OPUNAKE.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 December 1919, Page 3

OPUNAKE.

(From Our Own Correspondent). The bazaar in aid of the Opunake public school library and improvements to the ground realised £3OO. When all expenses are paid a good round sum will be realised for the purposes required. The bazaar was a greater success than the most optimistic worker anticipated. The people of Opunake and district are now busy raising funds by means of a queen carnival for a new building for the Catholic school. The building will cost between £ISOO and £2OOO.

There is general satisfaction that the establishment of a cottage hospital in Opunake has now taken practical shape. Seeing that £3OO has been raised for school ground purposes by a good united effort, there should be no great difficulty in raising £4OO or £SOO for the greatest need of all—a building for tie care of the sick.

When the new public school is e*e«ea the new Catholic school completed, our cottage hospital built and the memorial to the fallen soldiers finished, Opunake will be graded out of the "tin-pot" village to a county town with an historic record of Parihaka military fame, and a town of solidity with conveniences for the family life. When these improvements are established, in conjunction with lighting and sanit&Fv works, Opunake will be a suitable dwelling place for our retired gentry. At present the retired couples who have earned the rest they are entitled to trek to tke vawns north and south. <

At the last sitting of the S.M. Court a local hotelkeeper was fined a total of £7, and costs 365, for trading after hours.

The funeral of the late Mr. A. Clarke was attended by a large number of old identities. The Rev. M. Palmer celebrated the last sad rites. Deceased had resided in Opunake for over 25 years, and in that time had taken his share of the work in our various local institutions. Ho had been secretary and delegate of the Opunake Football Club for many years, treasurer of the Racing Club, and a committeeman of the Seaside Society. Deceased was well known and hijrhlv esteemed by all coastal acquaintances.

The dairying season, during the last two months, has not been up to the usual standard. The constant winds have kept the growth of grass back. Rveiy dairy factory along the coast reports a shortage in the supply of milk. Ths coastal farms show very poor pasturage, but the bush lands have not suffered so much. The high priced farms will require a good autumn to help the owners over a poor summer.

The shrubs and flowering plants that have been put in the Domain have not made much headway so far. The long grass has practically squeezed them out of existence.

The Rev. Mr. Laybourne, who was for some years in charge of the Capo Egmont Methodist Circuit, is at present on a visit to relatives in Opunake.