Local and General.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume IV, Issue 341, 15 December 1875, Page 3

Local and General.

We understand that H.Mj. Sappho will remain in this port for about ten days. Captain Turner (District Engineer) left for Wellington by the Luna on Sunday. He will be absent from the district about three weeks. Captain Digby of H.M.s. Sappho, accompanied by some of his officers, proceeded to the Lakes on Monday morning. A first meeting of holders of property within the Te Puna Highway District is convened for Monday next, 20th inst., at noon, at the residence of Mr Armstrong. The Librarian of the Tauranga Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the presentation by 0. N. Roberts, Esq,, of 2 rols. O’Connell’s Speeches, 1 vol. Burke’s Speeches, and I voi. Shell's Speeches, with thanks. We remind those interested that Mr Bodell will sell this morning, at 11 o’clock, at the Tauranga Auction Mart, 250 bags Canterbury oats, and 3 tons Canterbury flour. This is an opportunity that should not be lost. A full report of the meeting held last evening at the Tauranga Hotel re the Gold Prospecting Party shall appear in our next. The meeting was unanimous in carrying ont the object for which it was convened, A cricket match will be played tomorrow morning in the Government paddock between an eleven of the Tauranga Cricket Club, and the eleven of H.M.s. Sappho. Wickets to be pitched at half*past ten sharp. The owners of the e s Bowena have kindly placed that steamer at the disposal of the Tauranga Sohpol Committee for the purpose of taking the school children a cruise on Monday, 3rd January, A rifle match between the officers and men of H.M j. Sappho and the Tauranga Rifle Volunteers and Armed Constabulary comes off this morning at the butts, at ten o’clock. The ranges are two, three, and four hundred yards. Lieut.*Ool. Lyon, acting Commissioner of the Armed Constabulary, inspected the Tauranga detachment on Monday morning, and left in the afternoon for Ohinemutu, Taupo, and Napier, en route for Wellington. Captain Morris was unable to reach Poverty Bay owing to the heavy freshes in the bush during the last week. The gallant captain is at Opotiki, where he addressed the electors last evening. He may be expected back here about Friday, and we presume will lose no time in meeting the Tauranga electors.. Floods have been the order of the day, apparently, throughout the province. We hear of heavy freshes in the Waikato, and that the large bridge at Cambridge, erected at a cost of over a thousand pounds, has been carried bodily away. We are pleased to notice that the BoxingDay Sports have been taken up with spirit, and a very influential working committee appointed. When we mention Capt. Marks, Mr T. D. Wrigley, and Mr Hannon as judges, we presume it is sufficient guarantee as to the success of the sports. The members of the Tauranga Dramatic Club announce that in conjunction with the Dramatic Club of H.M.S. Sappho they intend giving a performance in the Temperance Hall, on Friday and Saturday next. A programme of the pieces to be submitted appears elsewhere, and is of a most inviting description. We hope to see bumper houses on the occasions. Plan of dress circle may be seen and seats secured at Mr W. H. BennetV Letters from England addressed as under are lying in the Bay of Plenty Times office waiting to be called for The President Band Committee, Tauranga Light Horse; The Band Serjeant, Bay of Plenty Cavalry j The Bandmaster, Tauranga Light Horse j The President Band Committee, Bay of Plenty Cavalry ; The Secretary Band Committee, Tauranga Light Hone; The Solo Cornet, Tauranga Light Horse. Who are all these gentlemen ?

We notice with very much pleasure that the Chief Postmaster, Auckland, invites tenders for the conveyance of mails once weekly between Tauranga aud Katikati, commencing from Ist January next Such service wijl not only be of immense convenience to the Katikati Battler® and the business community,.but will doubtless indirectly promote a further knowledge of this already well-known neighbourhood., Tenders addressed to the Chief Post* master, Auckland, must be in the Chief Post Office* by noon, on the 80th inst As-will be seen by advertisement, the Roweaa will leave Tauranga in time for the Opotiki Bsces,. which take place on Monday and Tuesday, 27th and 28th instant. The steamer will* leave the Tauranga wharf about one o’clock, on Monday morning, arriving at Ohiwa about nine o’clock same morning, thus affording passengers more than ample time to reach Opotiki (a distance of nine miles)'in time for the races, which do not commence till noon. The steamer will remain in Ohiwa harbour till seven o’clock on Tuesday morning. This unusually favourable opportunity of paying Opotiki a visit, and enjoying a day’s racing will doubtless be eagerly seized by the sporting fraternity, more especially when the extremely low rate of passage money—£l there and back—is taken into consideration. The trip to Ohiwa, regarded merely aquatic excursion, h well worth taking, the marine scenery in the vicinity of Whale and White Islands being very fine. We strongly advise all who want to get out of Tanranga for a few hours to avail themselves of this capital opportunity. Now is the time to subscribe to Saturday Night, Two SEWING. MACHINES to be given to Subscribers,, valued at Seven, and Six Guineas, for solving a riddle, or writing the best essay on the most enjoyable way of spending Christmas in the Colonies. Agents every* where f T-[ADTT.I