OPUNAKE.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 February 1916, Page 3

OPUNAKE.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) At the ordinary monthly meeting of the Harbor Board last Thursday afternoon, there were present: Messrs. T P. Hughson (chairman), li. Malcolm,' J. Maefic, J. H. Lambie, C. 11. Hurst, R. Malcolm and A. H. Moore

The meeting was a short one, and the principal business, loan matters, was dealt willi in committee. The chairman intimated that the Premier and Minister of Finance assured him that they would grant the Board permission to make a loan.

From various sources of reliable informiuinn it is a case of "So near, yet so far." with the Opunake liarbor loan proposal. The Government will give permission to formally apply for a ioan at o'/j per cent., the same privilege as is grained to oilier societies now raising loan-', but the lenders want ~>i per cent.. At any rate the raising of a loan cannot be ell'ecfed under ;">.} per cent, to 3; per cent., because if it can be obtained at :") per cent., the Board has already beeri granted that permission by the ratepayers. Everything over that sum they must again go for the ratepavers. A proposal in this district at the present time for any sum is liVely—and most likely—be defeated, consequently, even if the fiovernment grant permission for 5% per cent, it must go before the ratepayers. Anything under :■>.} per cent, is not obtainable from lenders.

A farewell social ond prespn'.ati .11 was uivcii to Trooper f jtslie Warner-, by the Me'licdist Cimre'a members la.-st w-:■•!:. : W.irnei •-».; [•rrsentid with a fountain pen by the Rev. Tinslsy, on behalf of the members present, niul the 'recipient suitably respondee.

A meeting of the Patriotic League was held on Friday evening, but the attendance was poor. Mr. Dudley presided. It, was anticipated that a dentation from the ''Battle of the Bullion" Carnival would be present. However, il was elicited that the deputation had not been notified of the date of the meeting. The matter was left over until Friday evening to see what information on the subject comes from New Plymouth. The Carnival representatives will need to show that the scheme is one that will get at those who are making money out of the war to meet with any success here. The general opinion is iliat the townspeople are bearing the greatest share of the burden of providing funds, and feeling the effects of the war.

The Opim Dairy Company forwarded a cheque for .t!7.> to the local Wounded Soldiers' Found. It represented the suppliers donation of one per cent, oil oheei'-e sold. The company is only composed of in or 12 supplies, and is about the smallest in the district, but it has given the largest donation to the Wounded Soldiers' Fund. The individual who'has given the largest donation to the local fund is Mr. T. Cain, (Te Kiri'i. This director is now serving his country in the Ninth Reinforcements.