OPUNAKE.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 May 1919, Page 3

OPUNAKE.

HARBOR BOARD. (From Our Own Correspondent.) The annual meeting of the Opunake Harbor Board was held on Wednesday afternoon. Present: Messrs T. P. Hughoon, E. S. Forsyth, C. H. Hurst, M. O'Brien, and M. Hickey. The chairman, in his annual report, stated that arrangements had now been made for resumption of the N.S.S. Company's Arapawa calling at the port. The boat leaves Onehunga on June 4, and will call at Opunake on the trip down to Wanganui. The balance sheet (to December 31) showed an expenditure of: Salary £9, first instalment of purchase of jetty £so] the total items being £123 10s. Receipts: Balance from last year £46 4s 6d, rents £75, the total from all sources' being £123 10s. The chairman stated that £SOO had been paid for the purchase of the jetty and repairs to it. Mr. T. P. Hughson was re-elected chairman, and spoke in support of a progressive policy. The other members urged progress at once, and, after some discussion, it was decided to obtain the expert advice of Mr. Blair Mason (New Plymouth) to tonsult Mr. Cyrus Williams' plana and advise tlie board. Tho board decided to purchase a surf boat from the U.S.S. Company, and a strong winch as a stand-by. If the board can obtain Mr. Blair Mason's report within a short time it will go on with the loan proposals. GENERAL. Archbishop Redwood paid a visit to Opunake on Friday, and stayed a few hours. After visiting the Convent School, he left, in company with Father Doolaghy, for Hawera. It'is seven years since he previously visited Opunake. The staff and directorate of the Bell Block factory paid a visit tt Opunake. The visitors are doing a trip round the mountain. Mr. H. Whittington, who has been for many years engaged at the Opunake Cordial Factory has now taken over the business from Mr. C. Sorrensen. The visit of the Taranaki Education Board members to Opunake has had the effect of creating a little more interest in educational matters. The support accorded to the local application for a district high school has been warmly acclaimed here. It is just as well to refer to a question that should be kept in mind by the board and attended to by the Taranaki Members of Parliament when the opportunity comes. It is this: The Education Act makes it compulsory for children to attend school; a clause should also be inserted in the Act making it compulsory for farmers engaging families to provide grazing for at least one horse, to be used for taking the children of the family to school. Such a clause would not affect many farmers, but it would compel those who will not allow a horse to be kept on the farm for school children to do so. All sharemilking agreements stipulate the number of horses to be grazed on the farm, and the number includes only those required to be worked on the farm. Instances are frequent where children have to walk miles to school after getting up early and assisting in the shed. ; Oounake. O&onui, Pfhama, and To Kiri