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Tauranga Argus and Opotiki Reporter, Volume 1, Issue 1, 24 November 1866, Page 2

Having launched a local paper it becomes our duty thereiu to bring proinifiently before our readers our local wants, in tlie hope that some *of tliem will soon be vemoved from that category and developed into realisations. There is wanted, before all,. a Local Governing Board for 1 auranga ; obtaining that, tlie way will be sinoothedfor tlfe favorable consideration of other requiremenfs. That such a body is not already in existence is not creditable to tbe intelligence and public spirit of tlie uihabitants, since few towns, of a like magnitude, eitber in tbe mother country, or tlie neighboring colonies, I liick some local authority to take I tlie initiative in local projects, aud to guard local expenditiire. it is

not by tlie meetjng ot two or uirce gentlemen at stre'et corners to ntb shoulders and growl at tiie apatliy of the proviucial and colonial autliorities, that our harbor will be raised to tlie status in the colony thatits capabilities should coinmand It is not to be expected that our streets will be relieved from the stigma that at present attaches to tliem so long as the inliabitants are contented, or disconfented, waiters on providence, 'thankful for tlie crumbs that are cast to ihem by the niggardly liands of a Proviucial

Council cohstitttted in a great nieasure of elements necessarily antagonistic. Tauranga requires the fostering care of those wliose interests are identined with it, whose property staiie in it and knowledge of its capabilities will lead tliem to tbe energetic promotion of its best interests! To some, bowever, tbe very name of a Board implies beavy ; local taxation, extravagant expenditiire, and a liumber of useless salaried officials. That sucli shall ; not necessarily be the concomitants \ needs only tlie caVetul sslectiou ot | the members mf the Board. It j does not follow because such a 1 Board is constituted that vast ! public works shall be undertakeu to the pecuniary injury of the denizens, but ratlier that the modicum of funds, producible by local rating and provincial grants, j shall be judiciously administered by I those in wliom tlie townspeople I have confidence resident hereiu,

without reference to distant irrespo 11sible aiRhority. The va-rying and various interests oi individual proprietors, frequently lead, uncoilsciously 110 doubt, to antagonistic action,¥and tlms there is allowed free scope to dileftantisism or selrseekiog 1 but with a common plat-. f'orm where the best minds in tlie place can discuss matters for tlie c'ommon weal, uiuler the supervision of a local pvess and subject to tbe suggestions and criticisms or their constituents, there ougbt to be no fear of extravagant expenditure or of nenotic appoiutmeiits. 1 bat

such a T ^WUk-'.elv and cantiousiy i^i|^!T|ict t^potveys ' entrnstedrto tliem would greatly enhance the value, , of proper ,y m Tauranga none will, for a moment doubt : wliile it would, at the same time promoteThe comfort and welibeing of that class who are not, as vet, competent on that score, to see its advantages. It is, not, only a permissive, but an absolute, duty of owifers of property to , take steps in this matter aud to lefc tlie province

see that there is here not that want of . public spirit and of acumen , whicli is so freely ascribed to the inliabitants of Tauranga. Let j minof differences be inerged and united actiou be determined on. j We intend in a future issue to cake up this subject agaiu and more in fjetail in tbe mean time our columns are open to correspondence and we shall be happy to hear all j arguments for and against, feeling assured that tlie more tlie subject j is ventilated the hetter will it com- j I me'nd itself to the good sense of I those who will liave more partilarly to take cognizance of it.