WOODVILLE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 4, Issue 259, 5 October 1883, Page 2

WOODVILLE.

PAST AND PBUSENT.

Time and labour work wonders. When, some eight or nine years ago, a few plucky, persevering men entered the then, dense, black forest country surrounding the now pleasantly Bituated township of VVoodville, they would scarcely have dared look forward to the day when the district would assume the business importance, natural resources, and wealthy prospects it to-day presents! About eight years ago the first settlers of Woodville arrived % tßere, | and located themselves-in the midst of aiorest, with full determination to hew therefrom a home, and means of livelihood m the distant future. The prospects' of the9e pioneers were then gloomy indeed, but by indomitable pluck, and energetic strife, m making a means of sustaining a living for their families, theae men have succeeded, perhaps, far beyond their anticipations, and are now enabled to look back upon their yetirs of hard labour, with no small decree of pleasure, and spend the evening of their * lives with comparative ease, whioh has been well and haid earned. , . ; ; Perhaps the most, "enterprising , aniong the pioneers of Woodville, was the respected jliable keeper Mr J". J ; Murphy, who, facing the gloomy prospect ahead, came here, and erected the Woodville Hotel, the builders of which were, Messrs H. McNeil and Clark Dunn now 1 of Palmerston , North. The situation for the house was a well selected one though on either side was heavy standing bush, scarcely yet traversed by any except the surveyor. Travellers from Napier or Masterton, through the bush tracks would find to their surprise and pleasure, a most commodious and well appointed resting place there m tfye heart of an extensive and heavy bush, and sur veyorsi bushraen and others looked upon the Hotel as a perfect haven m those ; (i»yg, when other lodgings there were none. Messrs Fountain? and Monteith about this time opened a store, on a diminutive scale,' of course, but still, it was also found a great boon to settlers who began i to axrive, and roacUmen. In those days, I we question much if that now well-to-do I firm, could have m their most .pleasant ! dreams of prosperity, have ever dreamt of \ being the happy possessors of such a splendid place of business us they : now own, or of attaining to such business importance and commercial influence. ;• The advent, of the Woodville Small Farm Association was the next important epoch iin the era of time, Mr J. Sowry, accom- ' panied by Beveral others, took ud selec- | tions and at once commenced the task of hewing down the forest m order to make themselves a home, and be it said to their great crediJ,that possibly -were it not for their enterprise, energy, and ; pluck m locating themselves and families m the heart of so dense a forest, and by dint of hard work, and doubUess much privation, Woodville would not stand m any particular as it does at this moment. In the course of a few years, however, numerous 1 settlers took up holdings, many under the Small Farm Association. The district consequently became more populous, and matters generally jear by year began to wear a different aspect. Large blocks of forest were laid low, burned off and grassed, and year by year prosperity to the pioneers became mo c apparent, the township itself began to rise, new places of business were established, schools and churches, Post and Telegraph Offices, togstber with a Police Station, and maDy other changes too numerous .tomention here, but all of which tend, to proclaim the natural advantages, and prospective . agricultural and pastoral wealth of that fine the North Island. • • j •i We must now briefly review the present situation and geneialoutlo;k of Wobdville, commercially: and. generally speaking, at the same time make reference to it* priricipal places ' of business and other improvements. ' ' ' '■ Entering the township from either Napier or Masteiton directions the general outlook is pleasing, though . the immediate vicinity isjsurrounded by bush. Still to the lover of landscape' Scenery; this fives the place a still i more Tiicturesque and gratifying appe irance. F, pm the side there are not .many places of business at present, Mr Jackson's saddler's shop, and Fancy Good's Emporium ; Mr J. Tronp's butchery/ Mr Bevan's Photographic Studio; and Mr D. Bajllie'r boot shop bein? the only busia°ss ( houses. • At the corner is the Bank of New ' Zealand, which we will describe more fullr hereafter, and is now nearly out of the contractors' hands. Upon turning, the corner and taking the Napierdirecfcion, the streefc;presentß a better apoearance,thereb ing many business establishments, notably Messrs Monteith and Fountatne's large and; commodious bindings— whieh.Jbv,.. the , w^ay would not by any means disgrace a city of larger' pretensions. The Woodville Clu.b. Hotel ia perhaps second to none on "the West Coast, m po nt of furnishings and oomfor*-, while .1 McKenzie's Abercorn ;Arms Hotel is replete with every convenience conducive to tbe^. generaV comfort of the' travelling, public/ both of' thetiosts bsin* quite the Tight stamp of gentlemen to faith • fully attend the wants and r quirements ofthepnblic, and travellers m partquar. For those who do not care to put up at an hotel, Mr J. Sowry provides accommodation, he, having at considerable expense erected a very large and commodious Temperance Hotel and Boarding-ho se, at which even the most fastidious may fiud a comfortable home. There are also several other grocer's shops, cabinetmakers, blacksmiths and wheelwrights, and butchers. MrD- Chamier Buppließ another want much felt, m the distrct, viz., an auctioneer and commission business, for which lines he is particularly well adapted, being of genial charcter, and moat energetic. Old settlers; m reviewing the foregoing brief remarks on the rise and progress of Woodville, may perchance, discover some slight errors, but we trust they wiU overlook the samo. The above has been gleaned from several sources, and from our. own personal observations. Who can say what will be the strides that will have to be recorded m the next eight years, when it is considered what rapid advance has been made iv tb.3 past eight. We can only express our hope and firm conviction that the Woodville of eight years henoe will witness a abange even more marked than ; has taken place during the same period just expired. The mpttos of the place are Progress and Enter* prise, both of which are characteristic of its inststutions and people.