IMPRESSIONS OF FOXTON.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1941, 18 February 1919, Page 3

IMPRESSIONS OF FOXTON.

(By a Visitor.)

An old directory says; “The town of Foxton is not much to look at,” but qualifies the cruel jibe by remarking that “some of the homes of (ho back country are worthy a visit, if only for the capital grapes' grown there in surprising quantities.” Many seasons’ grapes have come and gone since the discerning visitor set down Foxton as “not much to look at.’’ When we arrived a few days ago the grapes were sour, but we found many corapensatihg joys. The little town is now indeed well worth looking at from every point of view. A neighbouring hamlet, we were told, has been dubbed “(be dirtiest and the healthiest” along the line. This cannot be said of Foxton. Its slight elevation —being only ten feet above sea level —must necessarily place it .beyond the advantages of deep drainage. It is, however, a remarkably clean town, and correspondingly healthy. Chief among its natural attractions is, of course, , * THE BEACH. In these days of rapid travelling, a matter of ten minutes is sufficient to bring the visitor from .his little bed in Foxton to the breakers of the Pacific Ocean. But residents do not all own motor cars. They, therefore, do the next best tiling—many of them at any rate. They either own or rent a little place among the sand-hills, near the mouth of the river, to which they may go for the week-end, or when the boys and girls are home from school. It does an old heart good to see these boys and gixds at the beach. It also makes one wish that the crowds of tagged and town-siek youngsters of some inland places could be brought along for a few days. Oar critical friends say they might, easily, it they went less often to the picture houses. There may also be a lingering impression that the beach is not easily readied, and that impression should he removed. There is an excellent road as far as the accommodation house. The'sandy flat between that point and the Beach is a minor obstacle, and might bo easily covered by a light (ramway. But perhaps a better way .would he to cover the whole distance between (ho Foxton railway slat ion and the beach by moans of such a. system. A direct route could bo found which would require little more than two miles of rails. Such a scheme would speedily alter the whole character of the beach, as a permanent seaside resort would ho developed. Otaki now possesses an up-to-date beach accommodation house, iyid; without at all taking the wind out of Foxton’s sails, lias given an example of foresight which should not he neglected. Town-planning being a modern idea, we find, as in most old settlements, that building and improvements have been carried out in the most easily accessible positions without regard to future requirements and possibilities.

THE RIVER has a beauty of its own, and "with its wharves and pilot station will continue to attract, a class of residents and visitors on whom the future very much depends. For boating and Hshing it no doubt holds a very high place among the rivers of New Zealand. Bit! it is not a river to bathe in whilst the ocean beach is so near. Many visitors, including quite young children, are tempted to plunge in at first sight, forgetting the fact that all tidal rivers are treacherous as they near the outlet. To prevent accidents such bathing should be either absolutely prohibited or controlled by sufficient danger signals wherever necessary. Besides its natural beauty, the Manawatu River has the advantage of being navigable all through the flaxgrowing districts, which extend many miles inland, To fake a trip in the boats which bring down the raw material is to gain n valuable lesson in the commercial geography of the country. Elax-cutters and others who are engaged in this important branch of industry may seem to live in a world apart from that of the visitor, but he finds them to be distinctly good fellows, and the good lady who at one stage of the trip boils the billy for him wins his highest esteem. Elnx is, of course, the staple industry, and for this the “Queen” makes Buxton her chief port of call. * The visitor hailing from some claybound district, sighs because be cannot transport a bit of the clean sandy waste to his town back garden. But, such is nature. The river rolls on, bearing the precious solvent to pile up the bar; the .gales carry it inland until cheeked by the protective grasses and lupins, and which shows that it is possible to have too much of a good thing. Among the show places of Boxton one would like to name THE BARK. A certain amount of cautious reticence is advisable here. There is the making of a good air space, but what are air-spaces when billions of tons of ozone arc floating around one and the air is as clear and sunshiny as it was long before “Ao-te-a-Roa” saw a human inhabitant? We won’t argue about it —merely asking whether air is everything, and whether there are not in the world such a thing ns the beauty of trees and flowers —such trees and flowers as the sub-tropical climate and soil of Foxton might grow to perfection. (The visitor may, of course, be only dreaming, but, etc.) He enters through the “kissing gate,” and seeing no special beauty at first, walks aimlessly on towards a sort of kiosk. He fancies he hears the detested “reveille” and hears rapid firing. He becomes conscious of a strange tingling in the

veins and head-T-reflections of the old shell-shock. But, pressing 'bn to the kiosk, lie takes.an hour’s sleep, and wakes to find that it is u deserted building. The Foxton Band is not there. There is no bugloi’. The “reveille” was that of a passing motor on the high road, and the rapid firing proceeded from an obscure corner where rifle practice is going on. Dreamy Daniel might indulge here to his heart's content, but alter all why not make the Park a beautiful dream?

THE CEMETERY, a somewhat remote, but very prettv spot. It is not too much to say that this quiet little resting place is a beatification of love. We find on entering it a group of little ones tenderly renewing the flowers on a now grave. The “New Zealand Death” has claimed many victims, whose remains arc now resting here, and it is evident that the people of Foxton know how to honour the memories of brave souls who have laid down their lives in attempting to save others. The Honorc family .seems to have been a large one, and true to the best instincts-and traditions of Christian loyalty. Abraham Honoi’e “fought a good fight,” Christian Ilonore, “a sainted mother,” and “our dear little Fritz,” were all remembered with that simple, unswerving faith which possessed the natives under Honore’s care.

The schooling of Foxton’s hoys and gills is now carried on under difficulties, but that a very high value is placed on education is evident from the forward condition of pupils, and also by the fact that so many proceed to the High School at Palmerston North.

Fox to u as a municipal area is evidently well governed, the streets being well kept, and at nights well lit. There is perhaps in the minds of residents the.average amount of public spirit. Older places, such as Auckland,- possess more of that self-helping quality, but generally such centres are much richer. The churches show that the worshipping people of Foxlon are not of a niggardly type, and as “God helps those who help themselves, it is only fitting that we should find the town in possession of a handsome Carnegie Library. And still there is room for more beauty in the little town. Its “layout” lends itself to artistic treatment. Only a little at first is required, such as replacing trees which have died, and repairing the protecting frames around those which remain. The Borough Council should not 1)0 expected to do everything and at the same time keep down the rates. One great, fault of New Zealanders is that they will do nothing which they can get some public board to do, and will further neglect what they cannot get done. A (own-beautifying scheme is the proper thing for selfreliant citizens. Wherever citizens have taken up such a course unsellishly and harmoniously they have succeeded far beyond all expect a-, lions. The completion of orte improvement always unmasks the need for others, and in the case of Foxton the task is a pleasant and comparatively easy one. A very little public spirit would mal<e the little town, though not much to look at, yet a “thing of beauty and a joy for ever.” One word more should be said for the credit of the community. It has in the “Manawatu Herald” a most excellent journal, a newsy and well-conducted advertising medium. The confidence of the general public is well placed in this important matter, for journalism has many pitfalls, and a straight- • going journalist is always a good citizen.