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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 65

Marton

Marton.

This town is named after the birthplace of Captain Cook. It is the capital of the Rangitikei district, and is the most populous and well-built town, next to Palmerston, of the inland towns on the coast, and being at the junction of the northern line of railway now in course of construction, is rapidly rising. Nearly the whole, of the country surrounding Marton is laid off in square mile blocks, sub-divided into farms of 80 acres. There are good roads running all round the district. The visitor will be astonished at the number of good residences in every direction. In the matter of roads Marton is well off, a main road goes through Turakina to Wanganui; another to the upper portion of the Manawatu district; another extends northwards and taps the best of the farming country; another road, the Pukepapa, runs north and south.

Marton dates from about 1864, and originally consisted of the usual hotel and store, but now is a municipality, and has an extensive system of water supply, lately constructed. The 'Rangitikei Advocate' is a daily newspaper of considerable circulation, and enjoys, under the editorship of Mr. Claude Hearn, considerable influence in the neighborhood, as is usually the case with the local press in New Zealand, more especially this part of the North Island. And it must be confessed the press, as a rule, does everything it can to keep the best interests of the districts before the public.

The town is decidedly pretty and worth a visit. Some of the buildings are handsome—the Anglican Church, St. Stephen's, being the most conspicuous in the town. There is a Drill Hall, Masonic Hall, Friendly Society's Hall, four churches, several excellent hotels, and the streets are well laid out, and contain numerous shops of a very attractive character.

There is plenty of good land for sale near Marton. Messrs. Beckett, Hammond, and Smith, in one block, 6000 acres, and Mr. D. C. Tennent has about 10,000 acres for sale. All this land is near the town. Both firms are well established and known for probity.