THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY. WEDNESDAY. & FRIDAY. MONDAY, MAY 15, 1922. PAEROA IN PROSPECT.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4414, 15 May 1922, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY. WEDNESDAY. & FRIDAY. MONDAY, MAY 15, 1922. PAEROA IN PROSPECT.

Progress is the law of life- — Browning/ During the past year or two a healthy change has come over the majority of the people ol Paeroa ; whereas at one time they used to be decidedly pessimistic about the prospects of the town, they now have a lively faith in a progressive future for this borough. And this vastly improved outlook has extended beyond Paeroa, the business people of Auckland now having a much more optimistic and sound gauge of the potentialities of this district. There are many ways by which this betterment of -view beyond Paeroa has been brought about. For instance, a prominent building contractor, in discussing this aspect with a member of the “Gazette” staff, said he sent orders for several thousands worth of goods to wholesale houses annually, and although most of the material — nearly the whole of it, in fact- ‘ was for places beyond Paeroa, all orders were sent through his Paeroa office, so that Paeroa got the credit for the business, and its status in the eyes of outside commercial men was enhanced accordingly. There are several factors that have contributed to the improved outlook locally, chief among which are the daily motor-bus services to and from the Hauraki Plains and the daily mail services on the same route. The extra business these things have brought into the town has convinced even the most sceptical ones that those who predicted substantial progress for Paeroa, on account of the place being the railway junction and natural outlet for the Plains, were not vain dreamers, . but men who had vision—that power to visualise future events which must always precede actual progress, as anticipation ever comes before realisation.

A few years ago the prospect •-'of a canal and road giving direct access to and from Patetonga district seemed a very vague one; events, are now slowly hut surely moving in that direction, and before another two years have passed we may well see Patetonga, Kaihere, an< Tahuna people’ coming into Pai.Toa daily, and Paeroa people just as easily travelling over those districts. The Patetonga connexion is one of the most important projects now in view, for its realisation will enable 400 or 500 more people to trade in Paeroa. Every effort must be made to get thjs project brought to fruition. And the citizens must strive earnestly to prepare, the town for the coming influx. A manual training school, a technical high school, a hospital ,and a municipal hall are among the foremost needs of the near future. Just as a business firm must undertake expensive additions to plant and buildings before a great increase of trade will.come its way, so must a town provide various public facilities, without which it cannot draw the surrounding district communities towards it f as a source from which things worth while spring. < On many occasions we have stressed the need of a PaeroaPlains railway, primarily to enable the Hauraki Plains County Council to have a cheap and effective means of ’securing metal for the County roads. But the line would also be an excellent feeder to this borough, and would therefore be of . benefit to the town and it& district alike. Than the Paeroa-Plains railway—as far as Waitakaruru at least—there is no more important project in view for the district. The branch would in time be extended to Auckland, as the last link in the East Coast-Paeroa-Auck-land main line. The present Hamilton-Thames line would then be the branch. In passing, we may remark that any future bridging scheme, in connexion with the proposed new station yards for the East Coast crossing, should be studied from the point of view of its likelihood of fitting in with the Patetonga connexion. With a road and canal to Patetonga, and a railway to Waitakaruru, Paeroa would be bound to develop considerably. Just how soon some of these projects materialise depends to a large extent on the spirit l of unity and progress displayed by the citizens. A house divided' against itself must fall, but unity is strength. For this reason we sincerely trust that any temper-' ary breach in the ranks of our public men will be dealt with tactfully, and speedily closed up. Opposition from without is quite hard enough to battle against; we do not want dissension from within to weaken the fabric ol commercial and civic progress. To quote G. W. Curtis, “Progress begins with the minority,” but, admitting the truth of this dictum, it is nevertheless equally true that the weight and driving force must come from a solid and united majority. Let us unite, therefore, in a long pull and a strong pull, which will make Paeroa forge ahead to its predestined place as the leading town in. the Thames Valley and Hauraki Plains districts.