FROM THE ARCHIVES
Every week the South Waikato News delves into its archives to see what was making the news 10, 25 and 50 years ago. This week we found stories on a visit from the New Zealand Warriors, an increase in dog attacks on people and a tornado causes damage. 10 years ago Warriors enjoy trip to Tokoroa July 24, 2002 Tokoroa’s ‘‘ strong league presence’’ proved a major drawcard for New Zealand Warriors Shontayne Hape and Monty Betham.
The duo was in town for the afternoon last week as part of the Telstra Premiership Rugby League promotional tour dedicated to grassroots level rugby league.
Hape said they decided to include Tokoroa on the tour after hearing about the popularity of the sport.
Hape, who is sidelined with a knee injury, said he loved visiting small towns and Tokoroa and Whangarei were the highlights of the tour for him. He said he was flattered by all the attention and enjoyed mingling with the kids.
The 21-year-old winger has signed a two- year contract with the Bradford Bulls and will leave for England next year.
Betham, who gave an impromptu motivational talk to the children, said it was something he liked to do.
‘‘ It’s good for inspiring young league players,’’ he said.
‘‘It’s about getting to grass roots and rural areas and I always enjoy the (visiting part) of it.’’ 25 years ago Growing incidence of attacks by dogs February 5, 1987 The number of attacks by uncontrolled dogs on members of the public has reached new heights at Tokoroa, say police.
And they say they may step up Court proceedings against owners whose dogs are dangerous or a nuisance, in an effort to curb the problem.
Senior Sergeant Gordon Glossop said that so far this year police had investigated more than two com- plaints of dog attacks each week.
The police comments are the latest developments in a long running saga of problems with stray dogs in Tokoroa.
Senior Sergeant Glossop reported that the worst incident had occurred in mid-january when a woman had been bitten by a Doberman Pinscher, one of two guard dogs that had been let loose in the town centre.
He said that charges were pending against the owner of the dogs for allowing a dog to attack a person and for failing to register the dogs. 50 years ago Tornado causes damage estimated at £1000 at Taupo Totara Mill March 15, 1962 Damage estimated at £1000 was caused when a tornado cut through the Taupo Totara Timber Company’s mill at Tokoroa last Saturday afternoon.
Some debris was thrown for about a quarter of a mile across Mangakino Rd and into a paddock.
An oddity was that no timber stacks were moved although the cover of one was lifted and blown a distance of about 150 yards.
A 60x20ft shed was lifted from its foundations and fragments were strewn over a wide area.
The debris caused extensive damage to another mill building about 50 yards away.
Sweeping from the south the tornado lifted the planing shed and spread corrugated iron and timber over a wide area without, however, damaging the machinery.