Kirk ’ s Farm , Kopeopeo in 1915 ( within the circle ). Map : Whakatāne District Museum & Gallery ( Map 1915 )
In 1907 Thomas Kirk purchased about 40 acres of land bounded by Kirk Street and the Whakatāne River for the sum of £ 1200 34 . Later ( 1912 ) the Māori Anglican Church purchased 26 acres adjoining Thomas Kirk ’ s land and fronting Bridge Street . ( In 1907 , Stewart Street was described as ‘ a track extending to a little beyond Garaway Street .’*) In 1912 Mr Kirk bought a piece of Harbour Board leasehold land for £ 15 / 10 / 00 and from 1916-1929 was a part owner of Kirk & Carter ’ s butcher shop - “ Purveyors of First Class Meat ” - located on this land at 60 The Strand . Earlier he had established at least two “ creameries ” producing both butter and bacon . One was on the Whakatāne -Tāneatua Road ( the 1908 Arawa Dairy Co ) near where the Water Treatment Station now ( 2011 ) stands , and the other on the Rangitaiki Plains . This one is generally regarded as the forerunner of the Rangitaiki Plains Dairy Company ( established 6 September 1915 ). Thomas Kirk was on the Whakatāne Town Board from 1914-1916 and from 1917-1921 he was a Whakatāne Borough Councillor .
* Even as late as January 1924 , after the new hospital had been opened , the Board felt it necessary to send a second strongly worded letter to the Whakatāne Borough Council stressing ‘ the urgency of proceeding with the formation and metalling of this [ Stewart ] street .’
34
CR Kirk , “ Whakatāne in 1907 ”, ( Historical Review , Whakatāne & District Historical Society ,
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