Pioneer in Pahiatua

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14041, 17 December 1938, Page 11 (Supplement)

Pioneer in Pahiatua

1S MR. T. FOUHY

MEMORIES OF AN EARLY g SETTLER.

Shrewd ability ai a farmer, a kindly brogue and a great fund of reminiscence about the early days of the Bush district—these are the characteristics of Thomas Fouhy, one of the few survivors of the pioneering days. Mr Fouhy was preceded in his arrival in this district by only two living residents of Pahiatua— Messrs J. I). Wilson and J. D. C. Orewe—and during over fifty years of file here he must have derived considerable interest from seeing Pahiatua grow from a ragged settlement in undeveloped country to its present position as the centre of a prosperous farming district; and. be it not forgotten, materially helping it to grow.

Born at Glanworth, Cork, Ireland, Mr Fouhy came out to New Zealand on h’s own 53 years ago, while still in his teens, travelling in the New Zealand Shipping Co.’s vessel “Kaikoura” on her second trip to this country. During his first few years in New Zealand Mr Fouhy's occupations wen many and varied, and for a time he was occupied in Canterbury in nav vying, harvesting and kindred work, coming to Masterton in 1886. He remembers being at work on road construction at Achnnga at the time of the Tarawera eruption in 1886, and recalls how the sound of the explosion w r as heard all down that coast. Mr Fouhy came to Pahiatua on September 20th, 1886. arriving by coach from Mauriceville, where the railway ended at that time.. He fcund here very primitive conditions in the voting settlement—duckboarded streets in total darkness, with pedestrians carrying lanterns, fnd no roads or bridges off the main road. For three months he was engaged in bushfelling in what is now the Ballance district, this being the first bushfelling undertaken along the Mangahao.

After a few years of contracting work, until 1892. farming eventual-Ixtt-lainied Mr Fouhy, as it did so Dwhy who came merely to open up the country for settlement. He began at Makomako, where he remained some seven years, later taking up his present farm at M a rim a about 38 years ago.

There he has entered very widely into tlie lit * of the district, having been on the Domain Board ever sh oe its formation 25 years ago. He was also a member of the School Committee for over 20 years, and his crowning work for the Marima district was his part in the erection

of the Marima Hall. He was among those who formed the Hall Committee, the first of the local groups to erect a hall, which was done entirely by voluntary subscriptions end voluntary labour. He has been the secretary and treasurer of the

Committee for 33 years, and still holds that position very efficiently. Mr Fouhv has also been patron of the Marima Football Club since its inception three years ago in public service Mr Fouhy is not lacking, having represented the

Tararua Riding on the County Council for the past twelve years. He stresses the fact that during all his association with the Council he has found the members very easy to work with, everyone doing his bit most conscientiously, and the County is, he considers, extremely fortunate In it > representatives. Up to the time when the County horses were sold, he was on the Horse Committee of th i Council. Mr Fouhy can well look with pride on the days when he first came to Pahiatua, and it is not everyone vho can Jay that there is not a river in the county which he has not crossed more than once at the risk of bis life, as indeed everyone had to do in those days. Mr Fouhy is impressed by the tremendous number of changes in the district end can realise the difficulty experienced bv the younger generation in hiis time. He attributes the progress of Pahiatua, which from small beginnings has eclipsed the older and wore important Woodville and Eketrhuna, to the fact of its central position and to the good country amund it. Pahiatui, in his opinion, is mak-

ing more progress now than at any o her period, owing to the greater lr crease in productive activity and the more ambitious and permanent type ot building that is replacing the makeshifts of previous years. I here is, he says, no re tson whv Pahiatua should not go further still, and coming from one. who has spent most of his life in the district. and who has bound up his life 2nd work with it. this is an excellent omen for Pahiatua.