PAGE FROM THE PAST.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LX, Issue 10697, 16 October 1931, Page 2

PAGE FROM THE PAST.

TAI KA\(.A EIETV V EAI IS AGO. The progress of the town hall a century ago may he fairly judged from the following item of news taken from the Hay of Phony Times of October 17th., I SSI;—-

“Perhaps no better evidence of the steady ami substantial advance of the town could he found than the number of new buildings that are constantly being put up to meet the demand for house accommodation. In the hotel line Tanranga makes a good show, possesiug four tirst-elass hotels in the business part of the town, the Tanranga. the Masonic, the Commercial and the Star, not to speak of the Yorkshire Grey, which is already being built on the Cameron Road, together with a number of well-con-ducted private hoarding houses, as Mr Tadhunter’s. Mrs Grassiek’s. and Tourist Villa. . Hut till the accommodation seems inadequate for the growing requirements of the place, ami Mr James Hodell, with characteristic enterprise, is erecting a commodious Temperance Hotel on his property, lot 122, Section 1. tit Hie corner of Cameron Road and Wharf Street. When laying off the Town of Tanranga, and marking the various streets leading from the Strand, the Government Surveyor, for some reason or other, allowed the north-west corner of lot 122, the site of the new hotel, to protrude beyond what might he expected to be the true lino of Wharf Street, about 1(I feet. In consequence of this deviation the new building as seen from the Town Wharf appears if in the centre of Wharf Street and occupies a most commanding position, every part of the front elevation in Wharf Street being visible from the Town Wharf." Then follows a long description of the new building, known to later residents as Belle Vue.

Another paragraph in the same issue states; —- “The Strand is lire scene of an animated political discussion from the time the sun tirst appears above Matapihi to long after he has gone to rest behind Waekareau. It lias been said that New Zealand folk do not exhibit sufficient interest in the affairs of (he country, hut this cannot apply to Tauranga. A stranger passing from one wharf to the other would think he had fallen into a great political intrigue, so warm are the arguments used, and so determined are the supporters of' their favourite candidate.”