SATURDAY, JULY 12, 1873.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume I, Issue 90, 12 July 1873, Page 3

SATURDAY, JULY 12, 1873.

Are the ratepayers of this district doing their best to get good men into the Boards '? Bo they go. the right way to work to obtain the best men of the district to watch over the expenditure of the rates ? Do they take any steps whatsoever to become acquainted with the views of candidates for the office of trusteeship ? These questions present themselves prominently before us now, on the eve of an election of trustees for the ensuing year. ¥e much fear that to all of them a negative reply must be given. If the first” of these questions be answered in the affirmative, it would be quite unnecessary to introduce the second question. 'But we say “No” to both. We say that the ratepayers are not doing their best to obtain good men as trustees, for the simple reason that they are not going the right way to work. Everything as regards this matter is (and has been since the formation of Hoad Boards in this district) left to chance. It has been possible (though that possibility, happily, has never been taken advantage of) for five men, who, we will say, desired a road made, utterly useless and unnecessary to the general public, to attend a meeting of ratepayers at the proper time and to become duly elected. And wby has this been possible hitherto ? For the simple reason that no steps are taken by the ratepayers to obtain an insight, by public exposition, of the men elected prior to their election. This district has, so far, in spite of this, been, comparatively speaking, lucky ip tlm haphazard selection of the members of its Town and Country Boards. Will it be always be so lucky? Not being blessed with the gift of prophecy, we do not predict one way or the other. We simply say, «Trust not to luck in the choice of trusteesand this we say, as may readily be imagined, solely in the jftteresfc of the settlers at large. To us individually it matters little ; but wo believe in method in everything, and have no in saying that hitherto method in this matter has been a dead letter. Why has the present Town Board existed in its entirety for the space of two years? Judging from the grumbling we have from time to time heard, we should say certainly not because the.townspeople are quite satisfied in all respects, but because they are too apathetic in' ■this matter. Is it not an honour for a settled to be chosen a trustee of the public funds ? Certainly, it is. Then why not make the men wishing to attain this honour publicly declare beforehand their views and intentions ? If ratepayers insisted on this, they would, instead' of waiting till the hour of election, and then electing “ dark horses,” know the views of tho men they were electing, and thus give honour to whom honour is due. Would they elect a man to represent them in the Provincial Council who had not previously at public meetings expressed his views on matters pertaining to the welfare of the district ? Certainly not. Then why elect men whose opinions are not clearly known, to handle the ratepayers money ? The whole system is rotten. It is as necessary lor the district to have good men managing its ailairs as it is necessary for the colony ol New Zealand to have good men managing colonial matters, iiatepayers, don’t go into the Board-room not knowing whom elect, and waiting for some one present to be proposed and seconded “ as a tit and

lure *'° a^Pr the expendi(J -\ our ‘honey paid for rates - but ? m and vote tor those men who pubtiolv £ I previous to the time of election views } f >U aC( i u whited with their vou-’ r-ft" P TO Pcr way of expending disfoi t e Kon : cmber that the Tauran-ra tint with 3 r!S ’ n!? 5U importance, and tine w U h its importance follows the imot lts .Towa and Road Boards. to am, we say, insist on knowing nuhhvm ot inten ' ,in e

thnf }l AD V 1 I ; xtor, »s us by teicurarn tnat it is his intention to visit Tan ran ga at an early date, when ho will address the electors on matters connected with the bupermtendency, for which high office * xr -»-largavjUe is a candidate.

The entertainment given on Tuesday last for purposes was comparatively a success. We eay comparatively , for we can hardly expect lor a long time to come (with the limited talent at present in this place), even distantly, to pproach the brilliant entertainments given at the opening of. the District Schoolhouae, and that tor the Sunday School. Wo missed the voices of many lady friends, and also the juveniles. The taiented piamsto merited an encore in “ Der Abschied, rather than in “ Danish Airs.” Wo are giad to see another of the people taking solos the Last Rose of Summer ” suited his fine mellow voice. The favourite old duet by a lady and gentleman was well sung. “Let me like a soldier fall was exceedingly well rendered. The Lady of the Lea” well deserved its encore, greatest source of merriment was “The Witches Glee,” as sung the first time. We never Heard it before as a comic glee, nor do wg think it possible to repeat it in the same style. Par parentnesis, it is a pity that amateurs do not practice a clearer pronunciation of tbe words—half the enjoyment of a song consists in knowing the sentiment The opening address of the reverend gentleman was highly flattering to the liberality of the district in raising subscriptions ici o Church. i£ \at jou please Jl was rendered with the reader’s usual vivacity. The moral lesson in “ I)ou’t_ mention it. ” is worthy of being remembered. *• Melting momenta ’’ and “ Turbot ” was a rich repast, filling all with good humour at the close.

In the Resident Magistrate’s Court on Tbursday last, pno disciple of Bacchus paid the usual fee to the Treasury.

Mr r* ioyd, telegraph electrician, was a passenger by tho Southern Cross on Thursday last. It is reported amongst tho “ knowing ones” in such matters that Mr J"sines Mackay, Jun., really intends to enter for the Superintendents! race. yV e should imagine, however, that Mr Mackay has other and better “ fish to fry.” ihe business at present brought before the Supreme Court, now sitting at Auckland, is not of much interest to the Tauranga public. It is expected that the charge preferred against Captain Moller will be beard on Tuesday nest. The Grand Jury found a true bi 11 in every case on the calendar. o,

The erection ©f the Omanawa bridge ia progressing favourably. At the Central Board of Education held at Auckland the other day, application was made and granted for an assistant teacher, at a salary of £lO per annum, for the Tanranga District School. Salary to date from Ist January last. Mr Dargaville, we learn, having received a requisition from two hundred and ninety electors, asiiiug him to become a candidate for the office of Superintendent, has complied with the request. On Tuesday last Mr Dargaville gave a public expression of his views, at the Mechanics’ Insti* tnto, Auckland, to a crowded meeting. A vote of confidence was recorded.

By telegram from Cambridge, we learn that a monster meeting will be held at that place to-day anent Sullivan’s murder. The meeting has been called by the committee appointed at a former meeting. Notices have been sect, and delegates are expected from all parts of the Waikato. Messrs Hesketh and Richmond give notice in our advertising columns that, unless the education rate is paid forthwith to Mr R, B. Dusk, the Receiver, or the local collector, proceedings will be taken against all defaulters.

Our Opotiki correspondent has nothing to report this week save and except that two vessels arc in the offing.” Happy correspondent.

♦ The Honorable Dr Pollen has been gazetted Colonial Secretary vice Mr .Reynolds resigned.

We are happy to welcome amongst us two gentlemen—Mr Firth Wrigley and Mr Cardno—who intend settling at Tauranga. The former has commenced business as general storekeeper in the large store lately occupied by Messrs Harrison and Co. ; and Mr Cardno, we learn, intends paying attention to general commission agency. If report speaks truly, the ratepayers of the town of Tauranga are promised ample room for choice in the matter of their representatives in the Town Board. Several gentlemen are freely spoken of aa probable candidates, and at the same time it is rumoured that at lease two of the present members will not offer themselves for reelection. It is hardly fair, or, rather, it is impossible, to offer an opinion upon the respective merits of tho candidates in the present state of affairs. Tho day of nomination ia not yet fixed, and nothing is yet known of tho views held by those seeking the suffrages of the electors in regard to the future operations of the Board. On dlt t that Messrs remington, Grey, and Asher intend to woo the sweet voices of the ratepayers.

It will be perceived by advertisement that a public meeting will be held at the Masonic Hotel on Tuesday evening next, rc Town Board matters. It is pleasant to know that everyone in Tauranga is not asleep. The public are indebted to the conveners tor their forethought in calling the meeting.