Shannon.

Manawatu Herald, 2 August 1892, Page 2

Shannon.

(from oub own correspondent.)

In a portion of the Horowhenua County the northern part, there lies a district known in history as the Wirokino, out of which arises many a tale of trouble and strife not to speak of the vanity and vexation of spirit. Throughout the said district

will be found road lines drawn here " and there, which when shown on a map or plan denote public highways; and when shown to jihe stranger they are called bog holes and scandalous wasting of the money of the suffering ratepayers, who is worried by the Land and- Income tax and wjio_.. feeia. the burden very keenly. These highway fpi\ the' greater , r part . fixe ruled or governed by what" is balled a Board (not a piece of wood as some... suppose) who spend on these roads from time to time such part or portion of these rates, that are drawn from the unfortunate ratepayer. Long years ago before the Bailway age commenced in the said district, tbis.Bpard^witr in and was:govornM %" men $rIT& Jhaa lived long in the land that was given unto them. We may call them Jones and Brown. When these wise men saw the benefits to be derived from such an influx of capital which the making of a Railway was sure to Jbring,. they marvelled with each ofhet saying j these jsbw" people will' require roads to open up the land, which they have received at the hands of the Iron Horse Company, and we as settlers, with the welfare of the country at heart will endeavour to show the stronger the way to go to work to obtain some of. the many benefits then alotted to them Tjy tb!6> Government of New Zealand who are wise in their teachings to tlte people.^ Then these wise men did say unto the new-coiners, : speaking i;thtrs :;" ' " Welcome to this country called the Wirokino District and help to nii.be ; at it least the garden of Eden within N.Z." and these new men did answer saying, " Show us then that we may reap the benefits which are offered to us.' 1 , '-/frheil thfeyvall took counsel by aid of an instrument called the ballot boxy." and. -j did put ,• therein certain papers in which it was stated that they' one and',&ll;,de- '•< sii'td a large sum of money to be loaned unto them -by the .Gaverny.; ment for the purpose of making roads to open up the land which .had ... been sold unto them by the Company who did also assist to the best of their power in as much as they did ' agree to pay, on their line and on their lands monies which' die tailed rates, to pay half the interest on the Loan- The Government -of ;the r. country did say unto the people " Ye have done wisely my •>ehild?en ; here > is the money, do with it as ye may, make the roads and gladden the hearts of the poor struggling settlers and we wont be hard on you, by only charging you £5 for every £100 lent by usf unto .you, ,and ; which-if paid unto us at Wellington whicn is our head office, for 26 years w^r will., cry quits and bless you a3 energetic settlers, that you may vote for .us and keep us in office until we have i benefited the country all in the same manner in which you have been benefitted " The Iron Horse Company spoke up and said, " We have felled the bush on the principal outlets to our line therefore hasten to get workmen to' finish thßse 'Outlets?' As the time had now come Messr-srl; Jones and Brown did call various meetings of the Board and prepared--plans and set men to work; and so, in a very short time carts and bo^seg were seen moving about on what had before had been forest ; apd jungle. As tiraa rolled on great villages began to form 'supported by these men who had agreed to pay monies to the Goverrinient from time to time and as they ; grew and obtained schools,, public houses, and general stores, th,ey peopled by other wise men who had been Reading and studying the laws \'6i . N.;Z ,'and then took counsel and" said ; btfe^ with another, " Jones Brown 1 jfc ! Cd I 'h ? ave an axe with which they^d^t 11 execution, let us stop ,, them* t; frdtft" sharpening it by taking '-awfcy the stone." Straightway; stir, up all the cbeinicaJsP palled old sores, scandai/aii2( bisethess until they began to fortify L poison the hearts of the people flg'ainst Brown Jones, and the. Iron ' Horse Company, who Had been "^heir friends in the past. TJie ballot box was called into use, and sides were picked, and they diJ," indulge in open warfare with their former benefactors. When Jones & pp., heard of. the Assyrian coming down like" the wolf: he said "who hath done' these things and why ? lif tb,ey £re ! men let them stand forth as men and sj^eak " but they did not. So Jqnes 'cbllecredhia forces and spake unto' tfrem?sßus t 11 children the time has ! qofy/'corfte , when even the snake is ifi'tfae'.jiW^if^ and would sting us, led oi^ by s'cfißtning and narrow-minded ni'en. Arise and put your best foot foremost, showing by your actions in the ballot, that ye shall have faith in the fathers of the .Board andthe Iron Horse G&fop^yY fi|id& fwdttld gladly assist you by opening' up^the back country r anfl metolliijg .^ ibe - ;- roads leading 'to it," ata thefti^ swered sayinrgt*f p]d^w»nm %:fsflk by you.^ffha ni-Baid^-tnaMsgfllol.V c Meanwhile the leaders in th^hgfe^s tillage at a meeting did aaiyJihafeu they would support their men in the" affray, come Tfrbat may. The day was fixed and the battle began. The father .girded up hia loins and smote the)sou'tiip ai»d(thigb;f,fo^;hJß underhand dealings and administered unto him a lewbn.wiic^.'^na^'^ffy' him a better idea than he before had • 1 showing that blessed is Ke who is

honest and does not go forth with dynamite and other missils to destroy the peace of mind of the innocent ratepayer.