AN IMPORTANT OCCASION.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LII, Issue 8616, 13 June 1924, Page 6 (Supplement)

AN IMPORTANT OCCASION.

Issue of Special Number of the Bay op Plenty Times' to mark iho Opening of iho Railway into the Town,

IS- ' I 'HE production of a Special Number of 5 1 the BAY OF PLENTY TIMES was first planned to commemorate the Jubi0G 10 P a f )er itself, in September, 1922. It was felt, however, that important as the event was in the history of the paper, it was yet inopportune in view of the prevailing conditions. It was therefore delayed to coincide with one of _ the most important events in the history of the town and district, viz., the opening of the railway into the town for regular traffic, thus connecting the eastern districts of the Bay of Plenty with Tauranga, As is well-known to the residents of the district this long looked for connection has had to wait the completion of the bridge across the harbour, a work of considerable magnitude, many years delayed owing to the War. At long last it was completed and the rails quickly followed. Now the work is sufficiently advanced to warrant the Public Works Department —in whose hands this portion of the East Coast Main Trunk Railway still remains—in opening the line for regular passenger traffic. The citizens of Tauranga naturally desire that such an event should be suitably marked, and to that end have succeeded in securing from the Department excursion fares at a specially low rate to afford the many country settlers served by the railway between Tauranga and Matata, and further afield, to make what in time must be looked upon as a memorable journey, at a minimum cost. But not only was it sought to send out this Special iNumber in commemoration of this event. A much wider object was had in view. Few towns in the Dominion offer the attractions which Tauranga may fairly claim to possess. Throughout this issue an earnest endeavour has been made to make known these attractions, more or less in detail, as space and opportunity permitted. If to the reader unacquainted with the town and district they may in some respects appear to have been overdrawn, we can only urge a visit of inspection. Those who dwell amid the pleasant surroundings of this favoured spot are ever warm advocates of its many charms, although perhaps prone to under-rate its delightful climate when compared with almost any other part of the Dominion. In our task we have been immeasurably assisted by many kind friends in numberless ways. To Mr A.J. Mirrielees, President of the Tauranga Tourist Traffic League, we are under a deep debt of gratitude for many photographs and negatives otherwise unobtainable. To Colonel Ward, too, we owe ou r thanks for much valuable information, Mr R. W. Meers Photographer, has also been an invaluable -help, and journeys made with Mr R. J. Rendell resulted in his obtaining for us some especially fine scenes, particularly in the vicinity of Omanawa Falls. If we have inadvertently omitted to express our gratitude for valued aid in any particular direction wc crave forgiveness. We arc conscious of many imperfections in the issue. For our equipment and our staff it is an undertaking of no little magnitude, and nothing short of loyal help and cooperation has made possible even the result obtained, falling far short as it does of the ideal sought. That all into whose hands the Special Number may come should send it on to friends is our simple request, and it, by the wide circulation we arc giving the Number, Tauranga and its immediate neighbourhood, with its vast potentialities, shall be better known, then can we feel that the task has not been in vain. Feeling that not among the functions of a newspaper is to make known to the best advantage the attraction of the district in which it circulates, we have felt that the duty lay upon us at this particular time. Again have many loyal advertisers availed themselves of the exceptional opportunity of making known their businesses to that wider field of patrons with whom the opening of the railway will bring them into closer touch. To them too we owe our thanks. Apart from the great historical event of Gate Pa and its attendant history, no attempt has been made to deal with the earlier days of Tauranga. That such a review would have been intensely interesting to many we had little doubt, but the first task was to present Tauranga as it is to-day, and to indicate what we consider may reasonably be assumed will be its future. This done, any historical review was out of the question in the space and time available. To the many country settlers this issue will reach we extend, on behalf of the citizens a cordial invitation to visit Tauranga on the opening day—Friday next. The train arrangements for that day are set out on the last page of this number.