A SHANNON SCHEME

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 147, 23 June 1915, Page 11

A SHANNON SCHEME

Mention has already been made of the possibilities that are latent in the hills at the back of Shannon of proem-ing, at a comparatively small cost, a supply of electrical power which would suffice not only for the flaxmills hi the locality, but also for lighting power for towns over a wide area. This power could be obtained by harnessing the Tokotnaru and the Maungamahau streams, which, a mile or two back in the ranges, have a very big fall. A strong agitation to give effect to this proposal was afloat in the lower Manawatu in 1910, and was temporarily taken up by the Palmerston Chamber of Commerce and by the Flaxmillers' Aesociation, Mr. Gunning, of Shannon, being the moving spirit in the matter. Just previous to that, time Mt'. &»£«»! .the jiuci} Uaycuuujuti Uu<

joint proposals were thrown out, to allow things to remain^ as they were. When floods came part of his land suffered with the rest. He accordingly went in for a Bcheme of < stop-banks. These, erected at comparatively small cost, are now completed, and the land is well guarded against inundation. It is remarkable what a difference this work has made to the- property in. its carrying capacity. With the assurance of the immunity from floods the lower levels have been clearer, and, comprising as they do the finest river deposit land, they have yielded enormously under the plough. The result is a. big increase in the value of the property. The plea of the settlers has heretofore been that it would pay the Government to help with any scheme to confine the river to its channel, because of the extra taxation the improved properties would yield. And here is a settle's ipjuj4& sf $Mt eft"- k dyu^

on their horses in riding costume, formed a striking contrast. The day was fine, and everything looked bright. As evening approached, however, the pleasure was gone ; a cloud of mosquitoes swarmed over the land, so dense and so tormenting as to drive us half crazy. I have seen mosquitos in many parts of both the torrid and temperate zones, but those of Manawatu far exceeded any I have seen elsewhere for numbers,_ if not fierceness. They are large! blackish, and sluggish . . .»: In 1846 they were unbearable .... The next morning we were glad to start for Wellington, Col. Waketielcl having concluded his purchase, which, however, bore no fruit for many a long year." The area Col. Wakefiekl v as seeking to secui'e was the large block covering the Manawatu. THE FIEST SETTLEMENT. Tim Hottlemcnt of "Boston waß in its utfaucy vt'heu Mr* .Crawford paid. 14s

laid out, and started on its career with a population of about 100 soula. FIRST COACH SERVICE. ; In the early seventies, the regular coach mail service along the coast, between Wanganui and Wellington, the only land communication between Wellington and the north, in fact, was inau-' gurated, and added considerably to the importance and progress of Foxton, which was on the line of route. Then a link was made by tram-line with Palmerston, which, in turn, was connected by railway' and road t with Wanganui. foxton was the terminus of the railway, and the natural stopping-place for passengers travelling overland. The flax industry was also, about this time, greatly developing. In 1870, Foxton sent its first representative to the Provincial Council, Mr. E. S. Thynne (afterwards proprietor of the Manawatu Herald), and Mr. Walter Johnston was elected member for the district in the House of Representatives. THINGS MOVED ALONG. As settlement progressed in the interior, activity at the port of Foxton increased. - Timber and flax were largely exported. Things moved along very 'well until the opening of the Manawatu Railway, with its terminus at Longburn, instead of at Foxton, as originally intended, when the town had a strong setback. Later, the flax trade boomed healthily, and for a time Foxton was one of the soundest towns in the country. Foxton was constituted a borough in 1888, when the population numbered 700. About this time there was much general trafficking in land, and in the vicinity of Foxton 'one or two largo blocks were purchased by syndicates at from 5s to 15s per acre. The Douglas Estate was acquired at 5s an acre, land which now brings over £50 an acre, and which includes the present thriving town of Rongotea. and the valuable dairying areas in the vicinity. There are still ai-ound Foxton large blocks of land, the subdivision of which is likely to be urged upon the Government at an early date. Since 1888 Foxton has moved slowly, depending for prosperity mostly upon the flax trade, which has backed and filled considerably in that period. Fortunes have bpen made and lost by Fu^tonians jvkg turned $o tho jaduatry A '

would all be served with cheaper freights if the Foxton port were made reliable. It is an improvement "that mu6t' come. " The cutting up of the Moutoa Estate has considerably assisted development. In 1903 it was purchased from the Assets -Realisation Board by Messrs. John Stevens, Easton, and Austin, who had it surveyed and offered at auction. Practically the whole of the land fit for dairying has been sold, and only the flax > areas, about 4000 acres, remain. Various mills cut the flax on these areas, and pay royalties, which are based upon the High Commissioner's report. These royalties have \ averaged .from 3e to £1 per ton, and have not been excessive. The estate was originally about 9000 acres. Twenty-three different owners, occupying the 5000 acres which were sold, bought from 9^ acres up to 1000 acres, but I understand the 1000-acre holding has since been resold and cut up. The prices obtained by the syndicate at the original sale ranged from £10 an acre. Three creameries are now supplied by the settlers on the Moutoa Estate, and many sheep and cattle ai-e grazing there. There are two large estates surrounding Foxton, one of which is the Himitangi block of Maori land, the cutting up of which would greatly assist our advancement, particularly as there seems to be a demand for land hereabouts. _ " One evidence of our prosperity lies in the fact that six or seven years ago money could not be borrowed at reasonable rate on Foxton properties, but now the Advances to Settlers Depart, ment, recognising the stability of the place, have loaned to most people who have been erecting houses. Round about hei'e -the mills employ about 500 hands, and the rope works , over forty. We have two large flax-grading and wool stores at the wharf, erected by the shipping companies trading here." MUNICIPAL ACTIVITIES. The population of Foxton is now about 2000. Its gas works,' which were purchased from the promoters for £11,000, are municipally owned, and gae ia cold at 10s for lighting purposes, and 7s for cooking. A loan proposal of £3000 was recently carried for extending tho capacity of the works. Lafct year the cas works came within £70 of paying interest and sinking fund. The town owns also a Town Hall, electrically lit, which cost ,£3OOO. For a time tho municipality jajß ita own. p.icture. enterprises, and

Along the river-bank, a, little above the wharf, are eneconsed six flax mills, all of considerable capacity, and at present working at high pressure. They draw upon the flax up tho river, which is brought down by a fleet of email river steamers, owned by Messrs. Levin and Co., who have been the chief port' tradess with Foxton for many 'years* The green blade is placed upon barges, between two of which a steamef"i& warped, and is hustled down to the mills. This traffic extends as far . as twelve miles np the river, the navigation of which is safe and easy at. all tides. Each day about 60 tons of green flax is brought down to the mills. Another 30 tons is brought down by, rail. The mills operating on tho river • bank are owned by Messrs. W, Bock,' J. Rose, W. Scott, the Cordage Com*' pany, W. Ross, and A. King and Co. Close to these is the largo block of buildings comprising the up-to>dato rop« and cordage works of Messrs. Ross, and Sons. It would surprise many ' people to see the quantity of up-to-date ma« chinery employed in this factory, an<fc, tho extent of the output. SEASIDE RESORT. At the Heads, four miles from the township, and served by an excellent road, a colony of seaside residences has in the last few years sprung' up. Thur is a popular resort in suitable seasons 1 for people in a wido area of country,' extending far inland from Foxton. The' cottages are largely owned by Palmers* tomans, who also have launches on the river. In the early forties, near this' spot, stood the Wharangi, Hotel, famous' among the travellers up and down thei coast for its hoepitality. It was at thisplace, in 1864, that Dr. Featherston met the Ngatiraukawa chiefs, headed by' thakara and Honi Meihana, and nego-' tiated for the Upper Manawatu block of land. To this hotel ,also was brought ' a half-murdered pedlar in 1868, with the news that the Hau-haus were on the warpath at Oha\i. t a report that spread, consternation in the district, though no' disasters followed. Nowadays few cvi.-' deuces remain of those stirring times. , But the locality has its history. With an improved train service, and with a system of week-end excursions, the popu-' larity of the Foxton Heads will bo greatly enhanced, and this place is certain to become the chief health resort of a district holding a population of 50,000 people* * " '