IN THE STREET.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume I, Issue 24, 23 November 1872, Page 3

IN THE STREET.

One may now form some idea of the improvement the Boacft Road will be to our littio town. That portion of it already filled in shows the full width of the new road, and when the whole is complete, Tauranga will be able to boast of a good, though short marine parade, in place of mud. shop sweepings, and other general rubbish cue has so long been accustomed to. Lately several horses have been put into the pouna, and as they are from time to time advertised fop sale, I suppose their owners could not bo discovered. This is a pity. 1 should very much like to see the fine enforced for allowing such animals to run at liberty. If the privilege of an open run be so much abased, it is high time the local authorities took some steps to prevent any horses from running at large. It is really a pity every week or so to see, would be settlers come and go because they cannot get land. That there is plenty there can he no doubt, but Government will neither sell it outright, lot it on improving lease with purchasing clause, or even give it away. When all the military settlers were provided for m the Waikato district, the whole of the surplus land was divided into throe classes, and was open for a certain time for selection—lst class at 15a per acre, 2nd class at 10s per acre, and the 3rd class at 5s per acre. Up to that date, if two or V.T* -r° r < ‘V° mm ° i and ib put up to auction but if only one, that applicant became the purchaser After the expiration of a certain time, any of the land could at once bo purchased on making a deposit of twenty per cent, of tho purchase money, the balance to be paid in canal proportions at the end of three, six, nine, and twelve months. The Tauranga laud, like the Waikato, was taken for settlement tinder tho New Zealand Settlements Act, 1863, and tho conditions referred to above were made for tho sale of lands taken under that Act, but here ia Tauranga at the present time no lauds direct from the Grown can bo obtained except town sections. and those at an exorbitant price. I fully agree with many others that Boxing Day ehould not be allowed to go bye without notice. It things wore rightly managed, a very fair day’s amusement at a slight expense might ba provided In the first place, why not have a Horticultural Show r and u sufficient money cannot bo raised i rize « s ’ an adtn * BS * ori fee of sixpence or a smiling be charged, and tho proceeds devoted to prizes. Wo cannot here expect to do things on a grand scale, but there is no reason whv we should not have a Show of some kind. Our cricketers might give a sample of. their skill in the noble ®P or^B might be provided for the juveniles, ana those who feci inclined might wind up with a ball. Anyhow, do something to hoop up old associations. The Committee of tho Mechanics’ Institute have hither to been very happy and fortunate in their entertainments; cannot they devise something novel, yet pleasing, in tho way of a change for Christmas time. But X am forgetting something of importance and general interest to business people —an inland mail service. If one wishes to send a letter, say to tho lmk© country, ho must wait till a friend is going up or an orderly return* mg to one of the Contingents on service. Should a letter he required to ba transmitted to Taupo in a hurry ? carry it yourself. Same time since we had an overland mail to the Thames. This is done away with, and regular weekly mails by means of the Southern Cross, and extra facilities of communication by telegraph satisfies everyone ; but as the expense of the Thames Hoe ia saved, why cannot an inland mail bo provided gay once a week; a t present a letter may lie at Maketu two or three weeks before an opportunity of forwarding it might arise. We have military stations at Tauranga, Kaiteriria, Niho o to Kiore, and Taupo. It surely would not be a difficult matter to secure regular communication to Taupo, and thence by the regular route to Napier. Why Taupo should bo made the terminus I cannot imagine, # Paxilvcs.