FEILDING'S FOUNDERS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1779, 18 June 1913, Page 8

FEILDING'S FOUNDERS.

MEMORIAL TABLETS,

GENERAL FEILDING & ANOTHER

Two hondsomq brass tablets, each bearing the following inscriptions, arrived by tho' Corinthic from London last week. Tlio tablots bnvo been forwarded to Feilding, nnd are to bo placed on tlio walls of the local Anglican. Church in memory of two pioneers who wero instrumental in founding tho township.

The Memorial Tablets. Tlib following is tiro inscription on 0110 of the tablets:—

Snored to the memory of General the Hon. William It. A. Fefldinff, soil of tho seventh Earl of Denbigh, who was for 25 years director (chairman from 1889-1695) of the Colonists' Land

and Loan Corporation, Ltd. v tlio fouu-

dcra of this settlement. 110 seloctcd tlio site for this town of Feildiug, and. it was named after him in 1871. Bora January G, 183 G. Died at Bankok, Siam, March 25, 1895.

Tho second tablet bears tho following inscription:—

Sacred to the momory of William Urogo Montagu, seventh Duko of Manchester, K.P., who was for 20 years to 1889, chairman of the board of directors of the Colonists' Laud and Loan Corporation, Ltd., tho founder of this Manchester special settlement. Born October 15, 1823. Died March 27, 1890.

History of the Settlement.

Feilding was tho colonial headquarters of tho colonisation schcmo instituted in 18G9 by tho Colonists' Land and Loan Corporation, Ltd., which was formed by a number of noblemen and others,' headed by tlio Duko of Manchester. Tho town and ristrict have prospered rapidly, and Peilding lias now become tho second inland town ih size and importance on tho west coast of the North Island, 'i'ho block knpwn as tho Manchester Block was acquired under the terms of tho agreement with the Colonial Government, generally known as the "Feilding Contract." General the Hon. W. A. H. Feilding, after whom the town was named, visited the Australasian colonies, on a commission instituted by the directorate to find a suitable field for colonising operations. As a result of tho visit, negotiations were completed for the block of 106,000 acres, tho price being 15 shillings per aero for 100,000 acres, 6000 acres being allowed for roads and reserves. The corporation agreed to cxecute all colonial surveys, and undertook (under penalties) to introduce 2000 immigrants into the colony, and settle them on the land before April 1, 1877. The colonial Government provided free passages from England for tlic corporation s immigrants, and agreed .to employ 200 men on railway formation. Tlio Provincial Government of 'Wellington agreed to recommend an annual grant up to .£2OOO on account of road work in corporation boundaries,

The First Ship. The first ship bearing immigrants for the Peilding Block was the Duke of Edinburgh, arriving in January, 1871, and within the first four months of that year <58 settlors were introduced by the corporation. The Manchester Block extends from the Rangitikei River to the Ruahine Ranges, by the gorge of the Sfanawatu River, and is 20 miles long by an average breadth of eight miles. With the exception of 12,000 acres/ it was, at the time of purchase, all covered with bush. The main line of railway from Wellington to New Plymouth, and Auckland to Napier run 9 through the wholp length of the block. The immigrants introduced by the corporation were placed upon tho ground without cost to themselves, and for some timo after arrival were supplied with all necessary tools, cooking utensils, and supplies of food, which were charged at rea-; sonable rates against their future earnings. The men wero'at once employed m road-making, bush-clearing, carpentering, brickmaking, or any other work for which they were best fitted, the earlier batches being set to work on the site of the township, erecting houses for. themselves and their families. Tho settlers wero from timo to time drafted out to tho country, and tho whole'of this splendid block has been sold, the greater portion of it being now in cultivation. Such is a brief history of tho work done by the two men whoso names will be remembered by the people of Foilding from one generation to another.