OPUNAKE.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 April 1918, Page 3

OPUNAKE.

Ii is general conversation here tliat about ten military deserter* have t;iken up the nomadic life in the mountain reserve. The majority are capable bushmen, anil should form a good exploring party. Saturday was Red Trianfle Day hero, and the day being sale day 011 account of Easter Monday being a holiday, there was a large crowd. Stalls were erected on the main street, and were in charge of Mesdameß Thorpe and Hammond (sweet stall). Hisses D. Mann and L. Trotter. In the evening a number of young ladies, in various costumes, formed a procession and sang a few popular choruses. The vocal effort was fair and served a good purpose by drawing a .crowd out and enabled the collection boxes to be used to advantage. The day was a profitable one in aid of the good cause. ,

At the S.M. Court on Thursday, before Mr. A. Crooke, S.M., the F.gmont County Council cited a number of ratepayers, or non-ratepayers, for rates due. The majority were natives and about 20 persons had Court costs and solicitors' fees added to llieir rate? in judgment by default. Two defended cases, the estate of W. C. Dudley (Mr. Gow) v. A. C. Hills (Mr. Marshall) took up some time of the court. Judgment was givpn for £lO lis for meat supplied and court costs £1 12s. Mr. Deegan (Mr. Marshall) v. J. C. O'Rorke (Mr. Gow), claim for £25 for windmill, range and tank. The ease wa9 one in which Deegan, who leased a farm to Hoskin, paid the latter the sum of £25 for sundries when he arranged to sell the unexpired team of lease to O'Rorke for £2OO. Defendant contended that when he paid the purchase price for the farm he was finished with all liability. The plaintiff submitted that "in Govett and Quiliam's office in New Plymouth it was agreed that Deegan was to pay Hoskin, aifd O'Rorke was to pay Deegan. O'Rorke denied that he ever consented to do so. The evidence of Deegan and Hoskin was that he agreed to the suggestion made by Mr. Quilliam. The magistrate nonsuited plaintiff, expressing the opinion that something morr than a general conversation evidence was required in a £25 claim, and tin' u'"' tiff was nearly two years in sueing for the amount.