KATIKATI JOTTINGS.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 6970, 1 February 1918, Page 4

KATIKATI JOTTINGS.

Anzac Bay Picnic.

The above function was held yesterday and turned out a most unqualified success. The Manuwai was filled to her utmost capacity with her living freight, end though all the cbildren were conveyed free of charge, snd due to the extra cost of benzine above that of two years ago, the Road Board paid a considerable advance in chartering the boat without raising the return fare of 2a 6d per adult they came out just free of loss, which proves the nunaber of aduks that availed themselves of participating in a happy day's outing, but many addtional residents on the northern portion of the settlement proceeded by road. Great disappointment was felt and expressed at the failure of the Harbour Board members in keeping to tbeir appointment, and that the Tauranga Borough was not represented officially or otherwise, while no explanation was forwarded through the 'phone. If I may be pe'rmitt^d to express my peiaoail feelings I did feel deeply disappointed 88 the function afforded such a splendid opportunity as stated in a previous letter eif aeain opening up the question of including Waibi witbin the Tauranga Harbour Board area. However, I arrived at a solution of the question by one word—Tauraaga—and most come to the conclusion that Tauriuga public men sdbere to their policy of isolation as expressed at their monst«r meeting attended by 17 gentlemen held on Monday, 7th May, 1917. no reply having even been received from your Mayor to a very kind invitation dated 21st January which I sent him m behalf of tha Road Board and of the Harbour Board in which ! alluded very strongly to the importance of meeting our Wsihi friends at Anzac Bay in connection with the esteneion of the Harbour Board area. I admit that tee weather on Monday morning did not appear propitious, but the glass was very higii on Sunday, remained Bteady on Monday morning, nnd dispelled any apprehensions I had of disappointment so far aa weather was concerned. Tbe Waihi Borough Council wqb represented Joy six members, who arrived at about noon. In company with some of the Katikati settlers I met them at our shelter house, wliic'" was fully stocked with various kinds of eatables and drinkables, when over two hours having been very pleasantly spent, an adjournment was msde to ensbla our visitors to view our Domain. The parting hours were very pleasantly spent, toasts were given and exchanged, and public matters of mutual interest to our respective districts were freely discussed, mainly referring to Harbour Board extension area and to our Kaxitati-Taurauga Main ro2d. With regard to the Harbour Board they coincided with my view, that the matter was worthy oj ventilation, one member—l think Mr Morgan—suggestink a CHisferenco. 1 pointed out that on the early retirement of Sir W. Fiaeer the appointment of his succee-

sor would rest with Mr Massey, and in oil probability he would select a North Island Minister, though we should ba perfectly safe with either Mr Myers or Mr Mac Donald os retiresentir.g the Ward party in ihe Cabinet, with the result that we may regard the early inclusion of the WaihiTauranga section se a certainty on close of the war, which, due to inrer nal troubles eraong the CentralPowere* cannot last much longer. With regaid to the main road—Katikati-Waihi—l was very pleased to hear that not withstanding their own financial condition, tbey had decided at their meeting on last Thursday to increase their contribution to 20 per cent on tha ou'lay, as evidence of good feeling, and though small in amount, displays a sircere de-ire to co-operate in a work of mutual advantage.

Thompson's Track

A correspondent ha 9 kindly sent me s copy cf the Te Atotn News dated Wednesday, January 23rd, directing attention to a statement made by v Cr Fitzgerald in which he is reported to haee concluded bis oration by etating "The people ncw-a-days require a footpath to drive stock over. There are only about 80 breeding cows in Katikati, so we need not worry about Them." Such deliberete misetatements Gnly proves huw unfit is Mr Fitzgerald to represent his or <ny riding in the Piako County Council, and I feel compelled to refer him to the words of the ioimottal Shakespeare, "To th'r.e own self be true, and it follows as night the day, thou canst not then be false to a:iy man." It is, however, satisfactory on reading the report, to find that all the other Councillors expressed their approval of the course proposed tv be adopted by the Council, so heartily supported by the Tauranga County Council. It does appear sttange, however, that Thompson's Track should afford the subject for nnsrt'piesentation on both eides of tho rpntje. — I am, etc., CEO. VESEY STEWART. Martray, January 2'Jtn, IUIB.