Shannon's Progress.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 21 December 1918, Page 5 (Supplement)

Shannon's Progress.

in Wellington, the land in Shannon being so much cheaper. THE PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS. The public institutions are few and far between. The Post Office, School and Police Station are the State-owned buildings and each of them is a. very . decent edifice. The Mechanics' Institute i* the only Borough building. It is the old po->t office and made a present of to the Borough by the Mackeu&ie Government-. The building is old and will be replaced by a handsome odifice when the Borough goes lin for a loan. There is only one. Recreation Ground —an area of over five acres. This was a reserve laid oft' when tiho town was first surveyed and laid out. The citizens have planted belts of trees round it and erected a fine pavilion. Mr J. T. Bovis is the Town Clerk and rate collector of the Borough.. The onlv Friendly Society m the town is the Ancient Older of Dru.ids, which is a .strong body. The Patriotic Society lias been a teature of tlie war period. It has organised some very successful fetes for the different funds and is affiliated with the Horowhenna County Patriotic Association, to which Messrs G. >>. Steplien--1 son (one of the most prominent and self-sacrificing workers in the Society) and P. Hennessy and Mrs Gibson are delegates. . The guardian of the peace is Conetable Tom Condon, a man of some weight. He does his duty fearlessly but without any appearance of arrogance or overbearing. ... Thk> administration of local justice is solely in the hands of Justices of the Peace. Messrs Murdoch, Hennesisy, Stephenson, Venn and Mitchell are the "great unpaid" of the town and district. _

The Post and Telegraph l Office as presided over by Mr Walter Baxter, an efficient and courteous officer, who is at present working with a depleted staff. The School has an attendance or over 300. Sir Voysey, the headmaster, has been in charge for about 25 years. Shannon is well supplied with spiritual guides. The Church of England is in charge of the Rev. Walke. The Presbyterians are laboured for by the Rev. Wheeldou. The Methodists have the part services of the Rev. Harding, who comes over from Foxton. The Roman Catholics have the care of the Rev. Father Forrestal, of Foxton. I The town is without a brass band, but "Mrs Butler's orchestra serves on great occasions. The Rev. Walke Iras the Boy Scouts in hand and they at an early date may have a fife and drum band. The business premises of the town are creditable structures. The Bank of New Zealand is a fine two-story building erected about five years ago l . "CHRONICLE" ADVERTISERS IN SHANNON. The Albion Hotel, which has recently been rebuilt, the old building having been destroyed by lire, is a hotel that would do credit to a city. Mr McKegg, the proprietor, is well-known on this coast. Gunning's Store is a household word

far and; near. Goceries, ironmongery, crockery, furniture, drapery, hoots, etc. Yes, it is a universal provider for householders. J. H. Fargher and Co.—This is the favourite resort of the ladies; it is here that the dainty millinery and other mysterious aids to the toilette which make Shannon ladies so presentable are ' sold. Tlie firm also keeps a large stock of mercery and: men's goods including boots and shoes. F. Thomson, paperhanger and decorator, stocks all manner of papers and paints; can do a first-class job. ! Miss Dunckley, bookseller and stationer. you can buy any journal you may require; books by all the. standard authors; stationery and fancy goodts. J. A. Roach, baker and confectioner. It would be queer flour that Jack could not make a decent loaf out of. It is said that Shannon bread -and buns are looked on as a treat down the line. Harold Ilook will cut your hair and shave you while you wait; if time hangs too heavy, step into the billiard saloon and amuse yourself 011 the green cloth. Miss Gladys Gardiner sells fancy good.?, toys for Christmas galore, peashooters for bad boys, and all sorts of things beloved by the children ; orders taken for children's make-ups. Jack O'Regan, tailor, suits handmade, latest cut and style, material of best quality. Jack, in addition to being a good "snip," is a sport and has a love of tilie equine thoroughbred. Leon Nam is a son of the Flowery Land, a Republican of the Friendship and Equality stamp- His fruit and vegetables can lie depended 011 alt the same. , Jliing Lee is another con of the I'lowery Land, of a. generous disposition, especially when business is brisk. His. varied assortment of luscious fruits is a constant temptation to young and old. Walter Kirklaiul, tailor, mercer and outfitter.—Shannon can boast of a tailor whose fame as a cutter and fitter is spread from Auckland to tllie Bluff. Orders are received for Walter's best from very far distant places, thus proving his ability as a tradesman. Mrs Alders#y, bookseller, stationer, toy vendor, news agent, ete.—lf you want reading matter light and breezy to heavy literature, betake yourself to Mrs Aldersey's corner -shop. Maoriland Theatre. —It is here thai Hone McMillan screens his pictures to tilie delight, edification and amusement of the general public. Hone is the best of all good chaps. His open-handed kindness to every good cause has made him a prime favourite in the town. Porter's Garage. — Motors for hire and sale. Any hour of the day or night, ring the bell. Attention and civility. Spencer Bros., builders, contractors, furniture manufacturers, undertakers, etc.—The senior partner is Cr. Spencer, a man of some grit; he is the son of a pioneer settler, and is spoken of as a coming Mayor of the town. BiMerbecVs. blacksmith and wheelwright.—All manner of iron work car-ried,-out faithfully : vehicles built to order; repairs a specialty. Shannon Meat Co.. ivith Mr iS. W. Carter as manager ancldireetor in chief. The primcst of joints, cleanliness, civility and attention. for" your goods at the counter and you know what you are getting for your money. Mrs Bolianila, fish and chips, fresh fisih, etc. —Everything in this shop is (scrupulously clean and was highly spoken of by- the Health Officer when he visited Shannon. Gregory Kelly has more cycles, motors. etc., than any shop on the line. The prices are right; repairs executed/ with special care. T. Watterston, the plumber, handy man in winter as in summer; Tom is ahot and cold service man; also a tinsmith of unusual merit. He will make you a tank if necessary—not a war tank, but a water tank. The foregoing is a general outline of Shannon, its present position and prospects. In years to come a comparison of the town with these notes will make

interesting readin.se. A Merry Christinas and n Happy Now Yoar! Peace to the Earth and Goodwill toward) ZVfn 11! (lod Save thu King!

.Shannon. like mcst of the towns _anci townships on tin' M:i iiawatu Hailway. first made its appearance with the advent of the line. About 32 years ago. where the town of Shnnnon now stands was covered with a don.se bush which strcteliedi from the Mountaini-; (the 1 araruas) to the River (the Minawatu). In those days there was no grunililing about footpaths and dim lights ; it the pioneer had a bridle track to his selection lie was lucky. The township of Shnnnon was surveyed off by the Jlanawatu Railway Company and put to auction. Tlio sections in the centre were of an area of a quarter-acre -ouch ; then followed olio-acre allotments, and on the outer boundary three-acre pieces. These acre and three-acre pieces were mostly aggregated into farm holdiiiigs and remain so to « great extent up to the present. w IN Til I': 15KGTNNIXG. The early settlers were men of grit and perseverance, who overcame difficulties with a cheerfulness which carriea tliem oil through all their trials. It is hard to imagine a man "with liis family trudging through a bush track for miles to carve o-ut a home in the dense forest. Thc/se families, isolated from other human beings, depended chiefly on their own courage audi resource: they were buoved up with hone for the future. Yes. the hone that they would one day he independent. With all* tlie dram-backs and discomforts there were many things t-liat -were -enjoyable—the wholesome open-air life free, from all convention, the close contact -with Nature, and the beauty of the scenery srave a charm to their existence; the bush was filled with Nature's songsters: came in abundance, wild pigeons and kakas. could be shot from the door of the wlin.ro; the lagoons were teeming with wild duck ; pigs and wild cattle were in abundance. This has all worn nwav. The hush has given place to profitable farms and smiling homesteads in the country. The town is laid off in streets. The shops and houses are of modern build. The slab whare has disappeared, and. alas! many of that noble hand of pioneers are laid to rest in our little cemeterv. Their labour .is over, but their work remains. Tt is for the present and*futuro generat-io-ns to ''carry on." Will they do so as worthily <>s those who first pierced the dons; l fore-t P Amongst those who have passed away the names of Wal'ace. Richardson. Wood. Newton, Tuilv, Harri.-on and Orowther. senr., will not he soon forgotten. We have still with us hale, hearty and well preserved for the'.r asie Messrs J. Wilkinson. A McPherson, E. Jiutt. Spencer and Hensman. WEALTH FROM THE SWAMP. '] o cover every step of progress made for thirty years would take up a Jar.frer than can lie allotted here. I n to about 16 years ago. the town mid district was, as it were, hung up. Farming had its troubles; the creamery not satisfactory, there wer: 1 ■■ npn-i----tion shows and each appeared 'to the .settlor, when lie made a cliange, no better than the otlhor. Tlt« farmer was no T .vr over-burdened with spare cash, but soon another mighty factor in the progress of the place was to appear. The swamp of about 16 000 acres in extent which .had been used as a duck-shoot in <r ground was soon to yield its rich harvest. This swamp was covered with a cjop of flax which did not escape tlio keen eye of Dr. Chappie, who was then nractising his profession'in Wellington He ascertained that his huge asset could be obtained tor £2 10 3 per acre. Ho floated a company which included tfie late Mr John I'hmmer (after whom tlie pnneipal street in Shannon is named) t..ipital was put into the concern: great '' Sllla]| drains were cut through tile flncl" I '' ' • " er ° sta, ' to(l - workers fmv, l 111 111 Er , cat nilniliers. and the t£»is of Tr ie " sv Li,te| - P f "'" te3rr Bp '^ fiola iit » i ,vufit "iuc.il ictt tlie original oomnanv wif-li slice' V f t, l?" SillKls Pocket- and a good . of the swamp for themselves Sel>S;'"' d J '"""gni'mig wont on until the beiiert Hros.. who were practical fl-.x-1111,llers, took a hand in the game and then appeared the .Seifert Flaxin'illin" Co.npa.iy, which holds a large block of the flax and the Miranui mill the in New Zealand. Tlie Whitamn Company. Spiers, SamuWs, Dnlzcll and numerous other mills now afford of woid-ers r ° t"'"J ''".vinoiit to hundreds . THK GOUR.:X COW. A tew years later tlie farmer was to eofc 3m chance. The (Shannon butt *"* iactorv was in tribulation, as u.saal l ie right man at the right time was i ii i v, '\ wit]l - Al -'' Mitciioil nnd ethers, conceived the ide-i of a co-operative butter factory. Tlio thought bocumr? an accomplished fact and from that time onwards to. the present the .Shannon Co-opeartive Dairy Co. has been a flourishing concern and the thanks 0.l the settlens are due to tire men who 'have so earnestly audi care-

fully guided the industry. Air Law is t'ho Chairman of Directors. He js also a member of tli;> Horowhenna County Council and is one -of the County's representatives on the Palmerstoli 'North Hospital and Charitable Aid Hoard. SHANNON HECOM'KS A BOKOI'GH. Til August of last year, as the result of .several public- meetings, the town ■was formed into a .Borough. Up to that time it had be en part of the Horowlienna County in the Tokomaru Riding. Messrs F. W. Venn and G. N. Stepheiii-on 'represented the Riding in the County Council and did sonic* good work for the town. Both have now retired front their labours sis farmer* and also as members of the County. Mr Venn lias a record ol over 2o veal's service 011 local bodies; his untiring zeal did nwich for the settlement. Tlk> result of "the first cleot'on for Mayor and Councillors was the return oi iMr Wm. Murdoch as Mayor. He defeated a formidable opponent in 'Mr P. Hennossv. Messrs Vj. SpoiU'or, S. A\ . o«irter.'j. H. Farther, W. H. Gunning. T. Gardner. G. Hook, M. Moynih-.in and J. 1? icbardson were elected Councillors. Mr Murdoch lias always taken an active and keen interest in Shannon since his arrival ill the sixteen veiivs ago. It was mainly by his efforts tliat' the Borough' was created. The Mayor and Councillors have had a trying tiinc through the liigh cost of wages and material. It (has been difficult to make much progress. A loan was out of the question. Therefore the Council set to work to do its best with the money from the rates. The. Council was also employed making by-laws for the new borough. Now-tililat the question of slums is so forcibly before the public, a look at the building by-laws, franjed by the Coiincil some time before the epidemic, wi.'l convince the uicrst critical judges that the Mayor and Councillors had an eye to the welfare or humanity. One of the conditions is that no dwelling can be erected on an area of less than a quarter of an acre. The Mavor some time ago announced to the Council that a special meeting would, be called to consider the matter r,f a loan for water supply, drainage and lighting, hut through the sudden npi>oaraiice of the epidemic the meeting was not-hold. ETGHTING THE EPIDEMIC. During the trying time of the epidemic. the Mayor' and Councillors acter 1 with vigour. An early start was made the town was disinfected and fumigated nnd a circular of instructions was sent out and distributed. The ladies' waiting room at the railway (station was turned into a place for fumigation, passengers of the train wore rushed in. The Mayor got round him some valiant workers, Messrs Laurvig, Hillier. Scott, "Wood, Perkins and Cr. Spencer, for nurses Mcmlinics Cole. Kelly. Muidodi (the Mayoress). Secord, Misses Woodmass, MeCulloch. Knowks and others. The 'self-sacrifice of the* "woikers and their devotion to the afflicted is bevoud description. The Mayor is usually good natured and easy-going, hut the astounded citizens found him full of energy with, ail iron will and determination. It is responsibility that trios our worth: and in the dread hour Shannon's Mayor—like the chief citizens of all our boroughs—was found at his post dav and night doing his duty faithfully. Although it may be said that Shannon escaned very well, yet the gaps made* will be* felt ior many a <lny ' SHANNON'S FUTURE. Shannon has attracted considerable ■attention all over the country on account of its proximity to the proposed Mangahao Electrical Power Station. The people of Shannon, as far hack as eight years" ago. waited 011 til 10 Government and urged that the work be gone 011 with. If the Government had responded . what a benefit it would have been during the war. How any 'persons claiming to be representatives of. the people could treat this urgent and important matter in the same way as the present Government has done is lieI yoncl comprehension. ! There is another very important mat--1 tor which calls for the attention of the Government. It was not long aao that tli-e Minister tor Internal Affairs was londly declaiming thai there were too many crowding into the cities and too few 'people in the country. Tu this lie was right. Here is a chance for the Minister to distinguish himself. If'oO houses were erected in Shannon they would aU be occupied and the occupiers would all find work in this district at a remunerative raie of wases. Vthy H.ot the Government erect the houses here instead of eitv dwellings where at the best the workers can scarcely earn enough to live 011- and a scanty living at that. Tt is all very well to prate about- wanting people to go to the conntry, hut they must b? housed wherever tlicy arc and it would he much less cost to erect dwellings in Shannon than