SCHOOL ESSAYS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2320, 25 August 1921, Page 4

SCHOOL ESSAYS.

“MY HOME TOWN.”

Some time back the editor of the “Herald” offered three prizes for the best essays on the subject of “My Home Town.”. The conditions and judging were left to the first assistant. The essays were written in ' under ordinary class conditions. The first prize was awarded 'to F. Hart, the second to John McKnight, and the third to L. Thompson. The essays are of average merit and perspective, but lack vision. What Foxton is, needs no strain of observation or mental effort on the part of essayists. The point missed is what Foxton might be in the matter of. civic improvements, housing and beautifying. We congratulate the winners and all the scholars who made the effort. Below is reproduced the three prize essays:—

FIRST PRIZE.—F. Hart

“Foxton, famous for flax, fleas, tires, as the editor of our Home Town paper rather facetiously remarked, is a thriying little town near the mouth of the Manawatu River. « Great improvements have been made to it of late years, and still more are being made now. The drainage, for instance, is in full swing, thus giving employment to a, good many men. The dredge, after a while, will prove its own use, for when more of the sand from the bed of the river has been cleared away, more ships will be able to come here. There will thus be increased trade between Foxton and other places, a thing which is greatly to he desired by all concerned. The Easton Park and the alterations in the Maori Cemetery also improve the aspect of the place. Let us take the former first. Though I think it could still he improved, a bare patch of ground, such as it was before, is not to be compared with its present state. It. has now flowers and shrubs at the front of it, while the back is being prepared for football. The hill in the Maori Cemetery has been levelled oft’ a bit, and turfs are now covering it, making a decided improvement to the place. The buildings, which have been put up in place of those destroyed by lire, aio quite a. credit to the town. Our school is a good instance in this case. “Now we come to the one or two places that sorely need a change for the better. The Victoria Park needs lawns and flowers more than anything. Oh! for the'moiiey and men that are needed for such luxuries. Are we never to have them! The. Triangle, too, needs its lawn cut and a few flowers cultivated. . “The Beach is the best thing in or about Foxton. Visitors are loud in their praises of it, and is there any need to wonder at it ? No, there is not. Our beach is one of the best in New Zealand. Many improvements have been made there, lately, such as swings, sca-saws, shady nooks, and a ladies’ bathing shed. “Flax cutting and milling, 1 must on no account omit, as it is the reigning industry in Foxton. This industry gives employment to hundreds of men, and hemp is our chief article of trade. Our Home Town is noted for its temperate climate, and I will now Hub-)quote Goldsmith

“'Sweet Foxton! Loveliest village of the plain, Where health and plenty cheered the

labouring swain, Where--smiling Spring its earliest

visits paid, , And 'parting Summer's lingering blooms delayed.’ ”

SECOND PRIZE—John McKnight.

“Cun you find a more quiet and beautifui spot than Foxton ? “Foxton?’ a stranger repeats. ‘Yes,’ we reply, ‘Foxton; a small town situated on the coast south of Palmers-

tou. “‘Please,’ they beg, ‘be more explicit.’ “ ‘Very well, then. “ ‘The township of Poxton is situated by'the Manawatu Kiver. It as governed by a borough council of iiown. It's mayor, Mr John Chryslall, is a very worthy man, as is the senior-councillor, Mr George Coley. That is not mentioning Councillors Bryant, Whibley, and many other noteworthy men. The river mentioned above is as treacherous as it is winding. The banks on cither side are adorned with both loi-loi and flax bushes. The gor.se, too, when in flower, presents a spectacular appearance to the scene. Many a person has lost his or her life in this river. In some parts, shallow as it looks, the water is deeper than thought to lie. Whitebait, it is true, are caught in considerable quantities. Much is sent to Palmerston and Wellington, to say nothing of many other places. Besides being useful for these things —not for drowning unfortunate people —I mean there is the use for shipping, although very few boats come in. The only boat which sails up and down this river now is the s.s. Kennedy, of Nelson, which arrives here mostly with a general cargo, and sets sail back to Wellington with a cargo of hemp. On record one year, nine boats were in port at the wharf. One year, too, it is recorded that a flood arose, lifting the Queen of the South (a boat that, before being wrecked, did the Kennedy’s present work) on a level with the wharf. That is another point about this river, the floods which put men out of work very frequently. Another use of the river is the washing of flax at the mills. “ ‘Many tires iiaxsp occurred in Poxton, but now the outbreaks are checked by our Volunteer Fire Brigade. Some few years ago Whyte’s Hotel was destroyed by the disas-

trous flames. On the site is now erected a fine brick building bearing the same name, equipped with electricity. This hotel has been built for the travelling public, and permanent stayers are admitted. Many a per-, son has been robbed of home and furniture by the unrelenting flames. Fortunately, no fatalities have qceurred in this manner. There is much horse-training carried on in Foxton. Amongst Mr A. M. Wright’s string are the no.ted “Firstline” and “Foeman.” There are two days of races, annually held on. our own course."

“ ‘Many places are being beautified by the Beautifying Society. A great improvement has been made on the Maori Cemetery, which was once a wild paddock with lupin bushes growing in profusion. “ ‘One thing I have forgotten to mention, and that is our school, a large eight-roomed place equipped with gas, and heated by hot water pipes. The Standard V. and VI. boys haye gardens divided up, with two boys to each. Our headmaster is at present unavoidably ill. Water and drainage excavations have been commenced, and it is hoped that this will be as great a success as anticipated. Electricity, too, will shortly take the place.of gas. “ ‘Another fact I have forgotten to record is the publishing of the Manawatu Herald, which happens tri-weekly. In this the public receive all the latest news, and now many people would not care to miss it. It has been established for many years, in fact more than forty. “ ‘There is very little . more to comment upon, except the beach in the vicinity. Many people visit this annually.’ “Again I repeat, ‘Can you find a more quiet and beautiful spot than Foxton V ”

THIRD PRIZE—L. Thompson

“A day in Foxton! So delighted was I by the prospect, that, having set my alarm clock at six-o’clock, 1 roused myself from sleep and hastily donning my clothes, set out into the full glory of a spring morning. The sun was just beginning to rise from behind l the-snow-peaked lJtiuliines, and gradually shedding soft rays of light on the country. But the silence and peacefulness of the small community was soon to he broken. The sounds of returning life came slowly at first, but, growing louder and stronger as the morning sun rose higher in tin? blue, cloudless heavens. The sounds reminded me that I must be up and doing, for that day we were going to spend in thoroughly examining and looking through Foxton.

“It was about three hours later when we left the Foxton Post Office. There we left the car, and walked up to Easton Park. This piece of ground was presented to the Foxton citizens by Mr A. S. Easton some mouths ago. Then it was a bare paddock, save some common lupins which grew in patches hero and there. Now it is being converted into a pretty little park, with small shrubs adorning the edge of the field, for it was decided to have a football field in the centre. It is in.a lovely central position, too. “A few chains farther up, and on the opposite side of the road, is carried on the industry, namely llux milling, for which Foxton and its surroundings are noted. Following the river, we see that the mills arcex tended for a considerable distance along its banks. It was very interesting to see the numerous bales of fibre ready to be transported to Wellington. “It was about half-past eleven when we turned, very reluctantly, to go and have dinner, after which we turned our steps in the direction of the Foxton racecourse. This, situated at the north end of Foxton, is about a mile in circumference. On one side tall pine trees shade it from the western "sun. The buildings are big and numerous for so small a town. Here the Foxton races, which arc always ’attended by a large crowd, are held annually. Every Saturday during the winter months there are football matches'- held there. Across the road is the Victoria Park. This is a neat little park, which is a favourite place for any sports festivities which might beheld in Foxton.

“Many improvements have been made, or are being made, in Foxton. Some time ago there was a queen carnival organised for the purpose of raising money for the Beautifying Society. Since then the Maori Cemetery has been improved by putting a cfinerete wall fence round it, while all the interior has been cleared of old trees and stumps, and grass put down in its stead. The water and drainage system, too, is being installed, while in about two years’ time we hope to have electricity, which will be supplied from the Mangahao electric works, in every house in Foxton.

“Once again I stand watching the sun. But this time it is sinking, in all its glory, in the west. The hum of busy life gradually fades away, the busy .birds have all sought their nests, and are silent. The golden sun is getting nearer the horizon, leaving everything in perfect tranquility and peace—in Poxton.’’