PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 47, 14 February 1908, Page 4

PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Oi'UNAKK. (From Our Own Correspondent). There are u good xew change* to elmmielc liere lately, yir. \V. A. Harding, who lias been postmaster here for the pa*t jive and a-lialf roar:-. lui> been transferred to Akaroa. He leti here on Tmwlay morning lor hi- new >phere. Mr. I homp'-on ha> been ;ipjx>iiited 'o -invecd Mr. Harding. lie win not ,irrive lor a lew day?, and in the mean linn' Vlr. \\. Coad. of New I'luiimii h. is acting |to>tina>t«'r.

Dr. Moiri<on, who has been in Opuliako for aIKJUt four year-, i.« also leaving* In-re. lie is going to take a tiip !o Kngland. aud may probably return in a little while. Mr. f. I>. Simm-, builder, who ha- re--ided in opmiake for many \ear> pa-!, is leaving iu a few days tu lake up hi?residence iu Auckland, uhil-t Mr. and Mr*. OT.nen. who 101 l here about a war ago. have returned to Opunakv. Mr. \Y. A. Harding was on Monday last presented by the member?- of tit.Horticultural Society, of which he wapresident, with a travelling bag as ; i slight token of esteem. Air. Dudley mad<* the presentation in hi.- n-nal hap py maimer, ami Mr. Harding Miitably re -pomied.

At the bowling green on Wcdne-day afternoon. Dr. Morrison, I Iu- elul»V president, w;h aUo the recipient ot in appropriate presentation on the oecasioii of iii«i departure. The presentation. which took the form oi a gold pendant, U'ing a bowl suitably ed, was presented by Mr. M. Mel-'ee. a tormer president. Dr. Morri.on suitably responded.

Interest in tennir> i?, well maintained, and fiie'oue wurt al\va\s fully occupied. A handicap tenni- touniauicat tangles) ior trophies kindly presented b\ Mr. v. Duncan is now in progrc-i-. and some e.vellent have resulted.

The i'unibo Native Band UUcmirs d several M*lcetions } ivbicJt wejv gr«ally appreciated, in the main street ou their return from i'lliama sport.-,. Our own town hand has lately been re-u-citatc.l. and as M'tcral new member* have joined. and a good solid progressive eommittee has been formed, we should shortly be able to hear good music without having to wait for the occasional visits of outside bands. tor the past few days the atmosphere has been lull of ?moke from the bush lires which appear to be in full force around here. Oiless heavy rain fall* soon matters wilt oe serious indeed, a* with the present dry weather the whole country will be ablaze. There have been i several hou»Cd reported to have been I burnt down in the outiyiug districts, I but none near here.

The Egmont County C nincil's new ! stone crusher ami traction engine (Mine to hand oil Wednesday. Il will commence operations crushing stone fur the road deviation at the now Oaomii bridge. At a meeting of the Town Hoard held on Friday last it was decided to move [iart of tin' old block-house and en-el it on tlx- beach for a dressing shed for gentlemen. It was also .iccided to extend an invitation to a Minister oi the Crown to visit Opunake to view the proposed harbor endowment- and discus- the whole matter of the harbor. The question of lighting the Town ll.ill bv aeetyleue gas \va> di=oiits~t'tl. An offer by the New Zealand Acetylenel - Co. to in-tall the gas for CB2 10» wj« received. After discusioou. the matt'i was held over for a special meeting on Monday evening. The i|Uestinn of a broader lighting scheme t<> include (Iponake was brought tip. but Mr. Dudley mid it would cost CloOO. and they had no power to l>orro\v the money. 'Mi Monday at the special meeting il was decided to accept the company's oll'er ' and have acetylene gas installed in the I hall.