THE BAY OF PLENTY TIMES "The spirit of the times shall teach me speed.” KIN JOHN, ACT IV. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER, 3, 1873.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume II, Issue 131, 3 December 1873, Page 2

THE BAY OF PLENTY TIMES "The spirit of the times shall teach me speed.” KIN JOHN, ACT IV. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER, 3, 1873.

Now that the overland postal service from Napier by coach has become an established and regular means of communication with the South, the rmpls arriving and being despatched with extreme punctuality, the necessity for a bi-weekly service to A nekland has become imperative. At present, as every one knows, the weekly mail is conveyed by the steamer Southern Cross, which, however, sails from Tauranga on Saturday, so that the mails arriving by coach on Friday evening cannot possibly be delivered in Auckland before the Monday following, whereas it the steamer were to sail on the Friday, immediately after the arrival of the Napier coach, the southern letters would be in Auckland on. Saturday in time for delivery. This point has been urged by advocates for increased postal facilities. But in addition to this, it is also recommended that the Tuesday’s Napier mails should be despatched overland to Shortland on them arrival at Tauranga, the Thames mail bags being sent from the latter place to Tauranga on Monday. It is not so very long since a daily overland mail was in full operation to and from the places named, the service being conducted in the face of very considerable difficulties aud at no little risk, until at last it was terminated through persistent opposition on the part of the Ohiremuri natives, who were extremely jealous of seeing couriers passing so constantly through their territory. A complete change has, however, now taken place in the native mind, and that jealousy no longer exists. Besides, although they objected at that time to the sight of daily messengers passing to and fro, no such objection is at all probable when the messengers only make their appearance once a week. The matter has become a question of serious importance, for practically the Napier mail is a dead letter, Tuesday a mails having at present to wait until the end of the week, and then only going forward with the Saturday’s Auckiiind mail by steamer, so that positively a wcett is suffered to elapse after the arrival °f Tuesday s mails before they reach their destination. It may be true that the southern mails are at present not very bulky, but it appears to bo almost in vain to subsidise a costly service by the Taupo road, and to have the arrangement at this cud of the line in so imperfect and dilatory a condition. If the service is ever to be properly utilised, as was doubtless the original intention, the work should be completed right through from terminus to terminus of the line. Such an arrangement would not only be beneficial in the case of the Napier mails but would also greatly improve postal facilities with lauranga ; aud our district is now rapidly becoming one of so much importance a~a to deserve and absolutely require increased facilities of this nature. As the central station in the Bay of Plenty it is the channel through which the letters from the coast and from many places in the

interior have to pass, and the alteration cannot be made too soon, or bo with advantage long delayed.

The Honorable the Defence and Native Minister left Napier in the Buna on Saturday night for Tauranga, calling en route at Poverty, Tolago, and Hicks’s B ays. We are informed that Mr McLean will spend three or tour days in Tauranga, and a few days in the Lake district ; his other movements are not at present known. The Luna may be expected to-morrow.

Mr Redman, at the meeting on Monday night, made a very sensible suggestion to the effect that during Mr McLean’s visit seps should be taken to secure a Commonage for Tauranga. We have pleasure in making the suggestion public, and trust it may be acted upon forthwith. At an early date we shall enter more fully into the subject.