Poverty Bay Standrad PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY, THURSDAY AND SATURDAY MORNINGS. Tuesday, January 17, 1882.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1024, 17 January 1882, Page 2

Poverty Bay Standrad

PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY, THURSDAY AND SATURDAY MORNINGS. Tuesday, January 17, 1882.

We shall tell to no man Justice or Right; We shall deng to no man Justice or Right; We shall defer to no man Justice or Right.

Tau rang a is not altogether satisfied with itself in regard to the question of steam communication. Two attempts made lately at calling public meetings to consider the advisability of promoting direct steam communication with England were unsuccessful. These appears to be a diversity of local opinion on the matter. The Eay of Plenty Timet does not speak hopefully of the prospect. It objects to a Company that would be nominally local, but actually under the control a Board at Home. Tauranga, says eUr contemporary, under such circum-

stances, would be “ too much at the mercy of agents, or else associates in London, to have any confidence in the undertaking being a success for a year or two.” The article from which we quote, points out that three or four years ago Tauranga was far better off in respect to a coastal service than it is now, and complains that the place is at present one of the worst served ports in the Auckland district. It suggests, as a remedy for these evils, that steam communication should be started between Tauranga and Gisborne, and by that means connect the Union Company’s steamers as they call up and down the coast. There can be no doubt that Tauranga is now situated, cut off almost as it is, from anything like regular water carriage, its progress must every day, becoming more and more retarded. Nevertheless, it is an open question whether the mere fact of a steamer trading between the two ports would meet the difficulties our neighbors have to contend against. We should be glad to see the Tauranga people develope the enterprize suggested. It would be advantageous to this community. But whether the scheme is capable of being carried into practical effect is a question of a different hue. We have, unfortunately, no breakwater here, where vessels could come alongside and tranship their cargo. Whatever has to be done in that line would have to take place in the open roadstead. The slightest “ jobble” on the water would prevent such steamers as the Southern Cross, a ship of 128 tons, laying alongside of a Union Company’s boat, because the risk of one or both getting damaged by the rolling would be too great to be incurred. We do not suppose a vessel of less tonnage than that could adequately perform the work required.