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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]

Sanson

page 1263

Sanson.

Sanson, the County town of the Manawatu County, in the Sandon Riding, with a population of 255, lies nearly midway between the towns of Palmerston North, Foxton, and Longburn. It has a State school, two churches, a creamery, and a hostelry, the public offices of the Manawatu County Council, and a post and telephone office from which mails arrive and depart daily. There is one resident minister in Sanson, the Rev. Wm. Keall, of the Wesleyan denomination. Like Rongotea, its products are wool, grain, and dairy produce, the land being very rich and suitable for the purposes enmmerated. Palmerston North, which lies to the south-east of the township—about sixteen miles distant—may be reached by coach; and passing en route over Mount Stewart, capital views may be obtained of the surrounding country, including the village of Awahuri, the land around Rongotea, Longburn to the south, Palmerston North to the south-east, and Feilding to the east.

Manawatu County Council holds its monthly meetings at the County town, Sanson. Members (1897):—Messrs. V. C. Ransom, H. Hammond, W. Taylor, T. Masters, A. Strang, J. G. Wilson, and R. McLennan. The ratepayers number 500, and there are 719 rateable properties. The county is divided into seven ridings, and embraces a large area. In 1895 the Council's offices at Sanson were burned down, and these have been replaced by suitable buildings. Mr. F. Purnell, a son of Mr. J. Purnell, town clerk of Wanganui, was appointed clerk to the Council in 1896.

The Sandon School, which was founded in 1874, has 138 children on the roll, with an average attendance of 117. The present building was erected in 1882, and contains three rooms. The playground is seven acres in extent, and is divided into two parts. The headmaster, Mr. D. W. Low, is assisted by Miss Roberta Thomson, and two pupil teachers.

Court Sir Wilfrid Lawson, No. 14, I.O.R. (Sandon), meets on alternate Mondays. The secretary is Mr. R. Bowater, and the treasurer Mr. A. Cockburn.

The Sandon Creamery, which was established in 1894, is fitted with the best machinery, and puts through about 700 gallons per day during the best part of the season. The manager is Mr. Robert Henderson, who, in addition to his other work, conveys the cream daily to Palmerston, a distance of nineteen miles.

Phillips, W. J., Farmer, Sanson. The subject of this sketch was born in Wellington in 1864. His father—one of the pioneers of the Colony—arrived in the year 1842, and was one of the W. J. Phillips first to settle in Sandon. Mr. Phillips devoted himself to farming from his youth, and has been successful in his career. The homestead is beautifully situated on a rising ground, commanding a grand view of the surrounding country and the Tararua Ranges. Mr. Phillips married Miss Hammond, one of the Hammond family so widely-known and respected in Rangitikei.