PUNIHO

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

PUNIHO

(Oub Own Coebespondent.) It is not an easy matter to get “ copy ” for correspondence in a district like ours and then when an event happens that shakes us up to the soles of our boots we are so modest that we do not think it would interest the outside world very much, but as you say you must know what is going on I will endeavor to give you the most startling items. A meeting of the members of the Puniho Institute was held for the purpose of electing a secretary in the place of Mr S. Pelham, who resigned that office, and Mr Max Wallecstine was elected. He is proving very energetic, and under his management great things are expected. A library is a great boon to a disr* trict, and it has often surprised me that there is not enough go in the Opunake people to establish one, when a small district like ours can keep one up. We have had it going for three years now, and have also a readingroom in connection with it. The library contains a fair selection of books, which are periodically added to, as funds are available. We have also established a draughts club, and some of our players are beginning to fancy themselves a bit, so that if you establish a club and want a tussle just send word to Puniho. The ladies—bless them—gave a dance at Warea on last Friday evening which was a complete success. Mr G. Wells craried out the duties of M.C. to everybody’s satisfaction. Mr S. Jones provided the music. There is quite a flutter of excitement in sporting circles here over a match which is to come off in October for ten sacks of oats between Mr B. Gray’s black 3-year-old by Armourer, and Mr W. Gray's roan Australian, same age. A gooff bit of money has already been laid. The new settlers -at the back of Puniho- are in a sad plight for want of a road. The only means of communication is a track which they have cut for themselves through the bush. There is not even a line through the bush to show where the road ought to be. The rates, like in many other parts, are not sufficient to make the road. I consider that the Government should come to the help of settlers situated like these. They are energetic men carving out homes for themselves in the bush and are of the right stuff to make a backbone to the colony, or they would never have faced such a task as is before *thfim now. some of the money which is set aside for the unemployed were sent up here, and these struggling settlers assisted with it by being given the job to clear the road, the colony would *get a greater benefit from it than it does ,in a great many cases now. ,