User:Johnragla/Oringi

Oringi railway station on the Palmerston North–Gisborne line, opened on 22 March 1884, to serve a rural area south of Dannevirke, in the Manawatū-Whanganui region, with 165 people (2018 census) scattered over a 30 km2 meshblock. The station closed on 27 September 1981, though milk continued to be carried from the dairy factory until its closure in January 2015. The branch to the factory has since been lifted, but a passing loop at the station site remains.

History
''The area was part of the Ngāti Raukawa rohe. '' Oringi was a clearing near the south end of the Seventy Mile bush. Contracts to clear a line, 66 ft wide for what later became SH2, were let in 1871. ''Sawmills were set up as soon as the line opened. had a mill at'' By 1879 Kopua and Makatoko viaducts had been completed, except for ballasting and Ormondville Viaduct had been begun. 3 miles of the line through Matamau was surveyed, ready for felling of the dense bush, and south to Oringi, another 10mi was being surveyed. Beyond Oringi the line was being explored and contoured.

From 1887 Oringi was a flag station with 2 trains a day. It was shown in 1891, still with 2 trains a day. It didn't appear in 1897 adverts.

''By 1896 there was a shelter shed, platform, urinals and a passing loop for wagons. In 1898 the loop was for wagons and further lengthened in 1911 to  and 1940 to  wagons. Cattle yards were added in and railway houses in  and. ''

''1 December 1884	Reporting extension of Napier line to Tahoraite is ready for opening. Mon, 15 December 1884	Tahoraiti – Matamau Section opened for traffic. '' Oringi opened on 22 March 1887, when the 15 mi Tahoraiti (later Tapuata) to Woodville section extended the line from Napier.

''A Royal Commissioner reported adversely on the Napier line extension to Woodville, which stopped until the end of 1881, except for a few short lengths for unemployment relief just before the 1881 election. Mangatawainui viaduct, between Makatoko and Matanui, cost about £8,000. In the middle of 1883 tenders were called for this portion of the line, but the contractors failed and the Government took over. Joseph Jay & Henry James Haines had won the Tahoraite contract for £13,615 on 8 June 1883. Haines put the failure down to unusually bad weather. The engineer from Kopua to Tahoraite is Mr J. T. Carr, who has been assisted by Messrs J. Fulton, H. F. Moody, and D. Ross. The principal bridge contractors were Messrs Proudfoot and McKay, of Dunedin, Joseph Saunders, of Wellington, and H. M'Kenzie and Co., of Dunedin. Mr Glendinning, of Napier, was contractor for the permanent way. The excursion train at the opening of the extension carried about 500. On reaching the terminus there was a large assemblage of settlers and Maoris. Several carriages conveyed those who desired it back along the road to Allardice's Hotel which was the nearest place for dinner, 4 coach loads went to Woodville. ''

''1885	Tamaki Timber Coy – asking permission to connect tramway with station. Use of Tamaki Timber Coy's siding by Wilding & Coy who leased the tramway. 1887	Proposal of McKay & Coy to lengthen siding. 1896	Level crossing at Gammon & Coy's sawmill near Tahoratite. 1926 Vacuum Oil Coy's lease of part of railway reserve at Tahoraiti and use of siding. 1943 Proposed private siding and stacking site – Public Works Department.''

''Sat, 29 January 1887	Re: opening line from Tahoraite to Woodville for traffic. 14 May 1887	Goods shed is being removed. When the buildings have been removed Tahoraiti to Dannevirke, recommends Tahoraiti be rated as a flag station. On and from Monday, 13/6/1887, Tahoraiti will be flag station and Dannevirke will be opened as a booking station, with stationmaster. 6 July 1887	Stationmaster's house shifted from Tahoraite to Danevirke recently. 1887	Removal of store. 1888	That cattle yards at Tahoraite be removed to Oringi. By 1896 shelter shed, passenger platform, urinals. Loop 26 wagons, backshunt 15 wagons (north end). 1896	Recommends extension of siding. 1898	Loop 54 wagons, loop 34 wagons, backshunt 11 wagons. 1904 loading bank.''

''Mon, 11 February 1889	Petition in favour of exchanging names of Tamaki and Tahoraiti stations. 5 April 1889	From the same date the present Tahoraiti siding will be called the Tamaki Sawmill Company's siding. On and from April 8th the name of the Tamaki station will be changed to Tahoraiti. Tahoraiti has been an official name since 1939''.

Saturday, 20 November 1886	Re: station and quarry at Oringi.

Tuesday, 28 August 1888	That cattle yards at Tahoraite be removed to Oringi.

Saturday, 26 July 1890	Suggests removal of cattle yards and goods shed from Oringi and erection at Matahiwi.

Monday, 11 August 1890	Application of J Whitaker, contractor, to take ballast from pit at Oringi.

Wednesday, 1 July 1896 shelter shed, passenger platform, goods shed 30ft x 15ft, loading bank, urinals. loop 26 wagons, 1898 Loop 33 wagons, 1939	Approval for loop to be extended to accommodate 80 wagons (on account of heavier locomotives in use) and to provide a siding for the new stockyards. 1947	Alterations to stockyards. 1950 Approval for loading shelter at north end of yard. 1951	Tender of A R Morris (Morris & Longman), Woodville, accepted for loading shelter. 1952	Shelter completed. 1963 Approval for an extra siding to be provided; alter loading gauge to enable DA locomotives to pass under; move loading bank to south side of goods shed; and extra lighting. 1980	Stockyards closed and removed. Monday, 24 August 1981	Closed to all traffic except private siding traffic.

1896 83 miles 36 chains from Napier. 1904 28 miles 33 chains from Palmerston North. 1943 28 miles 32 chains from Palmerston North.

1897	Application by Palmerston North Sash & Door Coy for a tramway crossing over railway line at Oringi. 1901	Application for a private siding – Totara Sawmill Coy. 1904 backshunt 11 wagons (Totara Sawmilling Coy's private siding), loop 18 wagons (Palmerston North Sash & Door Coy's private siding). 1905	Private siding of Totara Sawmill Coy lifted. 1913	Siding to be extended by a dead end to hold 20 or 30 vehicles. It is required as the Defence Department will be holding two Brigade Camps at Oringi, and will be larger than previous camps. A second backshunt has been put in, and the loading bank (for horses) has been lengthened by 40 feet. 1936	North backshunt to be lifted. 1955	Bulk lime and fertiliser sites, with siding access, for Tamaki Co-op Dairy Coy, approved. 1959	Re-instate backshunt that was lifted some years ago, for Fieldair Ltd, for top-dressing fertiliser storage. 1981	Approval to provided a private siding to Pacific Freezing (New Zealand) Ltd's freezing works and close yard. 1981	Revised proposal for yard sidings: crossing loop to hold 75 class UK wagons, 2 No sidings to hold 25 class UK wagons each.

1919	Ry houses. 1949	Houses Nos 32, 52, 67, A1097, A1308, B417.

Due to a reduction in sheep farming, the 57 ha freezing works closed in 2008, with the loss of 466 jobs. The works has been converted to a business park for Scanpower (Tararua's electricity distribution business) and other companies, employing about 200. Fonterra's milk factory closed in January 2015, when production was transferred to its enlarged Pahiatua factory.