Shannon's Early History Reviewed

Chronicle (Levin), 15 April 1948, Page 3

Shannon's Early History Reviewed

Speaking at the AprU meeting of the Shannon Patents' and Teachers' Association last Monday evening Mr. R. J. Law, a well-known Local resrdent, outlihed the early history of the district,' especially that of the area around the lower reaches of the Manawatu Rivei . Most of his information had heen obtained by Mrs. Law and himself over. a long period of years ^froni Maoris and early white settlers, said Mr. Law, the majority of whom had long since passed away. Among the most intei'esting and instructive • tasks which -he ha'd undertaken had been a thorough exploration of tne lower Manawatu, with the object of locating the many Maori pahs which -had once existed on the river banks between Shannon and Foxton. With the aid of a large scale map, Mr. Law t-hen proceeded to pomt but places of interest on the river, which he said had been the centre of great activity during Maori times, and which, until comparatively recently, ha'd. been a major transport route'. In Maori times about 4000 people had lived on or near the: river. On either side had been swamp lands and towards the ranges almost impassable f orest. There had ,he * thought, been about 36 pahs along the river. Poutu was the main pah of this district, with lesser ones existmg m small -clearings in the forest. To these latter pahs the Maoris would retire in times of danger. Three main tribes live'd in this district, they being Muaupoko, Rangitane and Ngati-Whakateri, though he had heen told that anather tribe lived in the area north of Tokomaru iand stretching past Palmerston' North. In the early days of the Pakeha settlement, the beach was the only road to the north from Wellington, and a ferry existed near the Whirokino cut. An hotel and stables ha'd been built ""there to bater for the travellers. Mr. Law went on to say that he thought that the earliest settlement -in the Manawatu was at Paiaka, Where Kebbie Bros. .opened a.null in 1855, in which year a great eai'thquake occurred and the mill and "small .village were wrecked The people then shifted further down the river aiid re-settled at Foxton. In the '40's a great -deal of wheat was grown in the district and grinding mills were built at various points. Tlius the river had heavy .traffic when the food was trans--ported- down stream and.thence to Wellington. At Te Maire/ which the speaker remembered as a beautif ul lagoon, 'the Rev. Duncan had fbrme'd the hrst Mission Station " in T842, and for many years this was a great trade centre. Bishop Hadfield, With the aid of Maoris, built the Maori Church at Moutoa in 1869. This church was later rebuilt. It was interestihg to- recall that at Ruapoho, near Mr. Jennings' property, had been the temporary resting place of the Maori dead. The bodies were place'd in the trees there for a period and later were taken away to a permanent burial place. Today, when the river was no longer used for transport, it was interesting to recall that wheat was once shipped up the Mangaore (Otaru) stream to a grinding mill, which was situated where Mr. P. Cole's house now stands. The Shannon Wharf was, in those days about 40 years ago, situate'd near Mr. Prier's property. There was also a wharf at Koputaroa, this being used when the metal, sleepers, etc., were brought up for the construction of the railway. This railway was completed in 1886. In 1889 the first school opened with 15 pupils and the first store was opened near where Mr. W. Gardner's house now st/ftiids In concluding his address, Mr, Law state'd that the Manawatu was, in his opinion, among the best land in the-Dominion, and its future as a progressive centr,e was assured. He added that his researches into the history of the river had. been a source of much pleqsure to him, and he expressed the hope that more people would take a'dvantage of its beauty, which he described as being in certain places equal to anything to be .found in New Zealand. ,