A PIONEER OF MANAWATU.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 897, 27 September 1910, Page 4

A PIONEER OF MANAWATU.

There passed through Palmerston a day or two ago (says the Palmerston Standard), Mr WmBarnett, a very old colonist, and one who can justly lay claim to being a pioneer of Manawatu, He came to Foxton in the early sixties, when Palmerston, even as a hamlet, did not exist. Mr Barnett had tried his luck at the Otago goldfields, and with fair success. The newly-established settlement of Foxton attracted him, and thither he drifted. He followed several avocations in those early days, and for a time was mine host ot the Manawatu Hotel, afterwards in the possession of Mr A. J. Whyte, before he built “ Whyte’s Hotel.” Mr Barnett in those days was a particularly smart horseman, and did much work riding after stock. When Palmerston loomed on the horizon Mr Barnett made occasional trips here from Oroua Bridge (that is, where the Oroua Bridge is now), being dense forest all the way to Palmerston. When emigrants and settlers began to make their way to Palmerston Mr Barnett started a canoe service, via Manawatu river, and conveyed to the embryo city many of the present residents, or their parents, or grand-parents. He had many perilous trips when the river was in flood. On one occasion he was five days on the journey, among his passengers being a lady with five children. He had to put back repeatedly, wishing to save the children from unnecessary exposure. “ What was Palmerston like when first you saw it, Mr Barnett ? ” asked a Standard representative.

‘ ‘ All there was of the future city on that occasion,” was the reply, “ was a surveyor’s camp. There was no other sign of civilisation visible. I have not seen Palmerston for about, or over, a quarter of a century, and little did I think when I first saw it, without a building of any description, just a level, open natural clearing, surrounded by dense bush, what it has now become. It is amazing! ” “ What about Foxton? ”

“Oh, well, it has altered in some respects. Where there was no population in my time is now fairly builtjover. But, dear me, it was sad when I came to ask about the old identities. Scarcely one to the fore. In the cemetery I found records of them all. It was my most mournful experience since I started on this little trip.” “ I suppose you carried up some varied cargoes in you time by canoe?” “ All sorts. On one occasion I had a big bulky case. We charged light stuff by measurement. The consignee demurred of the freight, which came to He had it opened, and it contained —a stove pipe! He did perform ! ” “ They were pretty good times, I suppose ? ” “Ok. yes. Not so bad. We earned good money, but it went, you know.” “You had some good chances, I expect ? ” ‘ ‘ Any amount of them ! Square sections for each. Land in Poneke, as we called it in those days, now the Empire city, to be had for a song. When I came back from Otago diggings if I had invested in land in Wellington I should have been a millionaire today.” “And, perhaps, no happier?” “ Quite possible. My family are all settled in Waikato and doing well, and I am just through on a trip to have a look at old places, and meet what old friends still survive. Yes, I can still ride, and am often on horseback when at home. lam well over seventy, but don’t feel so old when I am in the saddle.” “ I suppose you remember the old wooden tramway ? ” “ Oh, don’t I, and how the engine used to stick up. And, now, if the Foxton train is five minutes overdue people want to know what is the matter. Through the bush from Oroua Bridge was an awful journey. Nine miles in about nine hours. And ‘ good horse to do it.’ ” “ Did the return trip to Foxton by canoe take long ? ” “ Sometimes only a few hours if there was a good fresh in the river. I got nearly lost in Palmerston to-day. It has made most astonishing growth. I can recollect when Foxton business people used to poke fun at it. There was no place like Foxton then. Times have changed since.”