EARLY SETTLER PASSES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 10114, 23 October 1917, Page 5

EARLY SETTLER PASSES.

MR ANDREW JONSON'S EXPERIENCES. The death of .Mr Andrew Jonson, of Foxton', which removes one of the oldest settlers on the Manawatu Coast and One who was identified with the early days of Foxton, was mentioned in Thursday's issue of this journal. The deceased gentleman was born in Falkenbcrg, Sweden, and at the age of 12 years Went to sea. After spending many years in sailing ships, and surviving a number of perilous adventures, Mr Jonson--camo to New Zealand. In a sketch of his life, written some months before his death and published in our Foxton contemporary on Saturday, the late Mr Jonson said:—"At 25 years of ajre 1 decided to come to New Zealand, and wo sailed in the good ship Elcctra (Captain Mowlem, late of Palmerston North), bound, for. Wellington in 1866. In that, year I came to Foxton and started cabinetmaking in " small way, and later on opened a small store in Main street and did fairly well. In '7l I■• started a store in Palmerston North, and was appointed agent for the first immigrants who came..out." At this time there was only a track, from Foxton to .Palmerston, and it was such bad travelling that it used to sometimes take a day to get from Oroita Bridge to Palmerston. There was oniv one-hotel in that town, and it was kept by Messrs Cole and Stanley. A few months" after, Mr Snelson opened a small store, in the Square, and also took a hotel lease,- which was shortly afterwards carried on to the Royal Hotel. I had always to make the journey on horseback. 1 then ;built a .boat capable of carrying two tons,'and used to cart goods to Moutoa arid take them by water to a point near Palmerston,. afterwards carrying the goods : on my back to Palmerston Flat. 1 was very lucky, having no accidents until the ' last trip I made. Coming down I had three passengers aboard, Messrs Ilalcombe (Government Immigration Officer), Bramley and Lawrence, and also two of my • men. I had passed all the worst places on the river, when Mr Ilalcombe offered to steer while I got into dry clothes. We had not gone far when the boat struck a snag and capsized. Mr Lawrence was drowned, while the other two passengers swam ashore. My two men and' I hung on to the upturned boat for two hours, until rescued by the Maoris. 'I then gave up business in Palmerston and came back to Foxton for good, starting in my trade again." Mr Jonson's business was a sash and door factory, -and this he carried on at Foxton for many years. Mr Jonson early recognised the possibilities of Manawatu Heads for a sanatorium, and built the first house on the beach.