EARLY MANAWATU

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 102, 30 March 1929, Page 2

EARLY MANAWATU

MR MURPHY’S IMPRESSIONS. Having been associated with the early days of Foxton, Mr J. J. Murphy, of Kogarali. Sidney, is visiting the Manawatu district after an absence of nearly 50 years. Mr Murphy remembers clearly the seaport township in 1878 with very pleasan't recollections of old time friendships. Back in 1878 Mr Murphy was connected with the Hon. G. W. Itussell and the late Mr J. It. Itussell, when he joined them on the Manawatu Herald, at Foxton, on which paper he served for some time. The township then consisted of four general stores, three hotels, the principal one being Whyte’s, afterwards destroyed by fire and rebuilt, and two blacksmiths’ shops. Shipping at this period was small and there was not a great deal of local activity. The bulk of the land iff the vicinity of Foxton was owned by Maoris and was leased to the white people. Those conditions, however, are all changed now. Importance was attached to the seaport Dy reason of the fact that it was the railway' terminus, from which trains left to carry passengers and mail to Wanganui. Mail transport from Wellington to Foxton was more or less of a difficulty, remarked Mr Murphy, the coach taking 10 hours to do the journey, with relays of four horses at Paekakariki, Waikanae and Otaki, the average rate of progress being about seven and a half miles per hour. In the Moutoa district there was a little farming carried on, and the Maoris from Otaki and Horowhenua used to bring produce into the stores and occasionally sold fish on the beach. Flaxmilling, although it had been commenced in earlier years in Foxton, was then not in operation, and there were only two streets in the port—Main Street and the Avenue.

Coming to Palmerston North in 1880, Mr Murphy was connected with the late Mr J. P. Leary in his printing establishment, his first task being the production of the electoral - roll. Mr Murphy states that he considered the Square to be too large for tho town in those day-s, but after his absence, and tho progress made, he is of the opinion that it is a wonderful asset to the town. In the early days, the land in the vicinity of Palmerston North was very heavily timbered, states Mr Murphy, and the. cost of clearing it was considerable. Draining operations were commenced and tho opening' up and settlement of tho land started in earnest. The land proved to have a great producing capacity and rapid progress was maintained in agricultural pursuits. Later, Mr Murphy left- Palmerston North to take up a position in the Government printing office, from where he left to join the staff of the Sy r dney Morning Herald, with which paper he served 44 years. Since his retirement from business, Mr Murphy spends most of his time on the bowling green, and is a member of tho St. George Bowling Club, Ivogarah, Sydney. With Mrs Murphy, a tour of New Zealand is being completed and the couplo arc delighted at visiting the Dominion after such a long absence.