AWATUNA.

Opunake Times, Volume I, Issue 24, 21 September 1894, Page 3

AWATUNA.

(Our Own Correspondent.)

The dance held in Awatuna last Wednesday was a great success, and the committee are to be congratulated on the very complete arrangements made. The night chosen was an unfortunate one, as nearly all the towns round about were holding high holiday under the favor of the moon. For all that representatives from all or nearly all these towns were present, and bad a very pleasant time of it. The one anxiety had been that enough ladies might not be present, but the result did not justify these anxieties, the sexes being about balanced numerically. The evening had worn a wet and threatening appearance, but the night was a fine clear one. The committee had fitted up a refreshment room at the back # of the hall, and also a dressing-room for the ladies. Dancing was kept up with great spirit from 8 o’clock at night till about daylight in the morning, when “ one by one the waning beauties fled.” This dance should add considerably to the finances of the committee. Next month the bachelors intend holding a dance, and are in vigorous training every Wednesday and Saturday night. It is to be hoped that their dance will be, as it deserves to be, a success. A meeting of sharehelders of the Awatuna Co-Operative Dairy Company was held last Thursday for the purpose of signing bonds for the bank. The- bank manager was present and Mr Kowin. After the business was over a sort of informal discussion on road board and county matters took place. It is a pleasant sight to see how the

grass is springing up in the paddocks now, though not before it was needed, for the recent bad weather was very hard upon stock, and especially upon dairy cows now in milk. The Factory here should soon he completed. The frame is up and the cement floor laid down, so that the longest part of the job is over. The Company has purchased a fine engine, through the Loan and Mercantile, for driving the machinery. The contract is up on the 2.5 th of this month, and it is conjectured that suppliers will be able to have their milk put through by the Ist of next month. The frame of the Mangawhero creamejy is also up, I see, and settlers reckon that it will be in active operation in about a fortnight or three weeks. Meanwhile, they have to take their milk a long way to Kaponga. There is talk of a party from Manaia exploring this side of Mount Egraont, from the top of the Auroa The party was to have” started last Thursday, but the weather said “ No! ” Ap ire from the fine falls and somewhat mythical geyser supposed to exist on this side of the mountain, I must say, from what I have seen from Fantham’s Peak, that there is every probability of there being a good track up the mountain from this side. If such were found to be the case, it would be to the interests of the district right down to Opunake to have it opened up, for our present track up the moimtaia is rather too far away and roundabout for people living to the south and south-east of the mountain. It is to be hoped that the falls and geyser also exist, as these would lend, with the aid of Lake Dive, a great charm to the scenery.