THE Bay of Plenty Times.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume VIII, Issue 687, 4 February 1879, Page 2

THE Bay of Plenty Times.

"THE SPIRIT OF THE TIMES SHALL TEACH ME SPEED."

KING JOHN, ACT IV

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1879.

The enormous profit realised |by the sale of Mr Edward George's property at Katikati is the best possible proof that oould.be adduced of the complete success of the No. 2 Settlement. This gentleman came out in the Lady Joeelyn six mouths ago, and purchased 100 acres from Mr Stewart at the regulation. price of £175 10s. He settled on the blook immediately and at once began making improvements. His allotment was not, we are assured, either a particularly good or a remarkably bad one, but just a fair average specimen of the Katikati land. Mr George, howover, possesses considerable onergy and long experience, both of which he brought to bear practically. A house was built, paddocks fenced and ploughod and land drained, in fact the farm promised to be one of the best on the block. By last mail, however, the owner received notification of a relative's death, and found he would be obliged to return to England. The allotment was consequently offered for sale, and at once purchased by Mr Tanner fcr £550 cash Mr George had several other good offers,. and could have got as much as £700 on the deferred payment system. This seems the more remarkable because, as we before stated, his land' is by no moans the best on the block, in fact what he has done every Katikati settler with energy and brains may also do. . We could name several other members of the No. 2 Party who have been proffered tempting sums for their allotments, but everything considered they might not thank us for publishing the facts. That such should be the case is, howover, a great triumph for Mr Vj? sey Stewart, and will put to confusion all his enemies. Underhand sneaks of the " Visitor" type would not now be listened to were they to attempt to pull to pieces the settlemont, nor is the seductive blarney of the Northern Advocate at all likely to meot, with attention. Facts such as these nre hnrd nuts to crack, and for many reasons should receive the fullost publicity. A few months ago, when some of the settlers were enjoying a small growl, thoir complaints wore copied with malicious glee by almost every newspaper in the colony. This having been so, justice and right nliko demand that equal prominence shoxild now be given to the reverse sidn of the modal. Certain journal 8 have throughout opposed special settlements, and persistently prophesied the ultimate failure of Katikati. They will now. if they are honest, own thoy were wrong. Considering its age, there is nc settlement in tho colony which can compare either in point of wealth or cultivation with tho No. I Block. The residents themselves may well bo proud of the fact, and should try if possible to retain their presfit/r.. l\v and bye thoy will be pressed hard In- (ho Xo. 2'ft. mnny of vrliom nrotuniirip; out modol colonists. Of I,'ih 4 thorp }i;ik noon h good deal of talk about I'im township. Some \vnnt it to ho. ut Mi I ,*' plfii-c and Borne at another. Mr Drown thinks the main fit root ought, to bp laid ouf. nonr his little house at flio Jrifnra, Mr KoLiiiKon fnncios.tlutt tho Kercitukahia (close to his own front door) is fho only suitable spot, and Mr Smith votes miconrlitionnlly for tho Government site. Each of tho throe gontlomen backs up his own particular views with unanswerable arguments, and will not hoar of any site- being chosen save the single ono he happens to favour. Personally we think tho question will scttlo itself. Townships aro not made arbitrarily now-a-dnys. Tho nuclous forms naturally, and increases imperceptibly without any assistance. Of course a good deal of help m:iy be given when once a centro has

been fixed upon, but unless 1 the site chosen, is realiy .first-class, artificial:' aid proves useless. Just. at present ; the, XJritara looks like becoming the* township, though itlacks many of the advantages of the Government site. Deep water for large steamers ought to be a sine qua n>n t otherwise the settlement can never carry on a trado with Auckland.

Although Ministerial visits to Tauranpra are like those of angels, "few and far between," they generally bring about satisfactory results. If Messrs Macandrew and Blackett liad gone by sea to Napier last Christmas, instead of travelling' overland, they would never have realised the absolute necessity for making a new road to Ohinemutiu Personal ineonvonience, be it noted, is usually remembered long after petitions and deputations have been forgotten, and to this fact we in all probability owe th© suggestive letter road at Saturday's Council meeting. Undoubtedly Mr Blackett's idea is a good one, and we sincerely hope it may pruve practicable. A first-rate road to the Lakes, which avoided the bush and was tolerably level, would do more to help on the district than anything else — save perhaps the opening of the confiscated lands— that could be thought of. Nor does the scheme seem at all likely to break down. Captain Turner spoke rather hopefully of it, and the Council generally were jubilant. The only obstacle appears to be time. A road of the kind proposed cannot possibly be made in a hurry, more especially as it will pass through native lands. Somethings however, must be done at once, for winter is not far off, and a short spell of bad weather would make the Oropi track quite impassable. These facts have been duly represented to the Government by wire, and at next Council we shall hear the result. Thanks to Councillor Way, the reopening of the Maketu road seems at last likely to become an accomplished fact. At the meeting on Saturday a grant of £200 was allowed for the purpose, and as this sum. will be augmented by £278 from the distributor, the work can now be commenced at once In times past £400 was promised by Sir Donald MaeLean, and some months ago the Council applied for it. No answer has, however, as yet been received, which, everything' considered, seems rather too bad. After the grandiloquent promises of the Government re opening up native districts, we have surely a right to a little assistance. IPox and the Maoris who formerly obstructed the making of this road are now, Councillor Way says, friendly. No difficulties need therefore be anticipated from thab quarter, and once the route becomes known to tourists it will without doubt be largely patronised.

Tn another column will be found a letter from Mr 11. E. Webb, proprietor of the Poverty Bay Standard and agent of the Press Association, refuting 1 the accusations brought by Captain Morris, M.11.11-, anent the telegraphic summary of. his recent speech at Gisborue. This relieves us of all responsibility in the , matter, which now becomes a personal dispute between the Member for the East Coast arid the gentloman who reported tlie meeting. '"We have much pleasure in leaving them to fight it out.

We learn with regret that the Rev. Mr Grace is dangerously ill. -..•,.• Both Mr Perkins and Mr Owen McGee will run horses at Rotorua Race 3. Nominations for the Katikati Handicap, Settler's Plate, and Hurdle Race, close on Thursday afternoon, at 4 p.m. The Quarterly Licensing Meeting for the Opotiki and Cape Runaway Districts will be held at the R.M. Court, Opotiki, on March 4th. The heat in the interior of Australia is terrific. At Wilcania, it was 125 in the shade. There were fourteen sudden deaths there in ten days, all of which doctors ascribed to the temperature. Sportsmen who intend patronising the Rotorua Meeting on Thursday and Friday, are reminded that the final entries close tomorrow evening, at 6 p.m. The Regatta folk are now beginning to bestir themselves, and an advertisement will appear in next issue convening a meeting to make the usual arrangements. A match between Mr E. T. Buckworth's Little Nell, and Mr Allen's Little Dick, was run at the racecourse, on Saturday afternoon and resulted in an. easy victory for the latter. MrD. D. Reid, the agent for "The History of the Sea," arrived to-day to deliver the books, but as they will not come to hand until to-morrow lie has arranged with Mr L. Leo to act for him. Tn the match Lord Harris 1 Eleven v. Bathurst (N.S.W.) Eighteen, the latter, in their first innings, were all out for 4fi. The Englishmen in their first innings, made 229 ,- UJyett and Perm scoring 23 each. The meeting re vesting the racecourse in trustees, advertised to take place at the Temperance Hall, on Wednesday evening 1 , is postponed until Saturday, o-.vinq to tho absence of many intfrosted parties at Rotorua.

A telegram from our itinerant reporter recoivoi"! early yesterday morning, Htntnd that ho. was just about start-ing nil" from Tnupo to interview the groat native chief, Rowi'. We shall in nil probability publish a "report of his adventures in our next-.

A racy and most original piece of criticism on tho Chinese, nonius to us through a gentleman who was a passenger to Oamara by the express yesterday morning. He was standing on the platform at Pahnerstmi in. dose proximity to an intelligent-looking Maori, when a ilozen rather ill-looking Celestials camo up, jabbering and gesticulating energetically. The Maori looked them up and down with disgust for a few momenta, and, turning round, his face breaking into a smile, remarked in a loud whisper, " Maori bad enough, but them fellows ten times worsor still. Time they stopped them coming here.'' — Xorllt O(<?oo 2'inics.

At Church" on Sunday^ Mr, Jordan, announced ■ that "the Sun-day School jwill iin ; future be held at 2 p.m. (instead* of 3),.>flo[aij Igive him a chance of attending t personally. TeachorCh(i remarked, were.yety hard .to get, and ho did not want those of the "butterfly" species.

The electric light is already being utilised in the printing office. The Times machineroom has been thus illuminated since the 17th October.^The Dundee* Advertiser composing room,, which is 100 feet long, and 30 feet wide, has also been lighted with electricity. A large printing-office in course of erection for tho Liverpool Daily Post will also dispense with gas., The light is being utilised in two, at*least, of the Dublin newspaper printing-offices.

We believe, says the Herald, it is next to a certainty that Mr P. Dignan, solicitor, will a candidate for the vacancy in City West caused by the elevation of his father to the Legislative Council. A strong requisition is we believe, being got up to Mr Dignan. It is probable, however, that there will be a contest, and the names of several possible candidates have been mentioned, amongst others Mr Goldie, and Mr Hurst. , ;

The first meeting of the new School Committee was held on Friday' evening last, present : Messrs S. L. Clarke, Conway, and Maxwell. . .After Mr Clarke had been elected Chairman,' and Mr Maxwell Secretary, Mr Comvay was requested : to send in an estimate for lining the school, and carrying out certain other repair^ . Some discussion also, ensued relative- -to the MoKinney. flogging case, but eventually the matter was deferred. The next meeting will be held on Thursday evening, when this subject will bo. again brought forward.

The Wellington Chronicle. understands that the effects of James Allen Mackey "who was a short time since sentenced to four years' imprisonment, haying been forfeited to the Crown, will on Saturday next be sold at auction at the Upper Hutt. Inter alia, there will be six valuable horses, and sundry ladies' and gentlemen's saddles. " Not bad this for a man with £150 a year 1 " :

• According to popular rumour, Mr Ballance and Sir George' Grey do not exactly" hit it. Their latest fall out is said to be over the appointment of Mr Luckie, editor of the Wellington Post to the po.sition of Commissioner of Annuities, -at £800 a year. The appointment was. conferred hurriedly by Mr Ballanca, and Mr Luckie- wis duly introduced to the officers of his department. It appears, however, that Sir George Grdy/- declines approving of the action of. his colleague, and refuses to sanction a salary of more than £600.

There must still says, the- Oatnaru Times be something good left in the gift of the Government. : It is rumoured (but we will not vouch for its accuracy) that the ■ gentleman who is at the head of the literary department of an influential Christchurch paper, ia about to receive a substantial indication of Govornment pleasure in the shape of a " billet, " Whether it is: as Immigration Agent or : " head of a department", rumour does not say. If this be true, there will only be one more '• editor" to be " provided for," and Auckland is the likeliest place to, suffer or gain thereby.

Under the heading of "A Falling Star" (whatever that may mean) the Dunedin Age attacks Captain Morris, M.H.R., as follows : " Captain Morris made a bad show on the stump, before his GSsborne constituents, last evening. The gallant captain reviewed: the session, and strongly condemned the Ministry, but efllbgfaed the Hon. Mr Sneehan, thcraghhe thought ha was overawed by Sir ( George Grey's prestige, and was pursuing a policy, he did not believe in. ; 'He spoke bitterly of the Hpn* Mr Ballance, ; and sneered at Sir George Grey. A vote of confidence was proposed, and negatived by 23 to 16. A motion to the effect that the meeting express no opinion, was carried,"

" Wamba," in the Dunedin Age,' has the following :— Lord Harris, of the'''gentlemen" cricketers, has been taken down a. peg by the members of the Melbourne Cricket Club. The. correspondent of a. Victorian journal, who was an eye and ear. witness of the affair, recites the following interesting anecdote : — At the close of the Australian team's first innings, and when the scorers were engaged in totting' up the figures, a knock came at the door. The scorers took no notice, as it is not regular for anyone to interrupt them. Another knock ; still no response ; when the knocker went round and looked into the window, with an expression conveying the words, "It is I— can't you see ? Lord Harris !" One of tho scorers immediately went to the door, and. opening it began, "I beg your pardon, but we did not know it was you, and, a3 a rule, we don't open to anyone ;" when his lordship broke out with much impetuosity, in the following words :— " How dare you address me in that way, fellow?" Whether it was that our Colonial, for want of practice, had omitted to say "My Lord," or whatever else was the reason, has not transpired, but the last of the affair was that Lord Harris had tho door slammed in his face without another word passing on either side.

A four-horso-power thrashing machine, with straw-shaker attaclied, and also a winnowing machine, will be sold in Auckland, on Friday, February 6th. . . . „

Ladies and Gentlemen wishing to furnish their homes will bo well repaid by a visit to tho City Hall Arcnde, the finest Show Room in New Zealand, and containing the largest Stack <if Oiirpete. and greatest variety of Furnitnrf to be scon anywhere m th« colony. Tho ifniii( i ii.--o imsiuosH transacted in thin l^tabli-fiment. is dup to tho very moderate prices charged, und most zealous ; attention paid to tho wants find wish™ of its patrons. The I'mpriutorn hnve successfully initiated tho London nyalem of combining tho vnriouH departments of Drapery, Ladies' and Gontlonien'H Clothing, with House Furnishing in all its branches. Country Settlers* requirements aro cupcoinlly studied, and as regards Furniture, they will find made, ready for delivery, Sitting-room Suites iv great variety, Bod-rooiu Parnitnro, comprising hundreds of Bedsteads in Iron, Brass, and Wood, Bedding, of all sizes, Wardrobes, Chests Drawers, Wash-stauds, Toilet Glasses and Tubles, Toilet \Varo, Fenders and Irona, Bookoases, TVlmtnota, Carpets, Mattings, Floorcloths, and Linoleum, in fact ever-thing necessary to fiumish a house comfortably. Book Catalogue Bont post free, and price's given to intending purchasers. Hotel-keepers will fiud it to their advantage to deal with tho undersigned, as they keep goods especially suited for their establishments. Give your ordeia to IIoLLOWAY, Gauijck, and Cra.nwj--.il, City Hull Arcade, Queen Street, Axieltland; '- '