Mighty Oaks #40 (North Otago) Traditional Cache
Mighty Oaks #40 (North Otago)
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(micro)
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At the end of 1918 Dr Douglas suggested that an oak tree with a plaque bearing a soldiers name be planted for each of local heroes who had fallen in the Great War. He proposed that along the sides of the roads single or small groups of trees be planted at intervals of 1 mile. The original scheme had trees radiating from the junction of Wansbeck, Towey, Orwell, Severn Streets and Aramoa Rd radiating in a star formation, reaching south to Shag Point, inland to Livingston, up the valley to Kurow and north to the Waitaki Bridge. The idea was wholeheartly supported by both the County and Borough Councils.
At the inception, 400 Oaks were planted in North Otago district. As time passed little was initially done to maintain the trees except for a little attention around ANZAC day. Power wires, telephone lines spread into the country and when the trees started growing into the wires, the trees came off the worse. Roads became busier and wider, bends were straightened and water tables dug deeper. The trees suffered. In the 1950's people’s consciences were reawakened and small groves of oaks were planted at Alma, Reidston, Glencoe, Hampden, Kakanui and Ardgowan School with a collective memorial. As the years went by, the surviving oaks were still subject to unwanted attention by work crews, floods, droughts, winds and disease,- these all took their toll.
During late 1997 the Memorial Oaks Committee was established to "protect and preserve" the remaining oaks which were considered "historic’ and a unique feature of North Otago. It was decided that simple concrete crosses with engraved lettering would be the most durable for the future. Funds were raised and over a period of 6 years some 222 new concrete crosses were cast and placed near the foot of the remaining trees.
This series of caches will take you along many of North Otago’s country roads where the Mighty Oaks still remain as a memorial to some 367 servicemen and women who made the ultimate sacrifice during WWI. Most of the caches are traditional but a number are puzzle caches set along the trail which you can find by gathering the required information as you travel from cache to cache. These (6) puzzle caches will also hold information for you to find the final "bonus" cache. (visit link)
Sadly this Oak tree has been recently removed along with the soldiers memorial cross.
The inscription did read Pvte W G Munro France 1918
This cache is a small pill container with log only. BYOP.
Note to find Mighty Oaks #42
N = Last digit of year that this soldier died.
S = Sum of the letter in soldier name and initials plus 1.
Used data provided above or image Oak 40
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Cbyr