Progressive Wellington.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume X, Issue 23, 10 June 1893, Page 542

Progressive Wellington.

THE WELUNGTON-MANAWATU RAILWAY.

ITS INCEP HON—CONSTRUCTION—PROGRESSION— By ‘INDEX.’—No. V.

CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE. was fulfilled by the construction of the railway, the highest meed of praise must be given to it as a promoter of settlement, both directly and indirectly. Let the reader bear in mind that it is only some seven years ago since the last trip by means of Cobb’s coaches was made along the lonely beach stretching between Faikakariki and Foxton, a distance of some fifty miles. A truly dreary journey it was, nothing to be seen but the sea on the one hand, whilst on the other the view was shut out by high sand - hills, with the exception of an occasional peep at the forest clad hills beyond. The only variation to the monotonous trip was at Otaki, to which place the coach turned in to take up and set down passengers, and then returned to the beach again, after affording the traveller a glimpse of the goodly country awaiting occupation. When nearing Foxton, the passengers were generally asked at the river ferry to look back upon the view of grand country to be seen from this point, and which they had been passing all day (but hidden from sight), spreading away for miles and miles in all its grandeur, like a vista of the Promised Land. Tn the seven years since that last coach journey was completed the Company have sold (as stated in my letter which appeared in New Zealand Graphic of May 27th) 85,425 acres of rural land in farms varying in size from twenty to two thousand acres. The settlers who, with their families have taken up these lands, have fallen, burnt, and cleared the bush on a very large portion thereof, sown it down to grass, and stocked it; and where some seven years ago standing bush prevailed, it has given place to fenced fields, orchards, and gardens, comfortable homesteads, and no lack of thriving sheep, cattle, etc. Parallel with the railway line, and branching off at all angles therefrom, well made roads show up in all directions, the districts through which the railway passes having excellent means of communication thereto. It is beyond question the well-thought-out plan for the disposal of the Company’s lands had a very great deal to do with the rapid and successful settlement of the country. Every possible facility was given intending purchasers to inspect the land—the terms of purchase exceptionally easy ; amount of deposit required small, and the rate of interest low. Then again no burdensome conditions were imposed on purchasers. And mark the splendid results of this commendable policy. Ont of some four hundred purchasers (mil/ one failed to fulfil his engagement. Many of the sections, of course, have changed hands since the first sale took place, bit such transactions have always been at a good advance ; and in the great majority of such cases, with

a view to the acquirement of larger areas in the same neighbourhood, or in the back country. Of the seven townships established by the Company along the line, some have, as a matter of course, progressed much more rapidly than others. But the sites in each case have been well selected, and it is only a matter of time until they all become centres of population. The Com-

pany still retain a large area of land for future sale, all of which has been surveyed and sub divided by well-graded roads which afford access to the various sections. As a matter of fact I believe the survey of those lands which still remain unsold was completed long since ; but the inspection and passing of the plans has been delayed owing to the Survey Department being short handed. It is satisfactory to know however, that all the plans have at length been passed and approved, and I believe it is the intention

of the Company to bring these further blocks of land into the market at an eaily date. I may add that in the vicinity of the Makerua Swamp (already referred to) now being drained by the Company, upwards of five thousand acres of good level forest land has been reserved. This, together with the thirteen to fourteen thousand acres of swamp land being drained, should by-and-bye, when offered for sale, afford a further splendid opportunity for the acquirement of first-class agricultural land. No better country, with regard to both soil and position, need be desired than what exists in the vicinity of Shannon, Tokomaru, and Levin, in which neighbourhood the land just referred to is situated. In conclusion I would say :—Let it be remembered that duiing the four years or so occupied in the construction of this line tbe city of Wellington was benefited enormously by the Company’s expenditure of nearly three-quarters of a million sterling, and that, too, at a time when the other principal cities of the Colony were suffering severely from the effects of the then prevalent depression.

Every owner of property between Wellington and Wan ganui, and tbe very large number of persons who have, since the opening of the line for traffic, made their homes on the West Coast, have been afforded ready access to a port of shipment and a capital market for their produce, and in many instances the value of their property has been trebled. A very considerable area of land previously almost inaccessible has been occupied by a large and industrious population, greatly to the benefit of the colony and the various local bodies through whose districts tbe railway has been constructed. Indeed it is generally admitted that no other work carried out by a private company has conferred such vast benefit on the colony. Only those persons who were acquainted with the country between Paikakariki and Palmerston North prior to the construction of the railway can realise the full extent of its advancement from unoccupied land, in many cases untraversed bush, to its present prosperous position. Population on the land served by the railway has more than doubled ; and from a list of 137,900 acres of land held by Maori owners at the commencement of the railway, a recent examination shows that close on 40,000 acres are now cleared and grassed, and of the large area sold by the Company over 50,000 are laid down in grass. With such a magnificent district as a feeder to tbe railway, its population obtaining its principal supplies from Wellington and there finding a market for its produce, the additional commerce caused thereby must largely add to the prosperity of that city. And at the rapid rate at which settlement has of late been progressing the Empire City must continue to benefit in an ever increasing ratio from the impulse given to its trade and commerce by a district so naturally favoured, both with respect to tbe quality of its soil, climate, position, and means of communication. It is asserted that the value of the unsold Maori lands along the line has increased since its construction to an amount equal to the whole cost of the railway, while tbe money value to every European settler between Wellington, Napier, and New Plymouth, of cheap and easy means of communication with the capital of the colony for goods and passengers can hardly be estimated. Wellington may well be proud of possessing such public spiiited citizens ; and the line itself and the splendid tesults that have attended its construction suiely constitute an objict lesson of an enduting character, what

self-reliance, unswerving faith, and indomitable energy and perseverance can accomplish. The example set to their fellow colonists by the gentlemen who undertook this great work and carried it through to such a successful issue is a grand one. It demonstrates that the judicious expenditure of large sums of money in reproductive works must prove greatly advantageous to the whole community, all classes being benefited thereby My task is now finished, and although confining mysell to a mere outline of the Company’s history, it has

already extended far beyond what I purposed when I commenced it. Many are the interesting incidents in connection with this Company’s formation and early difficulties that might be given, and much remains to be said respecting the districts it passes through. To me it has been a pleasure to give a general outline of the great work accomplished by the construction of this railway, and some of the difficulties that had to be overcome in connection therewith, believing, as I do, that the same will not only prove of interest to readers of the New Zealand Graphic throughout New Zealand, but also to many of its subscribers tn Australasia, the Old Country, and elsewhere.