TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1904. The Lethargic North.

Northland Age, 6 September 1904, Page 2

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1904. The Lethargic North.

Steamer Communication ■ Needed. The establishment of the Mangomii Comity Cottage Hospital being now assured; and likely to be opened for patients within the next six months, it behoves its supporters to take immediate stops towards securing a regular meekly steamer communication between Mangonui and all Northern ports. The largely populated districts of Ilonhora, Waihopo, Parengarenga and Waiharera, have .well supported the hospital movement in its initial stage. Now the question arises, sj-low are patients from those IteljCtsy .to. jje jjmivoved to vire’y of the County tail Ait AllW'jKC/ been alive to their interests, the old steam service to the North ■would never have been discontinued. It now remains for the supporters of the hospital to make strenuous efforts towards the re-establislunent of the connection, and we would suggest that public meetings bo held simultaneously throughout the localities interested, with a view to approaching the Northern Steamship Company on the lines indicated. The Ehitaia and Awanui districts are not at the same disadvantage as further North, being connected by road, but nevertheless shrfuld certainly support the movement, not alone for the sake of the hospital, but also for the reason that regular communication is a factor towards the prosperity and advancement of every district. Further, have the Onutt, Peria, Fairburn and Victoria Valley farmers been asleep in the past ? Do they not know that lastsummer upwards of 1000 gumdiggers were working on the Houhora - Waibopo gumfields, who are heavy consumers of butter, fruit, and. every kind of farm produce ? Where, may we ask, have those commodities been obtained ? Not surely from Auckland, with a fertile farming country at their very doors ? And yet it is so. It is a fact to be deplored that, while we have met the pessimistic farmer, croaking and moaning, “ no/sale for my fruit—what’s the pse of growing this—can’t sell 'that,” at the same time one of the finest markets lies within his reach (or should be/ with a steamer communication) wggsw- Tl. Kuitaia and are bett.-r sihi- ' of supplying •4, v Ti>' V IL I' I i i'Ul . BLveon b iii“J-/ . li I’-.lVii;.:;,- ‘ )’■ t Ai< 111— >b T ' do- bo; ■gross nf anv

given locality; therefore, let the County combine and use their best endeavour towards securing a regular communication between all ports therein. As.’ pointing out an anomaly under existing arrangements, a letter posted in Mangonui, Peria, Oruru, or Fairburn, for Parengarenga or the Ilouliora district, would be dispatched to the Auckland office. After sorting it would be forwarded to its destination, travelling a matter of about 400 miles, and being about a week on the journey, whereas the distance from Mangonui to Houhora direct is about 40 miles, which can be covered in a few hours. Wo hope to sec a strong movement on the lines indicated, as, it is imperative that immediate steps be taken, if for no other reason than the early completion of the hospital.