OPUNAKE.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 January 1920, Page 3

OPUNAKE.

(From Our Own Correspondent). It is reported that a well-known local firm is going out of business on account of not being able to get a renewal of their premises, and the difficulty of obtaining material and workmen to erect new premises. The Harbor Board has been granted power to increase the interest by ■half per cent, on the loan money required for harbor construction. Under the original Bill 5 per cent, was the maximum allowed. It was impossible to get the money at that rate, and the Board were given to understand that they would not be able to go on the market until the Victory Loan was cleared. It is hoped that the Board, after being "up against it" for a long time, will now be enabled to make a progressive move. The Opunake Federal Band played on the Crescent on Sunday afternoon* There was a large crowd present, and the musical programme was enjoyed by all. Some ten years ago the Domain Board planted a live hedge on that part of the domain opposite the present rec., so that an avenue of trees would beautify the northern end of the town. To-day the only evidence of the work is a few shrivelled box-thorn plants and a substantial pair of concrete posts. A visitor remarked the other day that Kaponga and Manaia had beautified their domains considerably during the last ten years, whilst the Opunake Domain was still in its straw-growing phase. Opunake looked quite cheerful on Saturday night when all the town street lights were turned on. Owing to the high price of carbide in the past we have denied ourselves this luxury up to the present.

There appears to be more discontent over the increased price of tobacco than on any other necessary that has "gone up." Signs are not wanting that prices for the necessaries of life will incrcaso all round. The cottage gardener will have to increase his potato plantation, and the men folk, instead of spending the leisure hours at pictures or socials', will have to go fishing for eels to reduce the cost of living. The hesitancy shown by the Town Board and Egmont Council in fixing the statutory half-holiday is unusual. Some years ago the fixing of Saturday as the half-holiday was only carried on the casting vote of the chairman. Since then Saturday has gained in favor. Hawera and Stratford County Councils have selected Saturday. Kaponga and Manaia favor Saturday, and the meeting of various delegates at Stratford unanimously agreed upon Saturday. It is coming as the universal half-holiday. The broken weather has interfered with haymaking. The hay crop is light, and. not so good in quality as last year! The late sowings of turnips are looking well. The rain will more than com-,, pensate for losses in other respects. The milk yield up to date is not equal to last season's quantity. The tail end of the season may give better results than last year. The constant dry, whip, ping winds wither the growth too soon. Their effect is also noticeable, in the cottage gardens. Mushrooms have been fairly plentiful this week. The family man finds it a cheap table viand. The feys and girls are out in the early morning collecting for the breakfast table.