MOKAU NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 August 1918, Page 3

MOKAU NEWS.

HARBOR BOARD. (From Our Own Correspondent.) The ordinary monthly meeting of the above was held on the Sth inst Present: Messrs H. Maine, A. W. Sole, A. U. -Sampson and S. Whitehead (in tne chair.) ' Correspondence was read from the Department of Marine in reply to vue Board's query as to whether it would be willing to vest any portion of the river or beach as an endowment to the Board should future developments in iron and sand warrant it. The Minister icpneu that such vesting could only be made by Act of Parliament, but that if the Board would submit plans showing exactly the parts it wanted vested, the same would receive consideration. Further, should the vesting not be opposed, and the Board decide to go on with the matter, a local Bill would have to be pioiiiotecl for the purpose. The Secretary of Marine wrote- asking whether the Board had any objection to the Department granting a lease of the ironsand area between the Flower Pot and the Mokau Heads to Mr N. (I Winkleman, of New Plymouth, for the purpose of establishing works for the manufacture of iron. It was decided, That the secretary write to the Marine Department stating the Board would offer no objection to the Departmen' granting the lease, providing the wor' were established within a reasonui time after the lease had been granted. a.;d provided also the lease contained provision for safeguarding the natural course of the river.

The secretary as further directed to acquaint the Department of the fact that ail old Native burial giounu existed within the area of the land proposed tp be leased and a road leading thereto. Both these would be matters for consideration should a lease be orawn up. A communication from the Marine Department was received stating that the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland, would forward a report in due course upon the matter of bush being felled into the Mokau river. Messrs Koy and Nicholson, the Board's solicitors, asked the Board to pass a resolution re collecting the special rate made and levied on the 9th day of August, 191.'!, for the payment of interest and sinking fund on a loan of £IOOO for rebuilding the Mokau wharf. | Agreed to.

It may be mentioned the special rate is one farthing in the £ on the capital value of all rateable property within the special rating area.

It was resolved that the valuation roll he open for the inspection of ratepayers daily during office hours. With reference to the vacant spat on the Board for Awakino riding it was resolved that Air F. W'. Carringtou, o) Awakino, be appointed to the vacant seat forthwith, and that the Department of Marine be' notified of such appointment.

The Wharfinger's monthly balancesheet was placed before the meeting, and several small accounts were passed for payment.

PATRIOTIC COMMITTEE. A meeting of the Mokau Patriotic Committee was held on the night o> the 10th inst., Mr. H. "Maine presiding. A discussion took place as to ways tnd means to ansment the committee's iresentation fund, atid it was decided hat the ordinary patriotic dance arranged for August 24th be suspended uid a farewell social and dance be tendired to Mr and Mrs Alec Bone. The following names were added to he committee: Messrs A. W. Sole, W. rorri 11, Sid Whitehead. It was decided to rely upon voluntary pianist services at future send-offs, etc.

I SCHOOL COMMITTEE. A meeting of the above was held on the lGlh inst., Mr J. L. Mac Donald presiding, Mr J. McNiece, chairman of the Awakino School wrote requesting payment, of capitation fees.—The amount (.CO) will be forwarded.

It was' resolved that repair work, including re-rooting school conveniences, putting panes of glass m door and windows, etc., he done.

The schoolmistress (Miss A. Barnes) was authorised to procure books and other requisites.

DISTRICT NEWS. The animal meeting of the Awafcino cheese factory took place on Hie llltli inst., Mr L. .Jones presiding. The bal-ance-sheet was explained by tne secretary (Mr .las. B. Carr). Much satisfaction was expressed at the result of the year's operations, especially since work had in these days to be earned on under very adverse conditions.

There has been quite an exodus from Mokau lately. Among those to leave are such old identities as Mr Lant Jensen, Miss Eileen Jensen, Miss S. Holden, Mr J. Taylor. Mr J North, Mr and Mrs Sid Erricson, Mr and Mrs Cliristofferson, Mr and .Airs Bailey, Mr and Mrs Shadbolt, and Mr and Mrs Alee Bone. Quite a large number for a small township, though \it is just possible some may be absent, only temporarily. At least we hope so. The returned soldier selectors on the river, Messrs Raven, Randell and Sage, are all busy getting their bush down ready for the autums burn. One has only to look at tile class of country these men have to deal witli to understand what lion hearts they have. Yet ail seem satisfied and hopeful. May the Government of the future deal kindly with these men, for they are deserving of consideration.

The port has been very quiet a.s regards shipping this month. The bar has been exceedingly rough for three weeks or more, and the ocean liners that frequent the harbor in fine weather have been-afraid to come in for fear of dislocating some of the cliffs in the vicinity of the signal station. The seas have been mountainous at tinier.

A rugged coast line away to the distant. horizon to the south, Kgi-ont. in solitary grandeur, fleecy mantled and crowned with diamonds, lifts his giant head above the clouds and gazes forth upon his vast domain with eyes dimmed by the storm and stress of a thousand years. To the west the setting sun. wearied with his march across the blue dome of the heavens, sinks like a golden globe into the illimitable waste of waters. These be the sishts that meet the eye of the dweller in Mokau, day in and day out. On what other part, of the eoast can there be found a more fortunate people?