PROSPEROUS BAY OF PLENTY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1400, 28 March 1912, Page 7

PROSPEROUS BAY OF PLENTY.

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Mr. Clias. 'Raiison, the Beneral manager of the Northern Steamship Company, returned from a tour of the Bay of I'lenty this morniiii;. In conversation with a reporter he spoke in most sanguine terms of ihe prosperity of that portion of the province. Leaving Auckland by steamer, Mr. Hanson arrived in Onotiki oil Saturday. After adjusting tho affairs of Hie company and meeting a number of deputations there, he proceeded overland to Ohiwa and Whakatane, and thence to 'l'e l'ulte and Tauranga, where he arrived yesterday. The fanners appeared to he doing txcecdingly well, said Mr. Hanson, a great number of them having recently confined their energies exclusively to dairying. Owing to the continuous spells of rainy weather, the maize crop promised to be something of a failure, but there were comparatively few who were depending on grain. The residents of Te I'uke were confident that the railway line between the township anil Taurnnga would be completed within (lie next twelve months. The line was already farmed, and eight or nine miles of sleepers had been laid. Mr. Banson met a large deputation at the Tauranga Borough Council Chambers yesterday in connection with Hie steamer service between Tauranga and Auckland. It was pointed out that Tauranga was making rapid progress, and that (lie growing population warranted increased facilities. Mr. I'-anson said that the matter had been under the consideration of his board for some considerable lime past. He promised to bring their representations under the notice of the board, and he hoped that' if Tauranga continued to prosper as it appeared to be doing, they would be able to make some improvement ere 10112.