DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 April 1920, Page 2

DISTRICT NEWS.

. ■ f, J OPUNAKE. ) (From Ouv Own Correspondent.)' Mrs. Clarke, prior to her departure for Auckland, was farewelled by the members of St. Barnabas Church choir, also by the Croquet Club members. In each Instance a presentation was made, and the usual felicitiona were expressed. -Mr. Clarke nns been a resident of Opunake for many years, and the family are natives of the place. Mr. jind Mrs. Mildenhall were guests of the members of the Methodist Ladies' Guild at a social afternoon last Wednesday. The Rev. Strand, in presenting the guests with suitable mementoes, regretted their departure from Opunake, but was pleased they were not leaving the district. Mr. Mlldenhall returned thanks, Messrs. A, E. Brunnettc, T. P. Hughson, C. H. Hurst, R. Malcolm, M. O'Brien and M. Hickey were the required candidates for the Opunake Harbor Board. With, the exception of Mr. Brunette, all the other candidates have served previously on th& Board. Messrs. S. Campbell and E. S. Forsyth declined nomination. Mr. 13. L. Thorpe, who is leaving Opunake, has resigned from the membership of the Opunake Town BoaTd. It 1b reported that another firm of film pictures will open in Opunake, and tbit the ; firm a local one, will open in prsaiaes in the Main Street. Tho juhile halls from Pungarehu to Fiham are now regularly engaged by the supporters of the Queen Carnival candidates. At present the Hibernian candidate is leading in the ballet. The members of the Opunake football team I that competed at the Kaponga seven-a-side I tournament gave a creditable exhibition and 1 got in the final, but were defeated for first honors. | A deputation from Opunake went to Stratford to ask the Minister of Public Works if he would bo agreeable to the Egmont Council imaking up the difference between the Government living wage of 12s per day, and the actual living wage of 16s for labor (In the bacltblocks) on the Wlrernu Road—a Government road. The Minister agreed to the request. So would, any other, employer if the same chance was offered. There have been a number of changes in Opunake during the last six months. Dwellings and businesses have changed hands. If a calculation is made of the number- of families who have left and others who nave arrived, it will be found that Opunake's population has decreased. The closing of the high school was unfortunate, but It was not altogether unexpected. Those who can afford to pay for the best, send their sons and daughters to some old-established schools, and those who hare large faimilles cannot afford the benefits of the high school. The elder children in a big family have to assist their parents to keep the "wolf from the door." The youngest son of a large family may get a chance of the benefits of a high school, but not tho elder sons. Tho majority of the pupils attending high schools arc representatives of small families. This was so in Opunake. Oar population will need to increase before a high school will he successful. The housing problem, the profiteering question, and the decreasing birth rate appear to the Opunake worker as three problems solvable by one answer, and that la by a system of small, village settlements alongside larger townships. Wefnro Leagues issue pamphlets; politicians give advice; big farmers and wealthy magnates shout more production. None of these get down to practical politics. Tho Gladstone-Bright Liberal Party mlsed the banner of "three acres and a cow" for the worker. That has now come for workers on this coast. Take Opunake as an instance. It is a small area and In a straight line the main road in it is a mile long; It has a population of 500 souls—mostly grtod ones. In the area of the township, the Town Board gives each household the right to graze two cows and one horse on the town- 1 ship. There are 74 cows and 2u horses registered. For the purpose of reasoning, I will not take into account the horses. In addition to these 74 cows there are owners of land of one acre up to ten acres who /ire grazing some DO cows. Take a very reasonable average value of £l2 per year from the cows and we have a value of £72o', each cow has a calf valued at £1 each (selling ralue), another £700; besides this the produce from garden, pigs, and poultry, is sufficient to pay rates, etc. Now the pol.it is this £I4OO to £ISOO is produced before and after the individuals have done their (lay's work, so that if the Government, gave facilities for workers with families to get i .irens of from three to fire acres near Opunake, ' Bahotu and Pihamn, they would establish a I yeomanry from which all casual labor and | tradesmen coudl be drawn, who, when they j were not working, could find profitable em- J ployment on their small holdings. If In i regular work the children could attend to the I homes It woud be establishing home life ] on a happier basis and give bright healthy j occupation to the children. Those who are I ii a position to increase production do all the | shouting; those who have the families are not

able to tret tho land. Acres and acres aro growing noxious weeds that should be In occupation of families. No ono in high jilnces sets down to practical politics. Meanwhile, those who would become producers and defenders of hearth and homes are turned into Bolsheviks. Socialists, and dissatisfied workers. It looks as if th-; country is riding for a fall.

TARIKI. (From Our Own Correspondent ) Tariki is not so dead as it seems. Last Wednesday night ono of the largest dances of the season took place, it, being the Leap Year Rail, and the night turned out to be perfect for dancing. The committee had carefully prepared the floor, and the music by Ml*. Fox's orchestra was such that many who were not Intending to dance could not resist those haunting strains. The sit-down supper was served daintily in the supper room, by the girls who were responsible for tho whole night, with tho assistance of Mesdames Albert Thompson, Laurence, and Laugman, to whom tho committee were very grateful tor their kind assistance. Misses (Jwen Therkleson, Clarice Langmun, and Mary Goodwin, made splendid MCs, and not a person desiring to dunce was left unattended to. Their task was no easy one, for there were visitors from as far away as Strathmroe, Douglas, aiid also from Itutapiko and Midhirst, but all had parti ners who desired them. About eleven o'clock the way of the ball was reversed, ana the 1 M.LVs then handed their duties over to Messrs | Jim Hunwick and Geo. Acklund, who then | kept things moving. The decorations were | profuse and effective, and the effect was pleasing. The ball drew to a close at 2.31) and nil were very conscious of having attended ono of the biggest and best dances ever held in Tarikfi. The lion, secretary. Miss Clara. Hogan and the ladies committee, are to bo congratulated on the result of their strenuous efforts to ensure success. It is expected the boys will give a return by the way of a Bachelors' Ball. A wedding of local Interest took place here last week, when Miss Elsie Kilsby was mar<pied to Mr. Bert Laurence, also of this district, and wht was away on active service for two or three years. Both are greatly respected Tarlklans.