OPUNAKE.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 July 1916, Page 7

OPUNAKE.

Oi (From Our Own Correspondent.) At the Court last Friday all the defendants in the civil cases were Natives. The majority of the plaints were for recovery of Native rates, The Maoris did not defend. A fatality happened at Opua on Monday afternoon. The only child of Mr. and Mrs. Archie Callander, aged two years, was missed from the household. The mother immediately searched the waterholes near by, and found the child in a creek that runs through the farm. Life was extinct. An inquest was held on Tuesday afternoon, at tlie residence of the parents, before Mr. W. C. Dudley (coroner) and a jury of five, when a verdict of accidentally drowned was returned, and sympathy was expressed for the biireaved parents. The funeral, which tonic place on Wednesday, was attended by a large number. The Rev. R. B. Closnell celebrated the last sad rites. At the annual meeting of the Opunake Presbyterian Church congregation it was decided that the Mocdrator (Uev. D. .Mclvorj take steps to have the vacancy tilled. It is anticipated that it may be some months before a suitable man will be obtained, as the Manaia charge is also vacant. The following managers were appointed: Messrs Morton, MeCarrison (Awatuna). Bol'ane (Te Kiri), Malcolm (Oaonui). ])r Barron, C. Malcolm. W. Myth, Boss (Opunake), Pcttigrew (2), and Tosiand (Pihama). The Native Land Court is ngair sitting in Opunake. A great deal of business appears to be transacted. Native women are prominent advocates of their