PAGE FROM THE PAST.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LX, Issue 10696, 15 October 1931, Page 2

PAGE FROM THE PAST.

T A DRANG A FIFTY YEARS AGO.

Railway connection to a district seemed to be the great lure held out to the electors by old-time politicians, just as it is to-day—or has been until now. We can hardly imagine that in view of present-day experience any candidate for Parliamentary honours -except in a few conspicuous cases just now before the public—will be found advocating railway construction at (bis period in our history. In an address to the electors of Opotiki in the town hall there on October Bth, 1881. Mr George Vesey Stewart said:

‘He considered that the narrow gauge railway, advocated in the local paper, would revolutionise the system of road-making in New Zealand. He was determined to connect Tauranga with Rotorua hy rail provided the Government consented to some reasonable proposition, and ouec that railway was made there would be no obstacle to connecting (he line to Opotiki. Let onr New Zealand politicians look to America for an illus(ratidn of their success, and see what tlie railway system had done for that country.”

The meeting, concludes the report which appeared in the Hay of Plenty Times of October 15th., ISBI, was a great success.

The same issue relates: “That useful adjunct to the town, the pound is at present undergoing repairs. Today workmen were busy putting it in order for Cavanagh’s next raid. That energetic ollieial keeps it pretty well tenanted.”

The value placed upon trade with southern ports fifty years ago may be well judged from this item taken from the same paper: "The steamer Tairoa arrived to-day from the South with a. cargo of 200 tons, and on going on board we were wishing that onr merchants would join together and purchase a steamer to trade down south, and also to bring up the passenger traffic for the lakes, which we have lost since the Union Company’s steamers have stopped coming here. We believe a steamer like the Tairoa could be purchased for XI 2,000, and having a steamer of our own would help more to the prosperity of this port than any of us have any idea of.”

“Considerable interest," says another paragraph, “is being evinced in the forthcoming sale of allotments at Topcroft, and the plans of the subdivision are in constant demand. Many ami various are the opinions as to the best sites, and speculation is rife as to the prices that, will be realised. It is long since so much public interest was taken in an event of the kind. There should be very keen competition for some of the most favourite lots, and visitors are daily viewing the locality, inspecting for themselves.”