EARLY MANAWATU.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1992, 19 June 1919, Page 3

EARLY MANAWATU.

LOOKING BACKWARD. Some interesting early history was contained in a letter received by the Orona County Council at its meeting on Saturday. The letter in question Avas Avrittcn by Mr J. F. Stewart, of Wanganui, to Sir James Wilson, who had forwarded it to the Council for perusal. In reference to early settlement in the Manawatn it Avas stated that on February 14th, 1871, the Government steamer Luna arrived at Foxton Avith Norwegian immigrants, a further batch arriving by the steamer Go-Ahead on April Bth. They Avere given road Avork betAveen Palmerston North and Ashhurst, and Avere alloAved to buy land at £1 per acre —it is interesting to note that some of this land sold last Aveek at £BO per acre —which they paid for in small instalments out of their wages. In 1871, the Avriter, avlio Avas a surveyor, laid out the Gorge road, and also surveyed the block of Avhich Palmerston North is uoav the centre. There Avere no Europeans except on the lower reaches of the Manawatu RiA'er, and all stores Avere obtained from there by canoe. In 1873 the Avooden traimvay from Palmerston North to Foxton Avas completed, and also the traimvay Avharf at Foxton. During 1874-5 several more steamer loads of immigrants arrived at Foxton, all of Avhom went to Feilding by traimvay. In 1875 (he Gorge road bridge Avas completed, and in 1877 and 1878 (be railway line between Feilding and Turakina Avas opened. A number of other interesting events concerning the* surveying of the Orona County were also described in (he lei ter. Mr Stewart, avlio Avas a Government surveyor, resided in Foxton in the early days, subsequently removing to Wanganui.