Manawatu Herald. FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 1890. As Others See Us.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, 7 March 1890, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 1890. As Others See Us.

»■ No one can outbid tis in their desire to see both our town and district progress, and/ we believe the whole population is only too glad to welcome each new comer amongst us. It appears tbat this unfortuuate town is bound always to suffer for the sins of its godfather, and to be the victim of the most extraordinary rashness of statement in appreciation or depreciation of its state. Un the foundation of the town, the belief in its future was so great, that every speculator bought largely in town lots, to the (exe'usion of the lonafide settler. To this day are held allotments by men who have never seen their property, but who cannot be induced to relingquish their hold, at any reasonable figure. Every other town that has sprung up in the district has tried to push us back with a neighbourly kick, and owing, partially, to their progress, the outside opinion of our position was decreased, and iruch amusing detraction indulged in. The town still Rets along, despite the past ups and downs, anl is hound to Ao so, but what we desire is, that no one should again be induced to throw in their lot with ns under any misapprehension. Our readers may be surprised why all this, thusness, but they would not be, had they read the most poetic and grossly exaggerated artiole in a late issue of the Otago Daily Times. The writer needed words, to fill up space, and therefore indulged in a review of the flax industry, giving what he termed two pictures. " The district selected for such a description in the present article is that lying between the Rangitikei and Manawatu rivers, and extending inland from the sea coast about 10 miles. ... To

the casual observer stationed on one of the sand hills near the coast between the two rivers above mentioned, the surrounding: landscape must appear "flat, stale, and unprofitable." A succession of low saml ridge 3, divided by large rushy flats, as far as the eyes can reach north and south ; we-tward' a wide strip of sandy beach, with the breakers curling into white foam, and retiring as if in disgust at so unin 1 viting a prospect. To the east the horizon is bounded by a range of hills about 100 ft high, and in the intervening space here and there may bo noticed a gleam of sunlight on one of the innumerable lakelets, and the peculiar greeD sheen as the light falls on a flax swamp. But "he who hath eyes to see " may find much to charm here, even in the absence of any rising ground which by the utmost, stretch of imagination could be styled a hill, or of any vegetation large enough to be dig" nified by the appel'ation of tree. The sea shore is always beautiful, whether it be calm, and the wavelets break in the merest rippies on the ■white sand ; or whether the sky be overcast, and the fierce north wester be abroad lashing- the tops off the huge green rollers in white puffs ofspray long before they fall crashing on tbeViore, and blowing the sandhills into the hollows, and filling up the hollows into sand hi'l, while the whole country . .looks like a vast cauldron smoking dense black fumes. It is truly abeaut ; ful scene, though terrible. * And the orange tint given to the eand hills by the coarse wiry gra«s, which is the only vegetation that can maintain an existance on th^m, looks very well in contrast with the deep green of the sea and the bright blue sky. Further inland are scores of lakelets, set like jewe's, in extensile .flax Bwamps ; some of these are half swallowed up by the insatiable sand, which is steadily advancing inland, and very strange do the tall seed stalks of the flax plant look, just showing their heads through the sand. Still further inland large swamps have been drained, and are now laid down in good grasses, though inanuke scrub a 1 so claims a largo area. . . . Such is the picture which would have described this particular part of Now Zealand up to two or three years ago, but now— what is it would attract a strangers attention first? \V hat are those thin black columns rising in every direction, and as far as the eye can reach— jett of white steam and columns of black smoke issuing from them ? and what if the cause of that awful noise like hundreds of the larger caruivora de vouring each other ? The answer is simple and unromantic, flsxmi Is. Yes, in this comparitively »maU ama of- «y 10 milt* •qunre— ihirt

are some 60 mills in full work, some working with two and hree shifts of men. . . . The littl* town of Foxton which is. situatd on th»' Mauawatu river, about seven mile* from its mou^h, is the port for the district. The river which lias a bir vrih a out 20ft of wate« at high tide is navigable for ste.mera of about 200 tons burthaii. Before th* awakening of flax industry there was itt cor nothii g doin<* at the port, the Wei ington-Manawatu rail way taking all the produce of the district from Palmerston. About two ▼tars ago a photographer was »»nt for to take a photograph of an «tra- | ordinary scene for Foxtou. Two steamers and a schooner were intha harbour together, and ioma of the Foxtonians who wished to obtain indiiputable evidences wherewith to crush future sceptics took the course above referred to. At the present time there are about 20 steamers and twice as many small sailing craft trading almost daily to the pork, and in business parlance Eoxton is look ing up indeed." Now what is the use of all this ? The writer's knowledge of the town and district as at present, is as reliable as his know ledge of it three yearg ago. We want popnlation but we do not wish any one to believ* that that " 20 steamers and 40 sailing craft" are daily, trading to the port. The writers esdmafce of the daily output of 50 mills, and the carrying capacity of 200 ton steamers must be sadly out, .or elsi there would have n^ede:! mor« than flax to keep them moving. j Exaggeration in any fora is bad, and does equally as much harm. The ! town and district are progressing wonderfully, and reasonably, but there is no " gold field " rush and no excitement, but a good steady nnsine=s is here. X -Ve make these remarks, to prevent any misapprehension that our townspeople desire to live on a false inflation, and to prove that we are no party to gross misrepresentations.