OPUNAKE NOTES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 29, 6 February 1901, Page 2

OPUNAKE NOTES.

(From our own Correspondent.) Our township paid ita tribute to the memory of the Great Quern on Saturday. Flags were half-mast on the flagstaff, the school, the Town Hall, and other permanent buildings, while many private houses had their little flags at half-mast also.

The Town Band, under the able conduct of Bandmaster OummingS, piraded the town playing the " Duad March," It is long since our township had heard the "Dead March," but the citizens fell in behind the band, and it must have raised sad memories of the old fighting days in some hearts to yiear that Bolemn strain again, Nor ptas it a mere empty ceremonial ; genuine sorrow reigned for the death of the goad Queen, and it was a mournful little township as the band marched along and the old school bell tolled slowly. Mr. J. Ross fired a Royal Salute of 21 guns from the old cannon at the flagstaff. A poor little affair you may think, Mr. Editer, and it certainly would have looked better if the proclamation had been read. Rut those who did attend did their best to do their duty, not forgetting that they also, though insignificant, had been subjects of the great Queen who is dead—the greatest Sovereign of the greatest empire the world has evsr seen. Every credit is due to the members of the band, and also to Mr. J. Stewart, who made all the arrangements for the ceremony, and to Mr. Das Forces for loan of the flags.. The school was closed for the week out of respect t') 'he memory of the Queen by order of the Chairman of the Education Board.

A heavy north-east gale ia blowing, and the heaviest rain we have had this summer is falling. Taking it a!l rouud the summer has bean the worst for eome years.