FRIDAY, JULY 22, 18S1. PUBLIO WANTS IN FOXTON.

Manawatu Herald, 22 July 1881, Page 2

FRIDAY, JULY 22, 18S1. PUBLIO WANTS IN FOXTON.

No one •will deny that the people of Foxton are most patient and long- J suffering. They never worry the { Government for favours. They never hold meetings to make known their wants. They simply let things go on the even tenor of their way, and accept the favours the gods send them. Still there is a danger of this kind of thing being carried to an extreme, and we therefore propose to point out several things which are essential fco the progress of the place. First amongst these, may be mentioned the necessity of the Manawatu river being bridged. We do nofc of course mean at the present ferry, but afc the point where the inland road will strike the river. A good ferry is better than a ford, but a bridge suit* able for carl; traffic would be better still. There is no reason why a serviceable bridge should not be erected, in order that the inland road from Foxton to Otaki may be a complete highway. The cost will be, we believe, less than £10,000, while the advantages both to the people of Foxton and the large body of settlers we expect to see settled at no far distant date on the South Manawatu country, are self-evident. A town grows in proportion as its back country is developed, and as it presents facilities for trade. Following on the construction of the West Coast railway the country south and east of Foxton is certain to be settled. We shall then have to compete with Wellington for the trade between fche Manawatu and Otaki rivers. If we have really good roads and a bridge we believe that considering the long distance to Wellington, Foxton importers will still be able to carry the day. Country settlers who possess horses and carts will prefer driving into Foxton to riding to Wellington per railway when they wish to do business, if we offer equal facilities for trade ; but if they are burdened with heavy ferry fcolls.and are detained at the ferry, ' the trade is bound to tend towards Wellington. We com mend this matter to the Foxton people. Other districts are possessed of good bridges to connect the back country and the towns; Whyshoull not ? We see no reason why the people of F< _ton should levy a special rate in order to obtain assist ance. under the Colonial Treasurer's local finance scheme for this work. The Government would reap the cost of the bridge five times over, in the increased price the land they have to sell in South Manawatu would fetch if a bridge were erected. The Go» vemment in this matter would be like any private landowner who makes a good road to his land, or drains it, in order to make it sell well. It should also be borne in mind that almost the on y land that could be rated under the Treasurer's proposals wou d be north of the Manawatu river, nearly all south of it being either Trown or native land. We therefore say that it would be manifestly unfair to insist on the people of Foxton paying a special rate for a bridge which would largely enhance the value of Crown and native lands. The necessity of a bridge bA lg erected is, however, what we wish just now to impress upon our fellow settlers, and we would therefore suggest that 'step's be taken to bring the matter before "our member." A second want is, improved publio buildings in Foxton. The present CQnrthofMt is neither internally nor.

*__tei_ally a credit to either the colony as a whole, nor to the town of Foxton. The main building is at least fifteen years old, and externally is not equal in appearance to the paltriest school in the Wanganui educational district. Internally, it is unsightly in the extreme, aud generally about ten years behind the township. The fence is in a disgraceful state, for while the police quarters are neatly fenced with totara " pickets," the Courthouse grounds are euclosed by an old, broken down, irregular tocai'a stab fence., . unpainted and terribly shabby. Lastly, the immigration barracks, erected several years ago at roar of the Courthouse, have never yet had a coat of paint, and remain iv the same unfinished state as they had "when first left uncompleted. The Police quarters are anything but creditable. The house is so old that when it wps removed about 2^ 3 'ears ago it was expected to fall to pieces. It was patched up at the time, but externally it is simply a rotten old shanty, while. common report states that internally ii is draughty, leaky, and generally bad. Then, agaiu, who would suppose the collection of sheds occupied by Mr Stewart and his assistants Were the offices of the Resident Engineer of tho District extending from Patea to Manawatu ? Stuck up in one corner of the railway yards are the District Engineer's offices, a collection of buildings which any man with the slightest taste would be ashamed to own for his stables. If we travel oufc of Foxton we see in other places Government buildings that are iv keeping with the different towns, and we venture to say thafc in no town would the public buildings of tfoxton be tolerated without strong and energetic protests froni the settlers. Let auy one compare the local Courthouse with All Saints' Church, or the District j_ugineer's offices with either of the Bank premises, and be will see at a glance that Foxton is behind the age as regards publio buildings. We bring these rnattors bofoi'e our readers simply because wo see the need of the wants of the place being kept, like Mr Oliver said he would keep the Hokitika Greymouth railway, " steadily in view." The Palmerston people are the most successful beggars we know of. If they want a thing they beg, and beg, and beg, until the Government, like the 11 uj 11st judge, give them what they ask for fco get rid of them. Iv this they are worthy of imitation, and we therefore hope to see the Foxton Local Board pass resolutions bringing under notice of the Hon. Walter Johnston, our member, the wants of the place we have mentioned iv this article. Just before a general election is the time to get the member to attend to the wants of the district.