WANGANUI PAST AND PRESENT.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 663, 13 November 1909, Page 12

WANGANUI PAST AND PRESENT.

■J ■ 4 ' THE OUTLOOK FOR FUTURE. ' A COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL CENTRE. ' l ' HISTORICAL ' SKETCH. REMINISCENCES OF EARLY DAYS.

% T\ho \ie\\ Wnngamu to diy , , with its "fiiio plantations, parks racecoiuse, nnd such municipal (piteriinses (ii>,cloctuc turn ,njiys, gaswoiks, public, abattoir , ope a hou*c, awnnming b-\ths, and and so'ionso Bj-ioms, Tvoutd Wltf ;imgno that scanty years a,!O tho placo was, a wilderncs In thnt stventy yitirs, \\ai pa«sc«l thiough a baptisdi of blood It has been tho scene of *«ch atrocities as tho Gilfillan mn«sacio by thb Maon« in 1813, it *as braicgcd by tho Natives for two months ijl 1817, when, tho r population of tho placo had dwindled from JO lo 110, it foiiKht the Little of 8t John's Bush against tho Mrtorii in the sanio jear, in tho , 'iiTtiqa it nas one rf the BiincipM basM of dporations in tonndction mth anotliei iiaori *ar, and in 18bt vas, oiil) saved fiom u »a" iiuasion bv fnendlj , flho resisted the Wdvaneo ot the fnnatics iipon the Jslanu ot ' Mouton The foieyoing aio onb special in rt-tnees in a tiqublous time, which lasted at intends through a period of over twentj < VeaTS PibneerlUg in those dajs was somewhat •' Intdcr work than it is notti t l Moutoa Saves V/anginui , Mr James Garhnd Woon, an old 1 're idont, formerl} postmaster and «o lle^ or , ol . Customs informed a Doldacrt >«>[f^ n T , i the other - ddy that ho considered the peliod Jl mmedfatoly fat* dmg tho battle of Moutoa tho the most critical &ud thrilling in In lecot " lections of Itew Zealand history. Mr, Woon ras born.at Hofaaiiga, in 1838, and aS a boy of 4 seven years he remembered the incident o Heko cuttrtK down the British flagstaff at Mr conelders, was only a circumstance compared -ftith , * The Moutoa trouble, for bad tho Hauhaus, who were supposed by manj of the Natives to bff mvulnera'blo ffom shot and shell, hkefl VTannonm, there was o%ery reftsnu to pellovc ' that there would have followed * .e«*wg t- massacre of white pcuplo throughout thei Wei' " litigton province Tho Hanlnus, howevfer, were badly beaten, and in tnrn.weio chased ■ by the Bi.Hsh'ftiul fficndlj I 1 Pipirikl! a'ho Arouto* monument, efodted W i ! the province of Wcll»B8ton in honour of tlic a Save Natives who fell in "defence of law and order against fumtJcism and barbarism, con films Mr Woon'fe btatement of the gravity of the situation This monument, repress litirtg i seeping goddess carrying a eUaplet, stands m the pretty Moutoa garden, in whioli; has also been plic-d » itotue of John BnllanCe.

<■ then at \Vangantn, where Mr ' James Sarland AVoon succeeded h.m on h,. D s%° l Ua h n>Tf l i WoorT rectfftnts the summary wanner in «hich , - I mSfflS Were executed. They were cap ' tured, tried by drumhead dourtWial, and ' sentenced to bo hanged. Hanged they v, re al- , i moat immediate y Jollowmg the sentonce, by one Captain Leahy, J wbo af tert««s sent a vn« I sage to GPvernor Grey at Wellington asking huh if he thought that tha porpotratois ot the tJagedy should .<UF«r the o X trem6 penalty * < of the law. At fihe sain* time, the bodies at , tho four hanging fcom He ' ' iliwstatt on ground, nhwlaat ' lrtlsent overlookjjrj&utoa I'arL Luckily >ta Ueorge Gtey decMedHhnt the nlett should b<! " executed,-and this decision saved, a Certain ' amount J>£ trouble which fttherwise might ha« . arisen through tho captain'n summary act.nn Kofemng also to the iptuer A Charles f, Uioughton, Native interpreter, by *he Maoris ' / in 1805, Mr Wo(,n says tiiU Brougliton *as inveigled into a pa, *hort, hs he was lighting is pWhe was- tftirtAhWMd frpm belund by a Native "ffangann llad a \ory gay time Ui the late 'suties The place was trans \ formed into a big military camp and a hading 1 district, and tho people made much monej They received another shock, howovr, in BGB, when,tho town was again threatened, this time by Titokoiura ' This barbarian uas cleared ' n"ht out of the from "Wanganui to New t Plswouth by General Chnte This practically ' ended lie war, sP far as Wabganui was con I earned, and 'in 1871 Cobb and Company', coaches ian through to >.ew Plymouth.

Stoam»r Traffje. 1 Ships and the sea have a strong bearing on the prosont and future progress of Wan^nni The Wangsnui River, it is said, is aJ large ' as the English lhnmes, and it is the tysh ot every Watiigamn man to make his river follow - in tho footsteps of tho eld river , A bar at the mouth of tho river Jβ at present ah ob < staole which impedes the progress of hrgc N eteamers, but it is expected that thisi trouble ' , Trill have been cleared away during tho next few years The rjvot\ls navigable as 1 far ja f Taumarunui, but there k not a great deal of / steamer tiiffio on it the land on the baiils ot the river being mostly in tho hand" of the Maoris feettlere in tho vicinity of the river have long endured the of no roads It is a. Baying with these pioneers that the bovoTMicnt feeds tho tourists at the etpen c *' of,tho settleis Tho State, hoover, has again promised to male tho Parana Road Pjowjlj tiafflcable Uhis thoroughfare mil cohnece I> , Uanganui *ith Raotahi, and ml ™ dOTbted '>. ' ' be a great business, gam to tho toun and i "ho o first steamer to inako her uoy up the Wanganui finer was the Wbm» TVanga (103 \ tons, Captain A Kennedy) 'ihn was iu 180/, t< and her nrmiil created tremendous excite I mint in Wanganm In tho nest, eight years I this vessel was follov ed b. sucU steimors aa \ . the ladybird, Winßinui, Boototera, /Jliuui), 1 i and tho Go\Drnnient stoje boats Stuit, Ltrni, and Gundagai 'Iho Lvl>iriJ ind Luna finished usotul careers ns coal hulks iu J\ol lingtou harbour In 1877 the steamer fleet in chuUd tho Hun btormoird Stananatu, Oreti, Mon, Chailes Edv,atd Murraj, am Kennedy r ' 'llnrtj two jeirs later, n-unah in IJOB, the li-t bhll included the Oceti Alo; Uα.a Storm bird, lusnnedj, nul al«o Ihe Ilolmdilo Ripple, Eegala lvapiti. I'uti! i, UiraU, Ger tit, llinntttni,i, Akxapder, Aripawj, Jane ; Dougln-i WootOß, DcJetider, Ro\) Roy, Waimca, f' Kirlpaka, -md tho hhirtrocl and rhi?Ue two i ' lirhter? owned by tho Wanganui Mcit lreoz i ing Company In addition to this llcot, ocean } tumps of ID 000 tons or moie lie in tho road fctoid and tft'ca in fro/on cargo In these dajs Wantanui, with its numerous industrial enter 1 pn ei and general goaheadhess, is not surprised !' nt the coming of IO.DOOton boats It will possibly b<. ]ust the name -whon in the next twenty yours the mails will be delivered by aviation mpins from Welllhgton-a two hour 1 trip—but perhaps even then somebody will grumblo at the allcgdu itJsl tiina on tho ]our

■s^r*li^'Ojhe-^^ngo'nu('^Ml)ibui-i& ■J%;i ; .'.^coinple^; , '->nonld->fnHlieirv'ihprei(so;: , llie"''t_rone |K'-s : ft '.'of.-thr town; , ':-Tlie-prinoibalAofVthese.Jis'.the. M& fe-constructiOnScifiiwoles;,' witlvfthe^dsA-'of, prev P" : kX'je'hfi]ie- ; '-a!» ; mufih::o3:ipossible; any sil'ins-.iip : .sn rtts'./to'- glvo' a depth , ¥$■&-<V of from 16 : to^Ojfeeti';-THs;wit,•■ which, is ur.-; Wm'A "deft ■■> the- vsriDerint? nuence ■;<,- air llr.. C.-- U. N - "i); ! -HowoTth^C.E.;'>«lll : ::ciost;-abput .£53,000, nndsMi&;ii• ncit' ;: expecM >to / Jbpv completed : ' -for another @;i ; «v: : is now. bemß . ;i^w^tena«d."iinbther;-C2(i:feet.- for-further berthas &H? '•■vafcommodaUonifiv.Thei.cost;:willi^e -betwwn W'figiOQO' Mi -nml #^^flnished^.by v -tho -eiid/.6f,-."tlio- year. V, Therein ;f?fiv;theri : forjfour K-^ ; '-Xre;VesselsA^/rho; ; present whnrf..Mrhlch wan p%fe;buJlßS»/i : replaced :T wnarvcs.^hiohrwe« -■ ill, Vogue; in ¥t he VBoard ; works, .wero p> x>; '-Iftitiatod- The-.ilu«sHon :of -improving the. apN i^?*SS^rmie",riVer':nearKtho, .totw:'is; i no te?^;§' H bP-6ne° ; soon ■ WS^?Sion?:d|<aho^arb™r;;Board,and V.-li-Hi- Vrtfli*'!, i- It ,-iigf, proposed . to,•/ build,;,- another ps«:i^ a t?over;:whiohi:the. | ,raitway;lme,loads^ 2 The. m --1 -prcsentsifon^ brito^was;; crecWd■„in .1872, at .K>t : ; i■: vs££ ;; V c a Vi 'lfa Vessels, -witli':ii>nct r .tonnagd: t i:;-'.-' estine At-this point to rufcr; to.the.timo.wben ■:k^V:: : -th"?.\faW M !:«:■• iv'^his■;was in ; ;18«;-.and-tho^^^^fevX' pg;- ■'] ; ;-;-Dp ; ;tho

'Ca'tlierino: Johnsoni a 15iton cutter, owned : bv Mf. AV. Hogg'Watt and Captain Taylor.. Those' pSbplfl eventually "owned a bailing .fleet ■•of-six vessels, "namely, , 'the'.Lady Dciiisoii (250 tons), Sea Gull (90 tons),-Tyne (31 tous), Venture, Koscbud, -and'..Governor-. Grey. Messrs Watt : litld Ttiylof .fcay : :ttell -be\ tho '.'.fathers of ./Wanganui shipping." The followiri" figures give aii" indication of ..'the, growth ()f°tlio .AYftngaflui shipying trade, since lS92 :— *'■■ Tear: ■?"■■ ; . ; '■-■ " • '■ ■■Vessels. ; Net tonnage. '; :)892 3=B ■-..-?■• -58,325 w :.v ;; IMS ■ : -.i;.,U.;..;.u.U:....!>~ ' -.: U2,857 .:■' ■ : 1900 W : : ■:120,228' >:'■• >■ ■■ i«p irf;->vt/.".'"'»."..•.»»»?.■.>.""- •; fiT ß r •■ -,"■' - '-•• 'w&M ■-.'■■■ ■ ':-; M ■'■ Exports.,U/ ■', ~- ■>■■ :-': : . -■' .-Following' is a list;of:the exports for the last: two ■yeai'S:— '■■■.'.-';:'. ;:-..-."■: V .....\-r: : ;.< :;■.". l^tl'HX-^"'-'! ■--' v ! V,: ; - tieneral' , ' "V'-;', "■■'• ■;-.'-' ! ''■•■•■'. ■'':.'■':'' ; :■''.'. -'.'■ '■. : " ■ r: ; :'gd'ods , ;.'-.. , .":'. ; ' : ;4210 tons,'',.;;; 1.028 tons-.; - -" <: "■■'"; ■•'■'' '■'■■.-■■■ '■•' ; - "-''''■'' , ~.''}'. ' ' ■:,■.' "-•coal' V... ■" '.848 toD3 1V ~: 7i6.tons - : . Cattle^ : - ; -.\ :: V::' ; '"v//-, ; '-v - ; -„■'.:;■■ ."'■ ■■■•;.-(liye)'.-:'.«:;Y-1.557 ; ; :v "„<.;'■:'l|B22'.' //.,;;: 'Muttoii-yk.v , '-'"''"-- 1, '. - -'-'--' ■'■■ , .''."• - ; ■'•J' '■■■■■''■''■'■■ : - .-•.''•■•■■ ", (fr.ozen) ; .- A .,^3 J l29,parcasseS '67,102 carcasses lambs■"'/'•".-; : V"'> ■:'.■.'/'' ''. '-"'/■ ' 4 ■•■"■.■;'; '■"'•"=! ; " : -••. ' (frozen)'■''■'•: 58,036 carcasses' , 81,252 carcasses.PigS""^:V::.;i'■■:-':;.,..,..;'^.:,-- k , .~:^k : /- ■;.(frozen) ''~■.230 carcasses '.-;,886-carpasjies; Calves- ■-v-.'v'-. ; ::'' . ■■';'.•:. .••. >-v-""* -*'---.--• ---*i- ; - "•'. '■■- (Frozen) -■."■,;•'45 carcasses. ■ • '..61.carcasses Tinned'-^ K:'- /- / ; ' ■■■■,',':■ ,'.: : " '■ :i, ■■-■:;■:.+■■. ' .■■•M meats-- -■: 1,612 cases .;. cases. , ;; ■Beef':''-^:.- , -' ■■' : '-■:■■■ :.'•;.'-'. " (frbzen)'. '8,817 quarters '. 11,808 quarters : •Mtats ■■'<>''■'-':,■ '■: •■■■'■':■-:. ■:■ '<■.■:■:•■ .-:';/■ .'Xy/Vr . ,(!rozon) : ;■-.; s,lß3 urates/ ■ .'.. 7,79o:crates ;. Euniiers- : J. '~ U casks '.'o , . -Hβ casL-s. .' .TBll6ttanu''V.~ ■-•'.■■'.•:■ . : ; ; •". : ( ;': ; - Vpeltsv:i;; v ; 2,631 casks •••'; 3.135 casks'- : - ; - Hides. ■' .v;-". ; '2,7s7,'sacks . 2,133 sacks ' '.' AVooi:.. ~-;.. -24,990-bales '■-■. : ' 30,408 bales ".'■• .Timber,.., 2,23B,Coo;superft.' 2,531,000 super ft.'. ' increases, in ' the . frozen Mtitton ;. and. .wool. trade give an idea of the progress'which is. 'being; made! !with! these important tries.'::: When -.Wanganvi -.-becomes..' proprly: roaded,"'-and the hundreds of tbousttb'ds of acfe3 ;have -been': set tied; a rwonacrful increase ms\y..t)o-expected in the export-of the primary Industrie^, ■•'■: During; tne last-.': 23 ■ years,;, the ieyetmo Vat.: the port 1 .of )Vangan\ii fids quadrupled.;--;; 'ii-vi,^ ■-"•',!..?-J.■;'■-.■ ;'-\-i,'-•' •:;'■:■';-.:':': ■/..

■;''■■: V;' Municipal.. Ehterprisi!,; ; : / vv.-: ■l'lieto.ls probably/no,Wi ; in New Zealand. 'where municipal! eiiterpriso is more pronounced; .or': , inoro.-BUccessfut..tlian in., WauKiinuii.', .'its ''municipal'-concerns include..electrio"tramways, gasi' 'opera .house, public abattoirs,' .drainage, and water,-and swimming baths.': 'I'hegas'in-, stalktion cost '.£58,000,' and the 1902,'-when' iha council'.acquired :■ the- works, 'have-Wen-about; 's£ll,OOO,:tliis. after; allowing -for interest I 'and 'Sinking 'fund.': :The/.council eharges ss/' per' thousand:, feet .for ordinary use,'and '4s. 9d;. for power ;use. ; 'The electric 'tramway-system cost .£45,000. The. trams-hitve hot been ruhiing twelve, months, but have-mire than paid interest aiid sinking fundi and how they-are almost ■ holding their own. i ■ There /are .'Si- miles ;laid;:tl6wn.:'nowi and there ;ia'serious talk.'of ; :extendiiig";''the.;;-line, to • CnstleclifF; through. Gqhvillo, ■.another, ;fiye ; : mues; from' the Hovrri-.r-The' , opefa'house,',which:cost,'iEsooo, last : 'year' m'ado,' a- profit-of .4240.".: This •■fpregoiug,(idT\ l eV.er,'.'i.a ,; nol;..by,-,any-.lneansv:the.. end M W Mcli>!ato?s.aS-»s,'^fis ;; open- for sij6od ,;, thin^3i¥'ißSi(te^fe;lE^-ctty. > illustrated booklet'(Uß*9f??\sicli.-:teier4,!' amongst other .things Mo. the ■■fact; :that::the:>Wanganui. L Rivqr ■is , larger than the English Thames i that' it is navigable for 1H miles, and drains 2800 square mile's; of magnificent country.' -This- V booklet goes' l ' on ,tp: say , .;' that; thqrfe ■ is 'an' of ..halt., a-' ■iiilliou. act'es ;of. fjch i pastoraL land ■- w;thm fifty , : miles. Of, iWangdliflii end;, as yet fall; in .an; undevel6pod i'etato-r standing: bush.. £ sum -of is> : available : .to; develop,.tho' harbour; /into' one ofitho v iinest:ih'the Southern.hemis-. 'bhere/ Jl Thft-:'towh ■rcserycij. include 300 acres of land in" and around the town, and 2000 acres ■nf'farai'lnnd.. M'ho' rents -for these places bring :.thW'.-tb*» : - in iiom to- .JC3ooe..,',,Tha rates ; are 'mi -!to '■ bo,'tHe}: lowest; in; .New.hZealand.; aastVear'sias' profits of hppUed, to ■a- redufttion of th 6: rates. ; . 'The .booklet -then: : coos'on to refer to the -schools • arid m .■.th^'-Wfl,'' ; iiicWclinß,-. collegiate schools for boys: .and girls,'preparatory schools,, convent, :wid 'Marist'Bros. 1 School, Convent High School, ; ,an'>l Teohnical ,Schooi:? •Bnsinessnnd sport are also ~-toMe'd thatif: SVahSanui'doea. not'flourish'it Will-not be on 'account of rthose who -are- at present;controlling -its'.destiny. .In :another . direction,, thd, : Chamber, of ; Commerce has also proved itself a real ■ live-bodyr by .-'.the-.insistent.'.: manner in •Uvhich,it-has-worried, over, the opening.:up of 'the' ijaok ; 'cpuntry» ,'_/■ ' \-:r : ;-'/ • ;■:.-■.;,■-. :

'-;';^;fA''V;V:'v':-v ; }; Population/. ■;> ; .-; : .'■"}.' rv ;: 1 :.'':-\ ■ 'Weseit borpusli "comprises .1000 acres," >Wth f at! population■ 0£,.950 p; From 'November i,'iht)wever;oit"i9 .'ititendejl. to.-iholude thoi.sub- , iirbJofj-St. John's,' Comprising .another . 400 acres;- , VfitnV.K''popUli\tion, of from; 800 to 600 peopled' It is , also■'iritondidj to inoludo tho.subnrbs ; of -Dnrio. Hill, vToylprvillo/ :>Vanganui ■EftSti'Aranloho/'ftndiGonville Town." AH .these, places ! sharo the ■borough advantages, iand there , is'noW- a'general (idea,.that .all : should be included; in" . Creator -Wanganui. .Should this sirablo- state of .things', come to: pass, the figures ;will be \\ts -follow:— .;,.;.',< ■■■■:)'. ■.-•'■.'...' ■ ■luo.jtKi'^j; , ;",;.;■(!"*.■.'■«:.■;■:;'•'''' '■ ,; ' "Population. p' ■'^Vaiigftntti:.,Viii. : ii..m.!iV...f»'..V.;;'... , .. '' 0,50 Ci V x i; ;cst. iphn's ......;.:..;w.........<.....-i.... ; ' --eso -..-,. • .'."'Durie' Hni'ahd Tixyleirville ..„..', 800 ■■!, : Wanganui- East- : ,L*\«;...i.aii».:... ,,;.4,500 . .-• .■.'i'iAramdhb'f-M.'...i'.v. l ii.-;...M...i. , ... 1 ;..'...-.. 1,000. ' v.\::Gpnyi11e::;>;.v.V".V.....'.^v;....i..'.i.;...... : . .1,000 v.---.'-Thesei;.figures;.ea^Wanganui.people,'will set 'tkei'tl,tofftt fiftht4«oJi':tli^: list of New; Zealand 'towns-aSVregards population.j.r';: ■;;■■.- ,-.-■.;;:■ ■■;,-. i77-'^3-V"'"''.v; ; ---'-,Land :; V'v.':iv:\b- ; '- ■ t'lTOllojring.gives; a ; comparison'.of the annual: lettiligi-" value- of:-the, .borough,, commencing 'frt>|n.-1880, whioh,servo to indicate the progress 'pf;tho tp;vh!-f.-o,vvv/.;h*-....-■'■: ;■•■■■;•■■ ~/,-..■. ';_r.vX,;i~'.. ; "';y.;. :• ..'■;■-/i-■>.-.■■;;;-'.'Aiumal-Letting. ":.■ ■':■ ■A'■.'-'■■''■'■■-' Year . ,''•■''. ."■'.''. '•', ,;..-■.. value. . .''. :' ix-MWxim ':.:.;.........;■....;».. .£36,590 • ,? ; .'■'■■■. "• ;, ';';v,v-<"-1899..'.;;-.;■ ..:;i..:ii... : je«,000.." - : ' iopi).-.>.'..irt<'.i.."..v.iiJu..".' jeoe.ooo.: .;.;r,; : ;:■ ■' Multiplied.by-twenty, these figuros will give the capital' values for ,the : :thrco periods./ The rate-is 25.;5(1. on-the annual letting value. .'. . .a'v'.;'X.- :'y; Pbit.Office;Returns, 1907.; 'V ~;.'-.' ;',-; A 'c6mi|&Ji6on !'of. the 'post offioo 'returns '.for ithe principal towns during tho year 1907 shows linoro than-'fitvoufably' tor AVangahui. The' ifigures'.are.tsyfollow:'-':' :-.'■'.- . .-. : "~ : -. X ;v : '*,; '•'''■ ; ' ; ■' ""■" ;: ' v '■'■•■"■'•■" ,: ""- , n«ven'uc : ' Wellington ... >. i IU 11 G Auckland .. i< .£07,831 18 1} I Chnstchurch . * . , i! 54,161 rSJ < ,Wanganui 18 111 } I)unedin 3 5J Napier < £22,830 11 25 Invercargill ; JJ20.235 6 4

Tho First White Mon. I John Garner, tthoso loiniins lio iiith those of oilier old identities Hi the Wanganui ccrao trry, has been described as tho "l'athei of Wanganui," in that he was tho first or the ■second or thjrd white man uho arrhed in the plaoo 'Ihis was in 1839 It is \cry probablo that there ifcro several aihciituious whites vllo \isited Wingiinui btforb John Garner, and one of these gpntlembn, Andrciv Powers, has mndo lustorj He and four companions, including n ' negro, (tailed tip tho river in 1831, and were i captured by Taupo Natives Two of the Euro resins ivero afterwards cooked and eaten by thqir cannibal ndveisanos, I'ofters was carried a= a slave, ransomed for tnontj-f»o pounds of tobacco by a whitn trader, and then returned to Wanginui, ho lO'ilddd till IB'o, Tvhen he wont hcro«s to the sold diggings in Australia As ho wan then 71 jears of ago, it is probable thai ho died m Australia Amongst earlj settlers in the 'forties wero Messrs J Garner, 3. Alo\nnd(>r ) It. Chlirton, 'I , Higgie, .7 lott, T lockott I M'Gregor, ,T Niton, I VftTkcs J Hiohnrd«, II How, G Hobcrts, Tailor, and Watt A reitienco to WniiKinui hislorv cannot bo sild to be Complete without mention of tho fact that the town had for rnanv ) cars as its r.irliamontarv Topreienhtive John Bftllance, a Ken Zeilnnd Piimo Minister, and was also represented by Dγ, leatherston and Sir Julias VosoL i