The "Strait Gate"

Ohinemuri Regional History Journal 33, September 1989

The "Strait Gate"

By C W Malcolm

Scripture enjoins us to "enter in at the strait gate", strait meaning "narrow". The early entrance to Paeroa was by both a straight and narrow way. Early photographs of Belmont Road before the railway came present a long narrow vista from where the Post Office now stands almost to the Puke Bridge, for Belmont Road was a straight continuation of Puke Road. The coming of the railway broke this direct line by a couple of near right-angle bends and a level crossing.

When the railway station was moved to its present site, Hill Street which was continuous from Puke Road to its summit was cut into two separate parts, the western half being renamed Brenan Street and the two linked by a footbridge over the railway tracks.

So the railway divided roadways, necessitated new ones (Taylors Avenue), and gave one its now inappropriate name, Station Road.