THE BAY OF PLENTY TIMES. SATURDAY, JULY 19, 1573.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume I, Issue 92, 19 July 1873, Page 3

THE BAY OF PLENTY TIMES.

SATURDAY, JULY 19, 1573.

“ The spirit of the times shall teach me speed.'’ KING JOHN, ACT IV.

The annual election for the Trustees of the Tauranga Highway District, or, as it is more commonly called, the Country Board, takes place on Friday next, at the District School House. "We are pleased to notice that the present Trustees, in calling the appear to have consulted the convenience of those whose avocations employ them through tho day, the hour being fixed at 7 p.m. The work performed during the past year by the Country Board does them infinite credit. No part of the district over which the Trustees had control can complain of neglect. More than a mile of the Otumoetai Eoad has been very satisfactorily made, and a very fair descent to the beach on that side has also been formed. A considerable cutting near Te Hanga has been made, rendering traffic towards Pye’s Pa much easier ; while the repairs of tbe Judea Road will be fully appreciated by every one travelling in that direction. It is needless for us to say much about that portion of the Cameron Eoad now under construction. The necessity and utility of the work is patent to any one. When we take into consideration all these improvements, made with the limited means at the command of the Board, and the very small actual working expenses, we congratulate the ratepayers upon their representatives, and almost feel inclined to make the Tauranga Country District an exception to the rule advocated by us of electing new men ; for however much a periodical change may be desirable, it is not in every instance advisable to deprive men of the opportunity of carrying out to the end operations they have so judiciously commenced. We believe we are also correct in stating that the works now to be tendered for to the Resident Engineer are mainly owing to the exertions of the present Board. One vacancy has been made in the list of Trustees by the retirement of Mr Andrew Craig, who represented the Otumoetai portion of the district, and we think the ratepayers would act wisely in returning, at the coming election, some enterprising settler having property in that neighbourhood. It would be out of place were we to particularise the activity of the individual members of what we may term the old Board, but believe they have all dpne their duty, and consistently carried out the trust reposed in them by their fellow settlers.

The Country Board has one great advantage over most similar bodies, and that is the possession of the valuable and gratuitous services of Captain Sheet, who, as secretary, engineer, and superintendent of works, has been the means of saving to ratepayers a considerable sum, generally disbursed under the head of “ professional services ” —an item frequently very disproportionate to the rates collected.

We learn from a good authority in Wellington that Mr Stafford has intimated that he will not lead the Opposition in the House of Representatives during the present session, but will simply observe and criticise the Government, s -■'V. ' - - .