THE BAY OF PLENTY TIMES. "The spirit of the times shall teach me speed." KING JOHN, ACT IV. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 1874.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume II, Issue 156, 4 March 1874, Page 2

THE BAY OF PLENTY TIMES. "The spirit of the times shall teach me speed." KING JOHN, ACT IV. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 1874.

The appointment of a pilot and Barbour* master for Tauranga— two offices combined—will shortly be made by the Provincial Government. We are informed that the influence of Sir George Grev has been brought to bear on behalf of one of the candidates for the office, and that that candidate is freely spoken of by the knowing ones in such matters as likely to be the successful man. We hope and believe that there is no truth in the report. His Honor and his Executive, we feel sure, will not be improperly influenced in any way, but, on the contrary, will appoint as pilot to pne of the beat, if not the beat, harbours in the colony of How Zealand a man who is thoroughly competent to do his work Wo understand that three applications have been made for the office ; and without attempting in the slightest degree to dictate to his Honor, we would urge upon him the desirability of electing some one who thoroughly knows the harbour and its requirements. The master of one of our regular traders would, it is clear, be more likely to be of real service than a perfect stranger; at any rate, it appears to us, and w T e venture to hope that it will be equally apparent to his Honor, that such a man would hove a prior claim. It is only fair that the wishes of the people ofTauranga should to some extent bo studied in the matter, and wo hare no hesitation in stating that it is almost the unanimous wish of the settlers in this district that our pilot and harbour master should not bo a stranger to us. Wo trust that the authorities will show by their choice that kissing docs not alw r ays go by favour.