LOOKING BACK.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 20 May 1920, Page 2

LOOKING BACK.

"Oldest Inhabitant" writes:—Fifty-five years ago the Port Albert Gazette was ' the only newspaper printed in Kaipara, 4 and was a power in the land. It served . its purpose well in advertising the progress of the district, and in a way kept the pioneers in touch with the outside world. As indicative of the difficulties- ': of travel which then existed, the paper .^ in one issue advertised-that a reall>: ( .isik' short route had been arranged, and that' "*W' it was> possible to journey from Port Albert to Auckland in 24 hours by a good -.■ serviceable boat to McLeod's mill at Helensville, thence by foot to Riverhead, and lastly by boat to Auckland. The route mentioned was a distinct improvement on the overland one to Helensville via Warkworth, but would hardly be acceptable in thesp days to the Comparatively wealthy orckardiets, who J^ can choose between travelling by the - * well-appointed Sellars- Allen line, or can , comfortably drive to the Main Trunk line and board the express for the city covering the whole journey in four hours. .','' ■ ■ It was the Port Albert Gagettel which - commenced the same week as an Auckland paper, and editorially the Gazette remarked on the coincidence, stating that both the settlements of Auckland and Port Albert were just starting, and hoping that there would never 'be any jealously between the two places. "And there never has been," remarked the teller of this little tale.