NEW PLYMOUTH.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume II, Issue 125, 25 June 1881, Page 3

NEW PLYMOUTH.

(from our own correspondent.)

Great is the rejoicing of New Plymouth people over the opening of the railway to Normanby, and they are eagerly looking forward to the time when it will run through to Hawera. Some surprise was evinced here at the Normanby people allowing the affair to pass over so quietly, without some slight demonstration, and it is hoped that the Hawera people will not act in the same way. There is no doubt that, should they decide upon having a demonstration to celebrate the opening, the New Plymouth people would cordially assist.

The members of the Harbor Board paid one of their numerous visits to the works on Tuesday, for the purpose of inspecting. There appears to be great dissatisfaction expressed by the public here at the snail's pace at which the works are going on, and a great many people openly give it as their opinion that the harbor will never be made unless the way of managing things is considerably altered.

There is not a living soul who has had the misfortune to travel on the Mountain road from Mangawhero to Ngaire but who will fully endorse every word said by you respecting the gravel laid on that portion of the road, and loud, long, and bitter are the complaints of travellers against the man who passed that muck, or so-called gravel. The general opinion among travellers is that the same man should not be allowed an opportunity of passing such another job.

New Plymouth people evidently intend to try and do business down your way. Mr. Pugh, of the firm of Pugh and Suiter, has lately gone on a business tour. The firm have rather a large place of business, together with a good stock and staff off workmen. They should, therefore, be able to obtain some orders. Other business men here have expressed their intention of following suit(er), which plainly shows that Taranaki intends to have some of the business of the Hawera district.

The steamer Samson has turned up all safe, the cause of her deteution being short of coal, which seems rather a strange cause for a boat running such short trips.

Visitors to New Plymouth complain of being debarred from using the readingroom unless they become subscribers. I think there must be something wrong in this, and the matter I feel confident,, has only to be brought under the notice of the Institute Committee to he set nsit.