A TRIM LITTLE TOWN THE STORY OF SHANNON

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 147, 23 June 1915, Page 12

A TRIM LITTLE TOWN THE STORY OF SHANNON

ON THE EDGE OF T,HE SWAMP

PRESENT-DAY PROGRESS

'" Ifcfc tEe «arly forties, when a few of the more venturesome Settlers left Welling ion to 'penetrate into the interior wilds, Some made their abode at Foxton, and Others moved farther up the Manawatu River to tho vicinity of Shannon, where they established a small community. A little while after came two missionaries, one of whom was the Rev. James Duncan, and the first missionary station in the district was at Te Maire, near the present township of Shannon. "Here for a time was a thriving Maori settlement. Not far down the river was the settlement of Paiaka. A crude barter was carried on with the traders and whalera in pigs, flax, pota toes, and wheat. The land was highly productive,, and yielded rich harvests. Much of the wheat, which was grown by the Maoris," was ground at the KebbehV mill. ' The Maoris proved industricfus husbandmen in those days; the soil in its virgin ■' state ' required very little tillage, and often was prepared for the jseed wheat by the rude method of^ turning it over with the native greenstone Adze. JPlax-dressing, however, was the staple fn&ustry. It was. carried on' 'almost en-iir-eSy ,by .the Maoris, but so industri•fcusfy, if laboriously, that large quantities Were able to* be exported to Australia; and 'the finer quality was extensively employed in the manufacture of rope and twine. , At ,Moutoa, weavers set up au establishment and worked up the raw material. In those days a pig or a blanket Vas the equivalent, says Buick, for naif a ton of flax, until the Native was' taught by the missionaries the value of figures and calculations. Those were the days when Dr. Featherston declarai in the House of Representatives that Manawatu " was the only stay of Wellington;" But he was speaking of th 3 future, AN OLD SETTLER. There- is now living at Shannon Mr. tiTosb.ua Wood, who was born in the year 1842, and whose merWy carries him back to the days of his settlement near Shannon ia 1855. His home is f on the banks of the Otauru Stream, which ruii3 a hundred yards to the north of Shannon. He remembers five flourmills which once operated hi the district., One wa£ at Porotawaha, two at Otaki, one at Wainni, and one at Shannon, and all ■were driven by waterwheels. The Maori inhabiting those parts was of a very fine type, says Mr. Wood. Their canoes plied op the Manawatu River for considerable distances, and white traders - also used this method of keeping in touch with the numerous pas along ths banks in the interior. The river wa3 virtually the .only highway connecting the district" with Foxton and the outer „ .world. But Shannon did not really become established as a township until tho arrival of the Manawatu railway in the latter eighties. Heavy forests covered -the slopes from the Tararuas to tho broad belt of uninhabitable swamps, and, though one or two sawmills were operat- - ing, -and increasing in number as time [; -went on, and the demand in Wellington for timber became greater, still there , -was no great effort at clearing the bush , for extensive settlement. There also jyas no highway overland to Wellington. WHEN THE RAILWAY CAME. But when the railway came the locality gr6w into a township, and became one of the connecting places with Moutoa and< Foxton. Then sawmilling boomed; the township grew, and later, when flax ■went up in price again on the Home' -market, this industry, with the fine areas of flax in the vicinity, grew into importance* ■ The first evidences of dairying showed -•themselves about 1890, and in 1894 a creamery was established by> the New ■ Zealand Dairy Farmers' Union, and • another at Tokomaru, the cream being shipped to the company's factory at • Wellington. Schools were established at both centres in 1893. -'-About this time the Manawatu Farmer, "S£ 'small paper, made its first appearanc-3 at Shannon, being published by Mr '"W. C. Nation, and it figured largely in ' the General Election of 1894. uater the ' paper became . merged in the .Levin Chronicle, whert Levin spurted ahead of ' the more northern centre. The Shannon Racing Club, which had a fairly^ successful career, held its first meeting in 1896. LATER PROGRESS. . ; Fifteen years ago, said Mr. W. H. Cunning, principal storekeeper of Shanpon and Tokomaru, and an influential tesident, when talking recently to a Post reporter, the swamps which now supply 'the mills round about Shannon were all practically under water during the greater portion of the year. _ All the land virtually between the railway and the Manawatu River, from_ Shannon np to Linton, was swamp, as it mostly * is to-day. t The Manawatu Railway Company, which owned the land, could not find buyers for it, except small portions on the outskirts of the swamp which „ could easily be drained, "until Dr. Chap pie and Mr. Plimmer acquired the whole block on the western side of the railway. A few drains were put in, and soon the beneficial result was noticeable in the rapid and more luxurious growth, in parts where the'drains operated, of th^ flax t leaf. _ The swamp, however, was considered in parts to bs below the level of the Manawatu River, but the owners secured the services of Mr. Breikeil (who afterwards dealt with the Piako), and the task of extensively 'draining tho swamp , was put in hand. Several hundred men were engaged, and main drains Were opened up, and were run down to the river. While thoroughly exploring the swamp, Mr. Breikeil discovered a large block of land, of at least 1000 acres, in the centre, rising several feet above the surrounding level,' which, although not of outstanding quality, was good agricultural land. The clearing of the swamp gave flax millers a better chance of cutting the flax, and the industry went ahead and •largely replaced the Sawmills which had at first supported thfe district. Then iMessrs. M'Nab and Kirkcaldie purchased interests in the swamp, and improvements continued. A good many of the outlying sections were sold for farina. Messrs. Seifert Bros, had also bought about 4000 acres for the stipply <jf their flaxmills. But the higher land surrounding Shannon and Tokomaru, said Mr. Gunning, and much of the swamp land, if pleared. was of gach. gxcellent quality

that even if the bottom fell out of the flax industry dairying would support the district and hold its future assured. There is land in the swamp that would not sell for £50 an acrei - Certainly, floods at times inundated large areas, but they were becoming fewer and fewer, and, besides, experiments with stop banks along the Manawatu River were proving successful. THE DISTRICT'S MAINSTAY. "At present," said Mr. Gunning, " the flax industry is the mainstay of

this place, with its rapidly increased population. The farmer does not circulate his money among the business places to the extent of the mill employee. Most of the trade we do nowadays is a cash one, and that is what contributes more than anything else to the prosperity and progress of a district. I have had experience of both classes of trade." The carrying capacity of the land around Shannon and Tokomaru ia above the average. Settlement has been pushed into the mountains, but there the quality of the grazing is not so good. A bridletrack runs through tho ranges to Eketabuna, which emerges on the other side of the hills at the Sterling settlement, about eighteen miles from bhannon There is a fair amount of settlement along the line. According to Shannon settlers, one bar to the progress of Shannon is the high rates of freight. There are some lines of goods which can bo brought via steamer to Foxton, and thence carted across to Shannon, cheaper than they are carried by rail from Wellington. In this way the port of Foxton, ooor and uncertain as it is, contributes not a little to the i cheaper living in the contiguous district. " Freight on the railway on sugar/ aaid MrA Gunning, " and on kerosene, for instance, is 39s lid, and on sugar 35s per ton. I was at a, disadvantage with the Foxton storekeepers if I paid this rate, so I determined to avail myself of the Foxtoh port. I made representations to the Manawatu Railway Company, and they lowered the freights to 25s a ton to compete with Foxton on the items named. That was ten years ago. But when the Government took over tno railway they went back to the old rate, and we have to pay that- now, or ship via Foxton. We adopt the latter course, and most of the supplies of tho articles named for the whole of the Manawatu come via Foxton, because the Government will riot carry them at a reasonable rate, even though the freight trains often run half empty. It is a pretty heavy tas upon the necessaries of life in a small /rising community like this to have the rates of carriage so high. Centres like Palmerston do not pay so much because they have terminal rates." For somo tune Mr. Gunning had hi-3 goods brought by boat to Shannon. His wa3 one of the few experiments in tho utilisation of the Manawatu River as a trade highway. But he found that the river altered its course a good deal, and was treacherous, and the distance from Foxton — twenty miles— was rather a ban dicap, besides which the lack of wharfage facilities for landing the goods was a disadvantage if the banks were muddy. He therefore reverted to overland cartage from Foxton. In time there might be an opening for river traffic if the thing is

properly undertaken, but it is problematical, with the advance that is taking place in motor transport, whether it will pay. PRESENT DAY PROGRESS." A great deal of building is going or. in Shannon, probably more in the last twelve months than for any other period This applies also to Tokomaru, where the roads also are being greatly improved, and footpaths formed along the lines of trim little shops. To Tokomaru, i it might be mentioned, come many trout fishers, for the waters of the Tokomaru are well stocked with fish. \ An imposing brick building for the Bank of New Zealand has just been erected at Shannon, and the town boasts of a substantial new brick poat office, two public halls, a regular picture show, and a remarkably well-stocked library. There is a progressive spirit in its citizens, who, if their population were large enough, would , form themselves into a borough. But they have scarcely yet reached the 1000 mark, unless they include too unwieldy an area; but they are hoping they soon will. The Horowhenua County Council "administers their public affairs at present. They decline to form themselves into a town board, preferring to bide a wee, and assume the greater dignity when they are able. Then they will institute a water and a drainage scheme, bringing their supplies from the adiacent hills. In their minds, also, the citizens carry the possibilities of the utilisation in the future of a fine body of Water with a tremendous fall

only a few miles away in the ranges. An expert opinion has declared that there is sufficient power cheaply available here to supply the wants of the whole of the surrounding district, and in a centre of so much mechanical industry this is a possibility not to be lightly put on one side.

on the right of that a profusion of gardens planted with most of the finer shrubs and flowers, and, winding in and out, a lake. Deep enough for a boat to sail upon it, extending in graceful curves for 500 feet, crossed by mstic bridges, and growing a pietty crop of waterlillies, this little waterway is a most delightful featuie of the general landscape scheme. Artesian water, of which the district yields a plentiful quantity at a depth of 45 feet, keeps it supplied. In time, the gardens rOund about will produce a mass of colour and foliage. Placed further back, at the side of the house, is an elaborate concrete fernery, which in time also will become a pretty feature of the decorations ; and, standing unobtrusive in convenient corners, are rustic summer houses and quaint elevations for creeping ornamental plants. At the back of the house are other arbors, shrubberies, and gardens. The paths are asphalted, and the front fence designed on ornamental- lines with massive iron entrance gates. The whole Elaborate scheme of decorations is most effective. A ROMNEY BREEDER. Mr. Tanner's name is well-known over Australasia in its association with the breeding of Romney sheep. "I Keep only purebred Romneys now," he remarked to a Post interviewer. "You will not find other breeds on the place. They are. all stud Romneys — about 700 breeding ewes and their progeny, and to keep the land fresh I run a number of cattle, and

plough and crop. Of course, I could carry a great many more sheep than I do, only it would injure the quality of the pasture. By following this plan everything keeps well, and there is no sickness among the sheep. The crop£>ing also pays well. It is remarkable land for oats and barley. There is nothing in New .Zealand to equal it. We consider tho crop a poorone if the oats

AS GOOD AS ANY. Sir. Tanner said that he believed his flock of Romneys was as good as any in New Zealand, taking it all round. He has shown at all the principal shows in the North Island, and has always come out very well. He has usually come next to Mr. Ernest Short, who is the leading breeder of Romneys in New Zealand today. While Mr. Short has taken the championship in rams, Mr. Tanner has generally won the female championship whenever he has exhibited. "I have had only two importations," said Mr. Tanner, "for I find that they give us constitution, but not wool. Otherwise, I have bred all my own." It is well-known that Mr. Tanner'B Romneys have been sent to all parts of Australia, the Argentine, and the Chatham Islands. He has no difficulty in disposing of all he desires. SELF-CONTAINED FARM. Mr. Tanner is a farmer who believes in having his farm as self-contained as possible. The place is ostensibly well provided with machinery. He does his own threshing, straw pressing, and chaff cutting. Whereas hired appliances cost him nine or ten shillings a ton for chaff cutting, he does it himself for 2s lOd a ton. That sum, of course, does not include interest on the machinery, but making all allowances of that description the cost per ton to him is not more than 3s.

A good illustration can be given of the remarkable abundance of the Kairanga growths. Three years ago Mr. Tanner had the place ? as he thought, well stocked in the spring, but the grass grew so prolifically that he had to add another 400 bullocks , to eat down the extra growth. There were then only about 400 acres in commission. One paddock has been cropped eleven years and

made to and from stations distant. This saves considerable handling. The line links up with the Government rails at Hinn'tangi, and for the few miles between there and Foxton the county is able, through an arrangement that has been arrived at, to use the Government line to the wharves. Along the route of the light line are stations at convenient centres, and grain and wool sheds. This convenience, in fact the whole line, is appreciated the more .as time goes on and -the district develops. Even with the advent of the motor vehicle the railway has been a great factor, and more so now than ever, in promoting rapid progress. This district exports grain very extensively, and the _ line affords the means of cheap and rapid transport. The line also gives the district the means of drawing supplies cheaply from -Wellington, by utilising the Foxton port, and the cheaper direct steamer freights; and if the port were more generously; treated by the authorities, the convenience of a regular system of steamers would prove a still far greater advantage. A SHORT CUT. One .of the movements that ha-s been afoot for some years in the district is to adapt this route for a short cut for the Main Trunk railway, which would leave the present line at Levin, cross to Foxton, and then continue on to Greatford by easy grades. That, of course, would skip Palmerston North and Feilding, and would leave an awkward connecting link to be made somewhere with the Napier and Wairarapa services. The scheme, outside its own particular advocates, has not found general acceptance, because of the belief that the gain would scarcely compensate for additional expenses, and advantages in other respects. It is not proposed to refer further here to that proposal. • But there is an allied question ' in which the district is very considerably interested, .and which has come' seriously before the Government, though* nothing yet has been done^ It is a proposal to have the private line connected with the State line either at Greatford or Marton. The proposal has come from the settlers of the district, and from the County Council, who, -no doubt, would bear the expense, but the Government has not yet seen its way to agree. The idea of thoso who make the request is that settlers would be able to connect with the north Main Trunk with regard to their produce, and goods which they in, their turn require, and that it would be a great convenience to be able to run the trucks on to the main line without having _to tranship as at present. A gap exists of five or six miles; the line has been extended beyond Sanson, to the Rangitikei River, the reason for which was that river metal could thus .be cheaply obtained from the county roads. The gap could be cheaply bridged. WHAT A DEPUTATION SAID. Not very long ago a large and influential deputation entertained the Hon. W. H. Henries in the Manawatu County, and in the course of an excursion along the- "tramway" line,' showed him in a practical way what considerable advantage it would be to the district to have their dream realised. Incidentally, it might be mentioned, that that same evening at a banquet at Marton the Minister said, in the course of a speech, that not even in the Cambridge District had he seen better land than that through which he had just passed. It had been an eye-opener and a revelation