OPUNAKE.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 March 1920, Page 3

OPUNAKE.

(From Our Own Correspondent). Last Friday the Maoris held a tangi in accordance with custom in remembrance of the four natives who died from influenza. Pictures wero shown in the Town Hall 011 Saturday evening, the first appearance for three weeks. The pupils of the public school reassembled on Monday, after a fortnight's enforced holiday, due to the closing of the Town Hall, The Town Board has received intimation that the Public Trust Office will grant £7OOO for developing the hydroelectric scheme. Local engineers estimate that it will cost £IO,OOO above the original estimate, which is nearly three years old, and prices for electric plants have considerably increased since then, also the cost of construction. _ The Oaonui Irrigation Board has decided to instruct Messrs Sladden and Palmer to draw up plans and specifications and call for tenders for constructing the head " nrks. The Board has been granted the flnajice for the carrying on of the work. The various branches of the Farmers' Co-op. Society throughout Taranaki closed last Saturday and the members of the staff with their families and friends held an enjoyable picnic on the Opunake beach. The Egmont Open Coursing Club held its annual meeting on Saturday evening. The 'balance-sheet showed a credit of £Bl. Mr. C. Woolford was re-elected president, and Mr. Evetts re-elected secretary. A vote of £5 was passed to the ew Plymouth Club towards expenses in the Waterloo Cup. The Opunake Club authorised the secretary to tnake inquiries from the New Plymouth Club regarding holding a joint Waterloo taeeting, or renting the enclosure for the purpose.of holding a coastal meeting- Tiie Booker Cup is to be coursed for on May 1, if that date is granted by the National Coursing Club. The stake will bo .-C2S; winner, £ls; second dog £o, and two dogs £*2 10ts each A hearty vote of tlmnks was accorded the secretary, president and committee for past valuable services. A athletic and equinine sports meeting is to bo held hero in aid of the Convent candidate in the Queen Carnival. The Anglican Church harvest festival services wevo held on Sunday evening, the Rev. C. Pa'mer officiating. On Monday th e proceeds of the mart and tea room at the salevavds were in aid of the church funds. The jommittee of ladies worked energetically and to advantage. Ihe butter-fat return l : on the coa=t will urohaWv b e a record for February and March over a similar period in any past season. Copious and beneficial rains have done more to increase the milk yieM in a year of scarcity of fcrtilisators than a plenteous year of fertilisers a;'d lower average of rainfall. The general belief is that Opunake is to be an average sized town in progressive ideas, hut it is not so. Whilst the citv bakers and the Premier have been arauintr about the price of bread. Opunake had the nriee up—and on the top Mile. When Wellington got a wireless cable that the next shipment of cotton and rice would be increased Onnnake was in the top price list before the ship crossed the equator. The Federal Band played an exc»llent programme of music at the seaside last .Sunday