Ohinemuri Regional History Journal 4, September 1965
By HIS WORSHIP THE MAYOR OF PAEROA
The year 1965 marks the completion of fifty years of Municipal Government in Paeroa. It has been an eventful period in which the district has gradually emerged from the old mining days and despite a few serious setbacks the town has made commendable progress and appears now to be firmly established and in good heart. At a time like this when we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Borough our minds automatically go back to the past and to the men and women who worked so hard to lay the foundations for the progress we see about us to-day. Paeroa has produced some outstanding citizens in the past and all honour and thanks are due to them for their efforts, particularly for the establishment of a beautiful domain in the centre of our town.
We know that progress is not achieved by leaders alone; it is the ordinary citizen, coping with simple problems, adding to or improving his house or place of business, subdividing his land into building sections, mowing the frontage of his property, and taking part in local organisations who work for the welfare of the town. These are the people who contribute greatly in making our town a better place in which to live.
The people of Paeroa have very good reason to feel optimistic concerning the future outlook. The town is centrally situated in the fertile Thames Valley, and has four main Highways radiating from it. It has also one of the largest Transport Operators in New Zealand running a daily freight service between Paeroa and Auckland. With the establishment of another three factories during the last two or three years Paeroa is achieving industrial importance, as well as being the business centre for the thriving farming community beyond its boundary.
May I express the thanks of the Council and our citizens to the Publishing Committee of the Ohinemuri Regional History Journal for their efforts in placing on record some of the events of our past. With appreciation of such knowledge we can move forward to even greater progress in our next fifty years.
E. W. LEE.