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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]

[Ballance]

The special settlement of Ballance was named after its originator, the late Hon. John Ballance, who, as Minister of Lands in the Stout Vogel Government, introduced the legislation under which a number of the special settlements have been formed. The township is about eight miles from Pahiatua in a westerly direction, and is reached by a very good but rather narrow road. After crossing the Mangatainoka bridge, and passing the Pahiatua railway station—still in embryo—the road winds over a hill somewhat after the manner of the Wadestown road from Wellington. On descending into the valley of the Mangahao, a fairly large area of level land is met with. The road as far as the Mangahao bridge leads also to a district called Nikau, but at this point the road diverges, Ballance being on the right and Nikau on the left.

With the exception of one or two cottages, the dairy factory gives the first sign of the township. It is not only the first to be seen, but the first and most common topic of conversation, for the Ballance dairy factory and the Ballance butter are renowned throughout the whole district. The manager, Mr. T. J. Broome, takes unusual interest in the conduct of the factory, and it is no exaggeration to say that all classes of the Ballance community are proud of the dairy factory and its popular manager. The prosperity of the settlement is on all sides attributed to the phenomenal success of this dairying venture page 1051
Ballance Central Store and Post-Office.

Ballance Central Store and Post-Office.

About a quarter of a mile from the dairy factory is the township, which consists of a store and post-office. a school and schoolhouse, a Wesleyan church, a public hall, and about a dozen houses.

The settlers of Ballance are a hard-working, go-ahead community. The church and public hall have been built by volunteer labour, and the people are bent on self-improvement. The schoolmaster, Mr. Anderson—a gentleman of wide experience, and possessing exceptional facilities for acquiring a knowledge of the facts—speaks very hopefully of the future of Ballance. The people, he says, are sober, industrious, and intelligent, and their children are being trained to make good settlers.

Tourists and others visiting Pahiatua, and having a day, or even a few hours, at their disposal, should certainly drive over to this progressing settlement, for there is much of interest on every hand. Where but seven years ago the silence of the forest reigned supreme, may now be heard the lowing of cattle, the merry laughter of children, and the friendly ring of the builder's hammer.