AWATUNA.

Opunake Times, Volume I, Issue 16, 24 August 1894, Page 3

AWATUNA.

(Oub own Correspondent.) The opening of the Awatuna Hall last Friday was an important event in the history of Awatuna, a sure sign of the great progress the district is making, and of the energy of the inhabitants.* It speaks well for the enterprise of its people when a small district like this should, with scarcely any outside assistance, undertake the ’ erection of a hall for the public benefit at a considerable outlay of both time and money; for the settlets turned out in force to clear the hall site, and responded loyally to the call for subscriptions. Alter the concert a meeting was held in the school to protest against the d.p. “moneys that were set aside -to pay interest on the loan for the Eltham Road being used for the construction of the Punehu arid Manga* where bridges. Mr Maloney opened the case for the opposition, but received very slender support. He stated of those who signed the petition lately placed before the Council did so under a misapprehension, and scarcely knew for what they were ■ making themselves liable. Mr Hemmingway went through the history of the Eltham Road loan, #ud defended his position With regard to the petitions recently laid before the Council. After a good deal of argument and statements lacking proof had been gone through, it was decided that the Council be asked to delay action in the matter of the erection of the bridges, and that* a full amount of the d.p, moneys and the cost of the erection* of both bridges be meanwhile prepared, and laid before a meeting of settlers to be called in some central place. I see that.the contractor has not yet commenced to erect the Awatuna Cooperative Cheese Factory. If he does not commence this week he will have but a month left in which to erect the factory, or the option of a £2 a day fine. As, however, he intends putting on twelve men, be should finish it if he starts work at once.