"As Others See Us"

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 104, 25 February 1890, Page 2

"As Others See Us"

A settler in the South Island, who reently visited this part of the colony, writes : — " I was much struck with the improvenent at nearly all points of the coast ince my last visit three years ago. The raffic on the railway, both in passengers nd goods, has increased perceptibly ; here is more bustle at the stations, and verything has a more business look. The manner of the people has also changed, and they are clearly possessed of more cheerful and hopeful spirit than ormerly. By the judicious encouragement of settlement on the fresh blocks of land being opened up, the coast will, in a few years, be producing grain and fruit, and carrying stock to such an extent that will astonish the rest of the colony, and perhaps the other colonies in ten years at most. Verily Wellington has a splendid future before her, as through her must the traffic of your magnificent and extensive district find its way to other ports. Each succeeding year will more and more impress this upon its inhabitants. The bush is rapidly disappearing on the Wellington-Manawatu Railway line, and the fires I saw inland from Feilding bore strong evidence to the extensive clearing now going on. Palmerston North I found greatly changed for the better. There were improvements all round — better houses, better roads, and more ueople. The hotels—l question if you could better them— it was a real pleasure to look at such splendid and commodious buildings. They give quite a character to the town (which will soon be a "city"), and the accommodation they provide must be very gratifying to travellers. Feilding is also much improved, and as the centre of the splendid Oroua district will continue to do so for many a year. A visit to Birmingham greatly pleased me. The road is splendid the whole way, and must be as good in winter as in summer. The whole distance is dotted with houses, to winch are attached nice gardens. Some of the buildings are quite pretentious, while most of them are neat and pretty, and their occupants have evidently made up their minds this shall be a "home " for themselves and their children unto the third and fourth generation at least. But the splendid country is more than a sufficient cause for making ones surroundings comfortable and permanent. I must not forget to put on record my warm appreciation of the good conveyance driven by the pleasant Mr Daw, nor the really first-rate accommodation provided by the hotel at Birmingham.