THE RANGITIKEI-MANAWATU DISTRICT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4937, 18 January 1877, Page 3

THE RANGITIKEI-MANAWATU DISTRICT.

(BY OCR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) The natural importance of this district has somewhat forced it into notice lately, and people in Wellington city and other portions of the defunct province are beginning to be aware that Rangitikei-Manawatu (conjoining names for convenience of description) represents a large amount of progress and settlement, and a field for still further progress and settlement. But, outside the old province of Wellington, in the colony at largehut little is known of a district fairly entitled to be ranked parallel with any in the North or South Island, and even within the limits of the old province such as is known of Rangi-tikei-Manawatu is that which has absolutely forced itself upon public attention, for of the real prosperity and resources of the country but little seems to be apprehended outside its limits. I shall reserve until after I have made the readers of this paper acquainted in detail with the district any comments in the nature of “ then and now,” any remarks as to the difference which some five or six years have produced in the district; but I may be permitted to say at this writing that where six years ago there was almost a terra incognita there are now flourishing townships, a railway some 35 miles in length open, and frequent settlement throughout the district. This being premised, I would ask those who follow me to enter the district by one of its natural ports,

. FOXTON, some eight hours by steamer from Wellington. The town is situated in a bend of the Manawatu River, which is no inconsiderable stream, and the bar at tho mouth of which is very easy of passage to coasters and small steamers, Foxton is now a county town, a promotion which has not been accomplished without heartburnings and recrimination. Its elevation to a dignity (the profits of which seem more problematical than present) arose in this wise. The railway which runs from it to the interior, passing through Palmerston, and having its present terminus in Feilding, has not been taken via Sandon (the small farm settlement formed by emigres from the Hutt). Asa result the Sandon people look upon those of Palmerston and Feilding as natural enemies, and have joined those of Foxton, who have also received the assistance of the Coast voters at Waikanae and Otaki. Foxton returns two members to Feilding’s one, in consequence of a muddle made by the Highwaysßoard authorities of the latter in returning the list of ratepayers, whereby those of Feilding were excluded, and Foxton apparently largely preponderated in population. Thus when the County Council first met there were five members out of nine in favor of Foxton as the County town, and a Foxton man, in the person of Mr. Thynne, was elected chairman. Foxton appears to think that these two advantages are compensatory of the fact that it is not yet quite equal to London, for it has started to reopen its Athenaeum (the library of which has been kept nicely in a fireplace), and has scouted with indignation a proposition to charge the County Council £1 per sitting for the use of the Athenmum. And here it may be well to mention that the people of Wellington and the other cities of New Zealand, whose local municipal politics absorb their attention, have little or no idea of the intense interest taken in the County Councils by those whose affairs they are intended to administer. In connection with the railway terminus at Foxton, a very substantial wharf has been constructed, on which a pair of heavy shears are in course of erection for landing heavy goods, especially the railway engines, much required on the line. The town itself itself is above the average, most of the buildings being substantial, especially a new hotel put up by Mr. Whyte, and furnished and conducted in a manner which it would be well if a few hotel proprietors in Wellington could see and copy. A public hall is also in course of erection, and the various religious sects have their abiding places in neat buildings. The trade of the port, from being a few years nil, now averages thirty vessels a month, amongst which are to be counted the s.s. Napier and Tui. On this trade I shall have more to say at the period I have previously indicated for other remarks, namely, when I shall have given some details of the whole district. Having been an attentive listener in the gallery during the last session of Parliament, my first trip inland from Foxton was to tho Douglas purchase, THE OHOUA DOWNS STATION. I had so frequently had the pleasure of hearing Sir George Grey, Mr. Rees, and other purists denounce the sale of tho block forming this station to a company as a gross outrage on the dearest interests of mankind, that I made haste to see it. Riding through the sandhills which envelop Foxton for several miles, at about the eighth mile-post on the Sandon-road I arrived at the homestead, where I was received with the utmost courtesy by the manager, Mr. Dawson. The homestead is not upon tho block purchased from Government, but upon a block of 11,000 acres purchased by tho company from Mr. Nathan, of Wellington, and joined to that obtained from the Government by the purchase from private parties of a few intermediate sections. Three years'sago/; on the site of tho homestead, and between and the sea, was a favorite hunting-ground for those who like chasing and shooting wild 4 cattle. Now there are pretty cottages, wellfenced paddocks, a boiling-down establishment, and all the belongings of a first-class homestead, while around may be seen sheep, cattle, and horses. Mr. Dawson was kind enough to accompany me overalargeportion of the station, which involved a ride of over thirty miles, and I am enabled, therefore, as to tho actual condition of tho place, to write from 'personal observation. It may be well to premise with a history of the purchase. On September the 2nd, 18/4, Orders in Council were issued authorising tho sale to the company of 22,000 acres of land at 12s. Od. an acre, of which 7000 acres were to be set apart for fh/- mu-pose of”

special settlement, tbe company undertaking to locate settlers upon them in two years’" time. On the other hand, the Government undertook to complete the survey of the land and to put the company in possession. Then arose difficulties. Maoris made claims here and claims there about the block, and the result was that the Government could not fulfil their portion of the conditions, and the company did hot fulfil theirs. And the latter could scarcely have been expected to have done so whilst as yet they were not in the possession which was promised to them. But in one respect the delay has not been disadvantageous to the public interests. As the 7000 acres for special settlement were originally laid out they ran around the rest of the property in a series of small sections, such as, owing to the diversified nature of the land, there would have been considerable difficulty in getting any one to take up. Now this is all changed. The Government have, I am led to understand, quieted the native title, and the 2nd of last, month having seen the expiry of the time within which the first contracts between Government and company were tobe fulfilled,asocond period has been entered on with a most advantageous change (for the country) as regards the locality of the special settlement. Some time ago the Government appointed two gentlemen to select the locality. These were Messrs. Gower and Sanson,, old settlers in the district, and well acquainted with it. They picked two blocks, one of 1300 acres, of easy access from the Sandon-road, and the other really most admirably suited for special settlement. It comprises a flax swamp, now ready for agricultural work, in consequence of having been drained by the company, a terrace of fern land, backed by bush, and the whole impinging on the Sandon settlement. It is. contemplated so to divide this block as that each settler shall have his share of swamp, terrace, and bush—and I wish I had a share. It will be remembered that an Act in reference to the Oroua Downs Block was passed last session. By it the above arrangements were made. The company have come to a wise decision as to ■ the class of settlers they propose to locate. Seven years will be allowed in which to pay for the land, and every effort will be made to secure as purchasers those having agricultural experience and some little capital, so that they will not have to make the putting of stock on their property simultaneous with the effecting of a mortgage 011 the same. I may say here that the success of the Sandon special settlement, which will be described in a subsequent letter, is an effective argument in favor of the plan indicated. The station or block purchased from Government is called “ The Oroua Downs,” but, with one of Dickens’ characters, I am tempted to ask, “Why Downs?” Of the 22,000 acres which it includes about one-third is swamp laud and the rest bush, and there is not a symptom of “ downs” about either. Without an exception, not a portion of it is fitted for sale in small quantities. That to be disposed of by the company in the special settlement form has become most suitable in consequence of the drainage works carried out. For the rest, it will undoubtedly he of great subsequent value, but only because capital has been freely and coherently invested, a result which could not possibly have been attained if the land had been parcelled out amongst a number of small proprietors. Already the improvements effected by the company, are hearing fruit in the increased value given to adjacent lands. Thus I know of 100 acres sold for £3 10s. an acre, and 200 acres sold for £3 an acre, bordering on the company’s property, and purchased originally for perhaps a sixth of either sum. As has been said, I rode over a large portion of the block, and had an opportunity of seeing what Douglas and Co. (to call them by that name) had done. A very vast drainage plan is being carried out in relation to the most extensive swamp on the estate. It includes a main drain connecting with the Oroua River, over four miles in length, 25ft. wide at the top, with an average depth of 9ft., and a width at the bottom of sft. When I say that this plan of drainage is being carried out, I am scarcely correct. A great portion of it is completed. There arc now some 250 miles of main and branch drains completed, and their good effects are plainly visible. That the land, with a systematic outlay of capital upon it, is most valuable, can be easily seen ; and the swamps will yet pay cent, per cent, upon the outlay gone to with regard to them. But had the property been subdivided, this outlay would never have been undertaken ; and had Government proposed to make the outlay previously to , selling the land an indignant and virtuous Opposition would most certainly have denounced them for entering upon speculations with public money, which should have been left to private capital. The bush land is also good ; but except in one place, the timber would not itself pay the expense of felling. On a patch of twenty-eight acres where the timber has been felled and then partially burned off, I saw, however, English grass of this season’s sowing growing luxuriantly. The Oroua River forms the eastern boundary of the block. On the north it is fringed by the Sandon settlement. On the west chiefly by what is known as Larkwortliy’s purchase, and on the south by the Foxton and Feilding railway. Roughly, it may be said to average nine miles in length and five in breadth. Fifteen miles of roads and tracks have been formed by the company, and fifty miles of fencing have been put up. In order to give an idea of the expenditure of the company in permanent improvements, I looked over the cash book for the past four months and found the expenditure to be —For September, £1286; October, £1403 ; November, £1909; and December, £2682 ; making a total of £6278. About 150 men are at present at work on the property, and it is stocked with 800 head of cattle and 13,000 sheep. It will carry many more in a very few years, but not long since it was only capable of carying 6000 sheep. The homestead is situated on what is really the most uninviting-looking portion of the estate; but it has tho advantage of being close to the Foxton and Sandon read. The people of the latter place, who, with few exceptions, have never been back upon the run to see its real capabilities, are never tired of justly praising the improvements effected, which aro visible from the road. What was a wilderness it now a cultivated place, and the short time in which this change has been effected is worthy of commendation. I cannot conclude this letter without bearing testimony to the excourtesy I received from the efficient manager, Mr. Dawson, who was most ready to afford me every information I desired from him.