first school in Waingaro was opened in 1892. Education was for 3 days, the other 3 days of the week was given by the same teacher at Te Akatea. Te Akatea School was renamed Glen Massey School in 1914,[52] when the church was moved across the road for use as a school, a marquee was erected and the permanent school opened on 1 February 1915.

Glen Massey School is now a state full primary (years 1-8) school,[53] with 5 classrooms,[16] 6 teachers, a principal, a deputy principal, special needs teacher and 2 teacher aides.[16] Pupil numbers rose from 58 in 1915 to a peak of 146 and 4 teachers in 1957, falling to 64 in 1960.[16] The school had a roll of 107 as of March 2020.[54] In the 2018 Education Review Office report, a third of the students were Māori.[55]

A private telephone line was being planned in 1914,[56] though a public phone was provided that year[15] and arrangements were being made for a line in 1902.[57] The 1905 estimates had provided for a line from Ngāruawāhia to Waingaro,[58] on which a loss was reported in 1907.[59]

Electricity supply was investigated in 1925[60] and, in 1930, it was said a line to Wilton Collieries and the village, "would be undertaken as early as possible".[61] Electric street lights came in 1936.[62]