NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. BAY OF PLENTY TIMES.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume I, Issue 43, 29 January 1873, Page 3

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

BAY OF PLENTY TIMES.

Blaster and Blower.—ln our next.

“ The spirit of the times shall teach me speed.” KINO JOHN, ACT IV. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 1873.

To-day is the anniversary of the proclamation of New Zealand (1840) as a British colony. On dit that Whangan ata is to ba declared a public goldfield on the Ist February next. Divine service was held on Sunday morning last at the Mission Chapel, where a large congregation was assembled. Our new Incumbent, the Rev Mr Jordan, read prayers, and his Lordship the Bishop of Wa’apu preached, taking for his test 1 Gab, e. 1, 10 v. : —“ But though we or an angel from Heaven preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached un(o you, let him be accursed.’ 8 His Lordship dwelt particularly on the march of knowledge in ihe present day, the freedom and irreverence of thought in matters of religion, and the fatal atheistical ideas that are too often found to be possessed by some persons in every part of the world. The preacher then spoke of the change which had taken place in this district. Not very long ago Tauranga was inhabited only by the dusky savage, and the word of God utterly unknown. Now, however, we were so fortunate ns to have the gospel preached to us regularly, a blessing for which we could not be too thankful. In the evening, at the District School, the Rev Mr Jordan preached on the text, “Wilt thou be mads whole, 8 * to a large and attentive congregation. The Town Board have, we think, exercised a wise discretion in taking over the control of the public wharf from the Provincial Government. There is nothing like local management of local affairs, and it is undoubtedly a step in the right direction. A public meeting was held yesterday evening at the Court House, for the purpose of taking into consideration general church matters and the election of a Church Committee. There was a large attendance, and great interest appeared to be taken in the proceedings. We hold over our report until next issue. We have been favoured by Mr Samuels with a sample of some white ash kidney potatoes lately purchased by him, and grown by Mr Haggerty from seed obtained of John Chadwick, Esq , of the Gale Pa. Wo learn that 301ba weight of seed produced 600 cwt. It is hardly necessary to say that this is a splendid yield, while the sample appears to possess all the qualities requisite in a good potato. The prejudice held by the Maori against the sale f and to Europeans is fast dying away, and may ■e looked upon as a sure sign of the amicable teehng existing- between the races in the Bay of enty. In to-day’s issue we publish an adver■aeruent of a run for sale at Waiho, comprising some 20 miles in extent. Mr Morrison, who is f’ c!ln S tts fcgcnt in the matter, informs us that the sud ia of good quality and belongs to a native. Mr Commissioner Clarke, Captains Turner and air and party returned from Maungatautari on iuonday evening last. -About ten days ago a large drove of cattle firmed here from ISapier, en route for the s lames. One of the drovers passed through •luraiiea ye.-terday on hi* return to Hawke’s _ *y, wluther he now proceeds for a mob of sheep. ie cattle, wb learn, were readily sold at good puces at Tikitia, near Mangavvata, and the sheep e a 80 squired for that district. A fire occurred in Mr Maxwell’s bakehouse last at half-past 7. Full particulars of whicli * a Ppear in our next, Southern Cross arrived last evening, with a number of passengers. ?°^ erfss > -A- C., returned from his usual u,B P«**io n °f the various Constabulary w°ns on the Last Coast on Sunday night. r meeting is announced to beheld toShe ereili s®’ * n rater'* store, at 7 o'clock, for - urpose of discussing the merits of the new Education Act. thT'f . rem,l) d those interested that tenders for p!u feet of timber on the site of K-.R-? ! n n2a Brid " e » on the Msketu and Rotorua t'tnh ' - * ,Je c ‘* osed on the 3rd Februarv. The oe? 18 lying at the Ngae bosh.

H™ * < J eor S e l blm C. 8., has received iustruc- „° n I,T headquarter., at Wellington, to IZI- ? °. lh / having obtained the appointment of Assistant' Engineer in that'district. Ihe appointmeot dates from the 2nd of February, consequently he will leave Tauranga almost immediately for his new Geld of operations. Air Simpson is known as a " rising man " in hi ß profession, a fcst which the Gcremmeafc also appears to ba aware of. In pn vate Hf e M r Simpson has mada ramny friends, who, while rejoiciog at his promotion, will greatly regret his departure from amongst them. Oar readers will be pleaded to learn that Father Orange is fast recovering from the effects of his late illness. The hour at which divine service was held on Sunday evening last, at the Schoolhouse, Cameron Koad, was most unusual and inconvenient for nearly all the congregation, and we are quite sure we only echo the wishes of at least four fifths of the pubno in calling the attention of the committee to the fact, with a request that it may be altered. During the summer months half-past six or even seven o'clock is quite early enough for the general body of worshippers. At least, such is public opinion. The usual monthly inspection parade of the lauranga Eiße Volunteers took place, tinder command of Captain Norris, at the Government paddock, last Saturday afternoon. On Saturday morning a prospecting party of three set out, from Te Papa, for Whangamata, in a boat which they afterwards left at Katikati, proceeding overland by way of Waihi. On Sunday a person who returned from Whangamata, having left at eight o'clock in the morning and arrived in Te Papa at five in the evening" stated that he met the party in question on their way. He said that there were many stores at Whangamata, where almost everything might be procured, and many more stores were going up in the bush ; that the supposed diggings were some short distance inland, where a large and increasing number of people were scattered about, most of whom had brought their supplies from Shortlaod, although pack horses "were almost constantly arriving and being despatched from Whangamata. At present the men on the ground were not fupp sed to be digging or prospecting, but only waiting for the opening of the field ; but there wis no doubt they would be using their powers of observation as vigilantly as circumstances would permit, and possibly bo having an occassional shy at any quartz boulder which might be in their wa y- . The commencement of the road beyond Waihi is described as very rough and steep for a short distance, though it afterwards improves. The individual referred to, !had gone by the steamer from Taurcnga and was landed on the rocks outside the bay forming Whangamata harb ur, and he found the p'assage over these rocks b-)th difficult and dangerous. Ho said there was a fine large flat, extremely suitable for a township, at Whangamata; but this, unfortunately, had been reserved for the natives, who would most probably lease it for building purposes, as the land was leased in Shortland. He des-eribed the state of affairs at VVhangamata as one of suspense and expectation. Mr Mackay whs expected at Pa»*akawai in a day or two. We have frequently of late noticed horsemen riding on the uewly-formed iootpath on the Beach Road, to the great inconvenience and danger of foot passengers, especially ladies and children. We would suggest to these individuals the advisability in future of keepiug on the road, otherwise the lynx-eyed JSaden will probably draw their attention to the matter by an expensive and somewhat disagreeable process." We have received a letter dated from Te Wairoa, Taraweru, signed " Kofconiahana," complaining of the price charged for goods at the ICaiteriria store in that district. Our correspondent forwards us a long list of charges, and makes some personal remirks respecting the storeman. We decline to publish the letter, because we look vipon the matter as entirely one of business between the owner of the store and his customers —a matter with which we have not the slightest right to interfere ; and even if we had, the prices do no£ appear to be at all exorbitant. For instance, sugar i-t quoted from 7d to lOd p«r lb ; corned beef, 8d ; biscuits, 8d per lb. '1 aking the great expense of packing into consideration, we look upon the charges as most reasonable. So far as we can judge, the necessaries of life are sold at fair rates, and if our correspondent requires the luxuries he mentions, he rmi»t be prepared to pay for them. We are quite sure both the proprietor of the store and his town manager are too wise in their generation to charge in excess.