IN THE STREET.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume I, Issue 15, 23 October 1872, Page 3

IN THE STREET.

Evebtonb hopes that with the fine weather the good time is coming. Tauranga, like Mr Micawber, has been a long time “ waiting for something to turn up.” The coal trade is not at present available, our numerous and extensive beds of that mineral yet discovered requiting aga —a few thousand years’ and the lignite may become marketable coal; but, who knows, the use may then bo looked upon os an ancient and barbarous custom. Another pleasant anticipation has been the breaking out of a goldfield. Many are very sanguine, but “hope deferred maketh the heart sick.” That the Thames goldfield will spread in this direction is more than probable, but an isolated alluvial digging is what many believe in. Th would not bo difficult to find those who would produce such arguments as would convince almost anyone willing to believe what they hear that such is possible. I have heard the question ask»*d two or three times lately Has anyone ever found any gold at Kaimai ? The only profitable digging in Tauranga at present is that of the soil ; the more of that we get turned over the bettor and richer we got. ihus it is that an increase of working population improves a district, for labour is wealth—net only wealth in itself, but it produces wealth. If the increase of trade and means of communication be a sign of progress, a rapid stride has been made here lately. I for one should like to hear of the arrival of a steamer every day. One thing I have heard considerably talked of—if these steamers regularly call at Tauranga, well and good ; if not, it seems hardly fair they should reduce the passage money between here and Auckland. Our little steamer travels regularly, even if she has no passengers : is it fair to lower the rate just for a trip or two ? Between two stools we may fall to the ground. It has been suggested that it would be well to publish once a week or so the current prices of agricultural produce on the East Coast. One might be led to suppose from what appeared the other day in an Auckland paper that living in Tauranga is most expensive. How on earth potatoes came to be quoted at upwards of £4O a ton I cannot imagine, when they can bo bought at little, if any, over the Auckland price. Many articles of consumption have of necessity the charge of freight to be added to cost price. As the season for cricket, football, and other sports of like nature is now coming, it behoves our townsmen to secure some eligible site for indulging m these games. The Monmouth Redoubt field; now called the Government paddock, might doubtless bo obtained for that purpose without in any way interfering with its present use. It has, however, been recommended that a memorial be sent to the General Government (who at present hare the control of the Tauranga lands) requesting that The field be made a permanent reserve as a people’s park and public recreation ground. Ornamental trees might then be planted round it by public subscription. If this could bo done the rising generation would bless us for our foresight, and future Tauranga, like many other towns, would boast of its domain and public gardens in which all members of the community might find enjoyment and healthy exercise during spare hours. No other spot in the neighbourhood of the town offers such advantager, and no tiros should be lost in making an effort to secure it. So Poverty Bay has a newspaper of its own—long may it wave. Though a younger settlement, it bids fair to outrun some of its older relations. Certainly, it had not to labour against the many drawbacks both Opotiki and Tauranga have experienced; but another thing in its favour is, that the settlers appear to work in unison. Petty individual jealousies, and disagreements about carrying out useful objects, wonderfully retard general progress in many places. A suggestion made for public good is too often looked upon as a private scheme introduced for individual benefit, and as a consequence either cried down or treated with indifference. Everyone appears anxious to see the Beach Hoad completed, its present unfinished state coni veying a good idea of the improvement it will then be both to r the appearance of the town and the conveniences of traffic, to say nothing of the advantages in a sanitary point o*f view, providing as it does facilities for complete drainage, a subject of congratulation now the hot weather is coming. PAXILI.tJ3.