OPUNAKE.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 June 1919, Page 3

OPUNAKE.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) The s.s. Arapawa arrived in the bay on Thursday afternoon and discharged 25 tons of general cargo. This is the first call since the Marine Department lifted the embargo on shipping due to floating mines and the first call since the Harbor Board took over control of tho wharf. The boat was unable to discharge on Saturday. It is said that Mr. Blair-Mason (engineer) will make an inspection of the Opunake Bay and report on construction works. The board intends, to go to the ratepayers on the £50,001) loan as soon as Mr. Mason has visited the bay. The primary reason for getting Mr. Mason is to satisfy ratepayers that Mr. Cyrus Williams' proposal, put before ratepayers at the last meeting, is within the financial limits of the harbor Tating area; we axe great sceptics. There is quite a mild boom in farm lands in this district, a good many old settlers having sold their farms at prices that would have been considered two years ago as fictitious. A regrettable feature is that the boom is on wellcleared' farms on main roads, and the undeveloped farms in the black blocks remain as before, making little headway in increasing production. It is here that the great development beneficial to the Dominion is. required. As it is, the present boom is beneficial to the individuals, but of doubtful benefit to the community.

At the Town Board meeting the members present were: Messrs C. A. Trotter (chairman), E. L. Thorpe, J. P. Burton, and 0. Sorrensen. The business transacted was of an important nature. The '-ranger and poundkeeper's services were dispensed with, and the foreman was appointed to carry out (he duties. The foreman reported on the usual round of duties.

The granting of the Town Board's application to use the water of the Waiau for the purpose of generating electricity has taken two years to accomplish. The formalities were not plain sailing; some trouble liad to be taken to obtain consent from riparian owners and rights granted through lands There is a little better inquiry for town sections than has been the ease for years past. Many believe that Opunake has made a move towards irtriher improvement.