OPUNAKE.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 November 1917, Page 3

OPUNAKE.

(From Our Own Correspondent). At-the Town Board meeting on Monday the members present were: Messrs L. E. Thorpe, C. A. Trotter, G. W. Rogers and S. M. Cornish. Mr. Trotter was elected chairman. The chairman is the senior member of the Board, rfnd his election was one Of reward for long and faithful service A medical gentleman asked for statistical information with a view of taking up his residence in this district.—The clerk will attend to it.

The foreman reported that the contractor (J. S. Hickey) had completed his contract work of metalling Napier street, also on the usual maintenance work, such as cleaning water channels, etc. The custodian of the hall (Mr. E,arris) waH granted an increase in salary. The members of the board were of opinion that it is time the town had bylaws for controlling various nuisances. The price of gas was further increased to 22s fid per 100 feet. The Board at one meeting increases the price to consumers to cover cost of light. Before the next meeting the cost of carbide goes up, and the members are forced with another deficit on the month's working to pull up. It looks like a game of chess, the Board makes an upward move in price, the merchant makes another. At the next meeting of the Board it will be their mqvc—and the consumer—poor man! The Second Division ballot has "ticketed" some of our business men, including one hotelkeeper, a blacksmith, and a bookseller. The poll on the electric lighting proposal of £7OOO was carried on Tuesday by 108 votes to 6. There was very little interest taken in the poll, it being a foregone conclusion that it would be carried by a large majority. The present lighting system for a restricted area in the township is acetylene gas and the price of carbide here is £IOO per ton. This .fact alone was the deciding factor in promoting the electric lighting sheine. It wll prooably De s [ x mo nths before it is installed. The only candidate nominated for the Opunake riding in the Egmont County was Mr. S. M. Cornish. He has now been appointed (without a single contest) to all the local bodies in this district.