Thread: Reminiscing in the Ruahines

Originally Posted by Sika 8

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Green is DOC land (public)
Not green is private….

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I remember reading a Philip Holden book as a young fella and it mentioning a rabitors hut on route to his block, always wondered if this was it? It’s in what’s called “Rabitors cottage reserve”

Had wondered if that was Bruce hut, obviously not….. the mystery continues!

I have never heard of the "Rabitors cottage reserve" but from those photos it looks like the Miracle biv, it goes back to the culling days !. A neat spot

Originally Posted by Sika 8

Thanks for that!
Still the hut I am talking about is on DOC land surrounded by private….

If you look on that map i put up ,on the left hand side just to the left the word Patea there is a hut marked there . That is the Miracle biv, it goes back to the culling days and is still used by Mokai station . Its called a biv but is more a hut . I would say that's what you are thinking about!!

Here is a link to a photo of the Bruce hut, which eventually fell into disrepair and was removed. The hut in the Rabbitor's Reserve is known as the Miracle Hut, the original can be seen in this link, it was also removed and Mokai Station replaced it with their own structure in later years.
https://hutbagger.co.nz/huts/bruce-hut, https://hutbagger.co.nz/huts/miracle-hut-old

This is such an achievement and one for those great memories! Must have been absolutely thrilling

I think my mates dad John Bruce had something to do with building that hut.
He is 92 now.

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Originally Posted by andyanimal31

I think my mates dad John Bruce had something to do with building that hut.
He is 92 now.

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Yep, turns out he was one of the builders.
Funnily enough he has had couple of people come see him to rewrite an article on it.
Rex Garnham a pilot from aeroworks dropped the iron in by fixed wing.
I'm going to get a couple of photos.
The current owner of Mokai station I know very well and been meaning to go to the top hut for a gander.
I have done a bit of fencing and advising for her and it's a pretty cool farm!

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