The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1876.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 164, 4 November 1876, Page 2

The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1876.

At the close of the session, Acts of special moment to Patea have scraped through, and have escaped the fate of the scores of innocents which have been ruthlessly put to the political sword. Amongst those that have avoided a premature end, we may mention the Patea Harbor Endowment. , Act, and the Amended Waste Lands Act. The latter has general, the former local application, but both have special Patea reference. There has been some doubt as to the powers of the Town Board to lease their reserves, but the Amended Waste Lands Act settles all difficulties in future. Whether its action can be retrospective or not we cannot say, that is a subject for the Board’s enquiry and consideration. Bo that as it may, if wo understand it aright, it validates the Board’s past action, and sanctions similar in Inluro. The Board may therefore congratulate themselves on having fortunately got out of what, at one time, promised to be an ugly scrape. But letting that matter alone, we come to the Harbor Board Bill, which, wo may almost say miracnously, lias partially escaped from the hands of the Philistines of the Upper House. The appointment of a Harbor Board is happily secured, and the endowment, though not nearly so large ns hoped for, is still sufficient to do great good to the port. Originally, 5000 acres were set apart in the OtoiaOpaku Block, as a portion of the endowment, but the “ Lords” cut that down to 3000 acres, and thinking that second rate ports should be endowed excessively. We need hardly say that Patea is not grateful to the Lords, who by the blessing of Providence may, next year, be* swept away, a consummation devoutly to be wished. Out ot this 3000 acres, some 1,500 have already been sold, at good prices too, and the new Harbor 'Board, will have some £1,500 to begin work with. But the • Boar As property by no means ends hern. There is still a balance of 1500 acres to tbo good in the above locality, and more at the hack of it. • There is a small multitude of endowments of some kind or other in addition. Amongst them there arc 1500 acres in the compensation award at Waitotara, a valuable block at Kakaramca, 50 acres at Waibi, the land seaward of the town, the riverfrontages, and several other small bnt valuable lois, making altogether a most - valuable endowment for the harbor. Low it is for the people hero to derive a moral from tiro luck that has boon showered on them. All know that the bar is bad, that it is almost unapproachable, that the most careful captains and the most special seamanship cannot avert grief to well-handled vessels, as the port stands. Now with a large income at command, as the Harbor Board will have, why not carry out the works that were suggested by Mr. Carruthers ? Why not borrow the necessary funds to complete them yvith at once, instead of for ever beseeching a strong-headed Governmental Jupiter, whose response can fairly be to advise ns to put onr n own shoulders to the .wheeLD We have-| - so often mooted The matter, either in the l form of urging the public to purchase |

a local steamer, and in tlio hope of trying to stimulate them to the execution. of the needed works th.emsolvs, that we arc almost sick of the subject. The old saying, however, that toils US; that whilst there is life there is hope must apply on the present occasion, A Harbor Board Bill for Patea lias passed, an endowment larger than could have been expected has been granted, the cost of making this an easily accosible harbor at all times and tides, is most moderate, and it now rests with the public here, whether they will elect people of energy and “ go’’ or not. If t’lco'l come-day, go-day, God-scml-Sunday style is to be maintained, then Patea may lanquish indeed. II on the contrary, something like energy is to be shown, Patea will speedily rank amongst the first places in the colony. The fate of the people in this part of the world largely lies in their own hands. If they choose they can do well for themselves, if they are apathetic, they silently cut their own throats. The County Government is likely to wake them up somewhat, but in the meantime the new Harbor Board, if properly worked, cannot fail to bring great and at present unlocked for blessing in its tiain.