Historic toll gate returns to its home after 120 years

Also unveiled at the opening of the Waiohine Bridge on Monday was a piece of local history. The old tollgate that used to bar access to the bridge from 1872 to 1886 has been restored and erected at a picnic spot at the northern end of the bridge, near the cemetery, so that everyone can be reminded of the area's history.
The project to have the gate re-installed there after a century's absence was driven by the Wairarapa branch of the Historic Places Trust, which paid for its tidy up and used money granted by the Trust House Charitable Trust for the plaque that sits alongside it.
Historic Places Trust Wairarapa committee member Shirley Cameron said the gate has had a chequered time of it over the last century or so.
After it was dismantled in 1914, when the just demolished bridge was built, the gate lay discarded in a paddock in Richmond Road, until rescue came in the form of William Howard Booth in 1965, who restored it and gifted it to the people of Carterton.
In the 1980s it was restored again by Mr Booth's daughter and put up in Carrington Park where it sat until the 1990s, when it was taken down again and this time stored at a council yard.
Its next saviour was Mrs Cameron.
"When I rescued it 10 years ago it was in a Carterton works yard, ready to go to the tip or someone's garden development."
She got hold of it before it went either to the tip or to a private garden, where it couldn't be shared, and stored it at her place until a suitable option for it presented itself.
"The whole point is that it will be there for everybody to admire. It's safe and for all posterity."
The toll's first gatekeeper was A.J. Ordish, and some of his descendents were present at the gate's unveiling.
Grandson Ivan Ordish, great granddaughter Melanie Ordish and great great grandsons Andrew, Benjamin and Callum Ordish were on hand to help commemorate the day.
Ms Ordish said to be part of the day was great to be a part of the day, and indeed history.
"It's fantastic, we're dead chuffed to see it back again and part of the history of Carterton."
She said her ancestor had lived in a shanty on the banks of the river, and had to work day and night to open the gate.
Now as people barrel over the new bridge at 100km/h they will be able to see the old tollgate and remember how things used to be.