RANGITIKEI'S PROGRESS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 9021, 7 December 1907, Page 2

RANGITIKEI'S PROGRESS.

It is difficult" to realise the chancer. 50 years has wrought. A visitor to Ra'ngitikei will find it hard to believe that only 50 years ago the Comity was absolutely iu a stato of nature. It is now a closely settled district str.dded wil;li comfortable homesteads. A comparison between then and now is out of the question here. The differences are as strikingly in contrast as it is possible to conceive. Then there was hardly an acre in cultivation; now hardly ;ui acre is unfilled. Ami so development has gone on with remarkable steadiness from year to year. It is easy to understand why this should be so. Raugitikoi's strength is in her soil, and this what makes the towns prosperous 'Marlon has. shared largely in this progress, and now that the .Alain. Trunk Lino is fast Hearing completion there are |

striking evidences already that it is going to be a far move, important centre than was first thought. The building trade has never been so brisk, and this activity is particularly noticeable in the vicinity of the' Juucfion Railwav. Property lias sold freely there. All available .".Returns offered a few years ago were secured by people who had groat faith iu the. future of this place, and all have sold again at greatly increased price:!. A fresh impetus has been given to the progress of the township at Marton Junction, by the acquiring of a very fine property_ adjoining the station winch until ieoeutly' was not .'vailablo for subdivision. This property, containing some 100 acres, was bought byr.nl enterprising syndicate, who have had it subdivided into magnificent! building and suburban allotments, j facing the main street t) the Rail-] way Station, and forniiiigide.il busi- i nos'.s and residential sites. Recognis- j iug that Marton Extension is going j to'bo a township of considerable ins- j portnnee, sites have been reserved j for Town Hall, schools, recreation ground, and for the four churches. These reserves have been offered on [ the condition that building.-, are erected thereon within three years, j Yesterday Mr liareonrl; was iu I

Marlon completing arrangements for this big sale, -\vliinli takes place at Wellington next Wednesday, December Jltl'i.