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Bay of Plenty Times, Volume I, Issue 89, 9 July 1873, Page 3

A contributor supplies the following as an ari ill met! cal nut lor readers to crack :“A benevolent gentleman left a bequest of £2O per annum to the Mechanics’ Institute (we sincerely wish some benevolent gentleman would do so), to be expended in the purchase of book?, on the understanding that at the expiration of each year the book? should be sold off at half-price, the proceeds of which were to be added to, and expended with the annual donation. Query—ln how many years would the sum to bo expended amount to £5-i ?"

AIiKI'NAL I {' lIA NEON’S CUAC.II

COMM K MOH ATIO V PUPPER

<■ X I' Pidrty evening last. At h instant, a supper w,s ! ° about sixty gentlouuui resident in the disttn.-t hy Mr Hubert ’McDonald. landlord of the olnsor.tr Hotel. Tiuimnpu, in pmnmoutonition of the nvm-al of the first couch from Napier. The euilut ion was laid in the inrro room of the hotel and was credit able alike to' the hospitality of the r° r %i ! - V ,- ,St ' Hnd th '* Bkili of hi " rhefJc whine. - ■ C' tecum be, J.P., occupied the chair supported on his right by the guest of the e.t •niig, Air "Muuuwd i[..imiuti (the entcrprisiuo e ; .nt ruet or lor the new postal service between •naming* ana Unpo), ami i.aptain Morris; on 'ms «et t, h-y Mr Tew is fchuuucts and the Postmaster (-i. ISacath). Captain s>kcct occupied the vicoAiior fuh justice hud been done to the very excellent repast, the usual loyal uud orthouox toasts were duly honoured. .Use C !1 AIRMAN, in proposing the toast of She eventno, said, that he regretted very much that it i.i«i not tiiilcn to the lot of some .wo more capable Ox s, oing it uid Justice. r lhc meeting was to commemorate the inauguration of the first line of coaches between here uud Taupo, which, looked at from a commercial or a colonising point of vmupunu ns a matter tending materially to the cslu nusninent ot a permanent understamlin? between thc_ Kuropcan and Maori race, should ,- e n, cause of thankfulness not only to Taurang.i, nut to the enti e colony. Kighf. short years ngo the then Governor (Sir George Grey) advised the Imperial Government to garrixm Taupo with n regiment ot tin* line. Taupo was now garrisoned v^.., lr ■“ aT " ,on ’ a coa.-h horses! (Applause ) limn the last lew weeks the Taupo country hud been extensively taken n P foe ‘sheep Gnome purposes. livery thing in fact pointed (m spite or tne tveont unfortunate occurence in the Waisa?;o) to a bright and happier future for the 1 aurange, district. After touching on recently start oil enterprises in the neighbourhood of Tsuiranga, Mr Kdgcmube said be'ctmld nut allow the present opportunity fco pass without testifying to the very prompt nation taken in the manor’by the Postmastor-Q enerah Within three months of the petition for n subsidy to mail coaches between Fauranga ami I aupo being forwarded to Weilington, thy first coach was at our front doors. Aliucung to tne difficulties placed bv native proprietors of land through which the road runs, Air Jtdgcuniho saul that but for these obstructions the Public Works Department would have curried the road through twelve months sooner. In conclusion, ho asked all present to drink to the success of tne i auranga and .Napier line of roval mail coaches, coupled with the name of Mr Michael Hannon.

i>lr Hasson, who was heartily welcomed, after returning thanks, said that lie should at all times, he hoped, be found ready arid willins to do his best in the interests of the district. He tnorooghly believed m the future welfare of the xia.% of i sent v, and had much pleasure in pro* posing “ prosperity to Tauranga,” which it is hardly necessary to say vvas enthusiastically drank. Captain SJkkkt, in responding, remarked that never had the duty given him greater pleasure than on the present occasion. Hitherto the settlers, of Tiiiiranga hud been very much in the position or Mr Micawber, waiting for something to turn up ; but now they had something tangible to base their hopes of progress upon. That day mid shown inland couch ooturnunication to be an established facr, and Tauranga might eventually expect great things from the service. Aluch had been raid and written about their magnificent harbour, bur, of what real use was the harbour to the district if the back country was closed ? It was true that the land in the neighbourhood of laupo was not of a first-class nature, still it was about to be taken up as a sheep country. Also along the coach route, small settlements wore bound to spring up. During the summer months many tourists would avail tbeui'olvoa of an easy opportunity ot reaching the lakes and hot springs, whose reports o t the wonders there seen would douotiess induce others to come. XJesidos, the fact of a coach running would tend more than anything else to prove the peaceable nature of the country. It was also stated that emigrants were aa soon as possible to be brought into the district, thereby materially increasing the population, so that he had great hopes that Tauranga had a bright future in store, and had already made a fair start in the march of progress. Captain Sekbt, in proposing the next toast, would call attention to the fact that though that day a coach had arrived, great credit was due to those 'who nad the laying oat and construction of the road. iNo one but, a professional man could fully appreciate the difficulties an engineer had to contend witu, io making a road through a heavily timbered and unknown country. Mr Hannon had spoken most, favourably of the road this side of Taupo. lie (Captain Hkeet; had therefore great pleasure in proposing Use healths of the District Engineer and other members of the Public Works 'Department.

Capta IN' Tcunfu responded, paying a high tribute of praise to his subaltern officers.

JVir proposed, “ The Colonial Forces of New Zealand,”

Captain Tovkt responded

The Ohaikmas then g ive, “ The Telegraph Department,” coupled with the names of Mr Floyd, electrician, and Mr Sheath, telegraphist, which compliments were suitably acknowledged. .Mr Booth, in an able speech, proposed, ’‘The Press,” coupled with the names of the proprietors of the Bay of Plenty '1 i.vtfs.

Mr LANOimiDiiv: briefly responded

Captain 5 oe.ui.-i gave, - The Commercial I nteresl s of J aurunga,” to which Mr L.EWTB .MMCJita responded in lua uhual humourous manner. Mr Marry Gahdinke proposed, “The Host.” tDrunk with musical honours). Mr JinoccMOH, in replying for Mr McDonald, who was unavoidably absent at the moment, said that ho was quite sure it afforded Mr McDonald great pleasure in seeing so many of his friends present on the occasion, if Mr McDonald’s room was only as large as his heart, however, ho would nave issued more invitations ; but. as it. was plainly apparent by the present crowded state of the room, be had asked uii he could possibly accommodate. Air . Kdgcumbo, in conclusion, Hpako of Mr McDonald’s wall- known liberality

mid generosity wbouever occasion reonW" a helping hand. ' “ Iho Ladies/’ coupled jr l h ‘ / 0 f Messrs Goldsmith and A .-da?; .iAU V Jank to, and acknowledged by tlemen/ ® ho toasts of “ The Chairman ” and 1 i Vine* Chairman ” w ere then drank, and acknowledged in due eon rue. Mr li. H. UkoKiis proposed, " The Agricultural Interests of New Zealand,” coupled with the imnu's of Mr T. Ryan, engineer, and Mr Robert Kirk, to which both gentlemen responded, I , l^ AS£U ’ EI - 9 proposed, “ I hcHhipidna Interest Captain Sellars.” Iho worthy Cafi’ain t returned thanks, in a cent, speech. “■m he ..! ,>liovr ‘ n S toasts were then honoured the lauranga Rifle Volunteers,” acknowledged by Captain Nomits ; " The Taumnga light li T? e ’ acknowledged by Ltrt'tbkakt Asker." i he proceedings here took a festive and harmonious turn, and our mude-at reporter vanished irom the scene of revelry.