The Opunake Times FRIDAY, JANUARY 4, 1895. TOLL AT TAUNGATARA.

Opunake Times, Volume II, Issue 53, 4 January 1895, Page 2

The Opunake Times FRIDAY, JANUARY 4, 1895. TOLL AT TAUNGATARA.

There was a good, attendance at the meeting held last night to consider the question "of the proposal of the Taranaki County Council to erect a tollgate at the Tauugatara. In the first instance, it is a very cool proposal on the part of the Council to attempt to levy rates indirectly by means of a toll on the ratepayers of an adjoining county, as at present there are only two taranaki County ratepayers on the road between Opunake and the Taungatara, The great bulk of the traffic is therefore made up of Hawera County ratepayers, who have to travel over the two and a quarter miles of county road between this town and the Hawera County boundary. Considering that the Taranaki Council has brought the wheel tax into force, by which, if it stands good when it comes to be tried in law, as it assuredly wiil be as soon as they attempt to levy it, they will be able to charge every owner of a vehicle who comes on to their roads, wherever the proprietor may be resident. We think they will be offering sufficient bar to the traffic of this end of the district by this means, without the addition of a tollgate. There are people who say that comities, instead of being made smaller, should be enlarged, but we think the present action shows that all places except the main centres, under larger counties, would get short shrift if left to their tender mercies. It is absolutely necessary, in our opinion, that the roads leading to the outlet of any district should be under the control of a local body which would have its interests at heart, whether you call such local body a County Council, Koad Board, or any other name. If counties are enlarged," it will be found necessary to curtail their road management and rating powers, and enlarge the powers at present possessed by .Road Boards, so as to give them greater powers and control of roads and other purely local matters, which they would be much more competent to deal with than a county, and give greater satisfaction to the individual ratepayers. County government, on the other hand, might be extended so that it would do away with a number of the local bodies, such as Land Boards, Education Boards, School Commissioners, Hospital 'and Charitable Aid Boards, and kindred institutions, and have a general power and control over the Boad Boards, in whom the actual work of road management should be placed. There is a limit to the endurance of the people, and if the Council persists in its intantion to erect a tollgate, from the opinions expressed at the meeting, we fancy they will need to enter into a contract for a supply of gates, as there is every probability they will be treated as an obstruction when erected.

The Marlon Mercury is to be issued as a morning paper from the beginning of next week. Captain Edwin wired at 12./J0 p.m. to-day as follows:—lndications of strong north to east and south-east winds and rain; glass fall. We are indebted to Mr J. W. Bramo for the following list of the births and deaths registered at Opunake for the last live years:—lß9o: Births, 38 ; deaths, 7. 1891: Births, 31; deaths, 4. 1892: Births, 37; deaths, 9. 1893: Births, 43; deaths, 13. 1894 : Births, 49 ; deaths, 8. f The highest flood for some years inundated the business portion of Blenheim on Wednesday night, and the country towards the sea is inundated for miles. It is feared there will be great damage to the crops. The rain since Tuesday has been phenomenal. The Wellington Times states that the Governmet intends to buy the Manawatu line, and that the documents are now being prepared. The Times also adds that there is no difficulty about the necessary finance. The only objection likely to arise will be from local bodies who draw revenue from taxes on the line. The terms of sale are not mentioned. Smallpox was the most infectious of alj diseases, but owing to the protection by vaccination, scarlet fever is now the most dangerous to life of the infectious diseases common to England. This disease has been called tho “ English pestilence.” Scarlet fever kills yearly, on the average, about 21,000 persons, chiefly children not exceeding 10 years of age. Mr M. P. Coffey, who was at ono time a resident of this town, died on Wednesday last at Hawera. He served all through the Maori war. He was captain of the Opunake Volunteers when that body existed, and was one of the best Maori linguists in the colony. He leaves a widow, live sons, and four daughters to mourn his Joss. From Wednesday last all the factories in this district have been converted to cheesemaking. At tho Opunake factory ono fourhundred gallon and two six-hundred gallon vats have been provided. The whey is run into a large vat in the ground outside the factory, and is connected by a steam exhaust pump with a large vat placed about eight feet from the ground, so that the whey can be run into the suppliers’ cans without any trouble. The alterations wore effected by Mr .7. Eyan, of Otakeho, who has had considerable experience at the work, which; is done in a first class and workmanlike manner.

The 'Kanieri leaves Aucklatd on Tue«day next for Waitara, Opunake, and Wellington. Nominations for Pungarehu races close tomorrow.

Mr W. D. Scott sells drapery, clothing, boots, and saddlery at the Foresters' Hall to-monow.

We give a reminder of Messrs Nolan, Tonks, and Co.'s stock sale, which takes place on Tuesday next. Tenders (or bridges and road works on the Eltham and Maiu South Roads close on Monday next at New Plymouth. The Town Board, at its next meeting, proposes to pass a special order fixing Wednesday afternoons as the statutory half-holiday in accordance with the Act passed last session.

Mr Flynn has a chicken which has four wings, an additional pair being attached to the thighs. The introduction of this breed should be good news for people who take a delight in amateur vegetable gardening. It is stated that the strictest secrecy will be observed with regard to the names of applicants for loans under the Cheap Money scheme. No particulars of any loans will be disclosed, either in statistical returns or otherwise.

A yachting accident occurred at Matakana, Auckland, on Saturday last, whereby an old settler named Thomas Bell was drowned. He leaves a wife and five children. His mate, Josiah Harris, swam ashore when the yacht capsised. A boy named Jeffrey Hand, aged two years, was accidentally shot by George Hand, 12 years, at Hillmortoni Christchurch, on Monday morning last, the elder boy was playing with a gun, which exploded, the charge lodging in the side of the little fellow's head, killing him instantly. A young man named James Dunn was fatally wounded on Saturday at Coromandel, Auckland. Four members of the Eifle Club wero practising ball firing. Boswell had a gun full-cock, and was just ready to fire, when Dunn asked him for a cartridge. Boswell turned to give him the cartridge, holding the rifle in his left hand, when the charge exploded, the ball striking Dunn in the right side. He died in the hospital two hours later.

Messrs Berry and McAllister notify that they have taken over the photographic studio in Hawera lately conducted by Mr M. G. Wallich. They have had very extensive experience in some of the best studios in the colonies, so that those entrusting them with orders may rely on getting satisfactory and artistic work. Mr McAllister was also an art master in one of our public institutions for some years. At the Hawera sports on New Year's Day, the Star reports there were between 2000 and 3000 people, and that the receipts amounted to £76. Striking an average between the numbers quoted, we may assume there" were 2500 present, whioh gives fin average for admission of 7£d per head—cheap amusement! The same day, at the Opunake races, the Star reports there were 400 people present. The money taken at the gate was £56 odd, or an average of 2s 9Jd per head—dear amusement! How a few shillings spent in advertising magnifies the attendance. Since January Ist greater facilities are afforded for the transmission of post cards. Previously only cards of Government pattern or cards issued by private persons by special authority of the Postmaster-General could be used, but the new regulations provide that any card, provided it is of the same size, 5 by 3 inches, and not thicker than the cards issued by the Post Office, may be prepared by the means of adhesive stamps for. any place in New Zealand, the Australian Colonies, or the United Kingdom. Entirely plain cards may be used, but for the present cards for other places must bear the same printing as Government cards. After the same date letter cards will be sold at all Post Offices. These cards, whioh afford double the writing of an ordinary post card, and which can be closed against inspection as securely as an ordinary letter, will be sold at each for town, inland, and intercolonial circulation ; for the South Sea Islands and additional $& postage will be required, and for the United Kingdom and all other places an additional penny.

New Year's Day was ushered into Westport by a sad accident. Shortly after midnight Mr Cosgrove, captain of the Naval Volunteers, fired off a large charge of powder in an old four-pounder gun, once belonging to the s.s. Suva, wrecked at Westport some years ago. The gun burst, pieces flying about in all directions. A youth, aged 15, named Charles Green, was killed instantly, a piece of iron striking him'on the shoulder and neck, fearfully mutilating him. A man, 52 years of age, named Howard; had his right arm shattered by a piece of flying gun-metal, and the arm will have to be amputated. It is doubtful if he will recover. Patterson, the harbourmaster of the dredge, had his ribs broken. Windows were broken, a large hole was made through the brick chimney of the Infant State School building, and various premises were struck and moro or less damaged. The accident occurred during the Fire Brigade demonstration. Mr Stoddart, captain of the English team in Australia, when interviewed after the first test match, said:—""Of course I am delighted at winning the match, though I can't help thinking that the other side were robbed of their victory." Some records were established during the match. Sixty-six thousand people went through the turnstiles, which beats the 63,000 attendance at Surrey v. Notts, the previous record, in ISU2. The gate receipts amounted to £2835, also a record for any single match. The total runs scored amounted 1514, the previous record being Cambridge University v. Sussex, in 1891, when 1483 runs were registered. Gregory's innings of 201 is the highest ever scored in a test match in Australia. In England, in 1884, Murdock put up 211 on the Oval against All England. On the whole, the match has been the most interesting ever played in these colonies, and the enthusiasm has been intense from the first. The only regret is that some arrangements were not made for covering the wickets on the eve of the last day's play, as rain, it could be seen, was certain to fall. Had this been done there would have been a different tale told regarding its result.

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