Notes on Ashurst and Po hangina.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, 17 November 1891, Page 2

Notes on Ashurst and Po hangina.

(By \ Vwtob.) "When, about five years ago, steps •were taken by some residents at Foxton, to form a Special Settlement Association, with the view of taking up a block of land in the Pohangina district, the objeotion was made by several persons that the block was too far away, quite out of the reach of civilisation, in fact, and that the land was too broken for farming purposes. A casual look at the block appeared at first sight to rather warrant these objections, but I am pleased to say that the opening up of the district and the gradual settlement of the inland country has proved that there was nothing tangible about these objections. So far from the land being isolated, the block is now almost in the centre of one of the most progressive parts of the country, whilst as the land is being rapidly denuded of the bush it is opening up.. Jar better than the most sanguine anticipated. Mr David Hughey, who was the father of the Foxton Association, recently formed a large Association to take up a block of land some ten or twelve miles further up the river than the Foxton Block, and so many persons were desirous of joining that a second Association was readily formed to take up a second block. Matters in connection with these two Associations have progressed so satisfactorily that I have the best authority for stating that Mr Hughey, who is cvi« dently going to make a record in the matter of forming special settlements, is now engaged in forming a thtrd Association. The country up the river between the Foxton Block and the proposed new settlement is parcelled out in small runs, the bulk q£ these being in the hands of first-class^ men, some being well supplied witljP capital, whilst the others have " real grit "—that essential quality so necessary to all who desire to become successful bush settkrs, On one of these runs the proprietor has just erected a fine house, which with the outside shedding took no less than 80,000 feet of timber. Other buildings are also going up on other runs, and the settlement in this part of the country is progressing by leaps and bounds. What is wanted is a good main road, along the river, so as to avoid the numerous crossings of the stream now necessary. At present there is a good road from a shurst up the valley for about six miles, but settlers up the river are sorely in want of a better means of reaching their sections than tho river bed affords. Referring now more particularly to the Foxton Block, a large extent of improvements have been carried out, and hut few sections have beeu forfeited. Those that were forfeited, on account of the owners being dissatisfied with the quality of the land, have nearly all been taken up since. Amongst those who have greatly improved their sections may be mentioned Mr Hughey (for his daughter), the Messrs Spelman Bros., Mr Hunt, Mr Roberts, Mr Wickens, Mr Woodham, Messrs Jansen, Laney, Retemeyer, Port, Poole, Henley and others. The land is highly spoken of, and promises particularly well for grass seed. Off one clearing last year 30 bushels to the acre of seed would have been obtained had the weather been favourable, whilst as a country for stock it can hardly be excelled. Altogether, the Foxton people who joined the Association are to be congratulated upon the favourable turn their investment has taken, Improved land up the A shurst road cannot be obtained under ten or eleven pounds an acre, so it must be clear the settlers in the block havo done well. Among the settlers in the Pohangina district must be mentioned Mr C. A. W. Hunt. This gentleman was, I believe, the first settler of Pohangina. He has now a compact farm of some 200 acres, admirably situated between the river and the road, almost opposite the Foxton Block, and since his house was built many indeed have partaken of his and Mrs Hunt's hospitality. To provide for the judicial wants of this rising district, Mr Hunt waaA quite recently created a Justice of™ the Peace, and the honour was well bestowed. Mr Hopkins, from the Australian side, recentl} 1 : bought a valuable farm formerly belonging to Mr Watson, and at once erected a first- class residence. Coming down the road towards Ashurst some nice farms and residences are seen, and the whole country has a most prosperous look about it. It may be mentioned that the country at the back of the Foxton Block, consisting of the high Ruahine ranges, is now being laid off as small runs, and one is held by M* P> ft. Lewersi; whohft*

a considerable area of bush already fallen. The development of the Wanganui Harbor Block is a decided factor in the settlement of the district. A large number of sections front the western side of the river, whilst " the township " is laid off on a beautiful piece of ground on the bank of the river, but whether it will ever assume any large proportions is problematical. The town of Ashurst itself is waking decided progress, since the railway was finished. It now boasts of two "pubs," and a branch of the Colonial Bank has recently been established, worked from Palmerston. The sporting men of the district recently formed a Trotting arid Hack Racing Club, and no prettier site for a racecourse than the one chosen exists in New Zealand. The track has been laid out on the terrace immediately overlooking the junction of the Pohangina and Manawatu Rivers, whilst a capital view is also obtained of the Pohangina bridge, and the entrance to the Gorge. This from the stand will form a really magnificent vit-w, and one that the oye will never weary of. The inHugurai meeting will take place on the 29th December, and with »nch energetic sportsmen as Mr Cotter, the Messrs Hunt, Mr Tait, Mi' Freeman, and others, the new 01 nb is bound to achieve success.