OPUNAKE.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 August 1920, Page 6

OPUNAKE.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) < There is a very hopeful feeling prevailing among those most interested that financial difficulties in connection with harbor construction works will be overcome within a short time. Next September it will be two years since the loan proposals were carried, and before the anniversary date a definite decision will be reached. The hydro-electric works will be started as soon as the essential materials are obtainable. A local carrier had a few pipes lying near his motor garage, and the rumor was put about that a big load of hydro-electric' pipes had arrived. Pipes are not required for the local scheme. The Oaonui irrigation \vork6 will be started as soon as»ainple supplies of cement are obtained. A -local contractor will undertake the work. Dr. Watt, Who has secured a building site facing the Crescent, has had a quantity of stone deposited on the site for, the purpose of erecting a stonewall fence. , The increased price of labor and the bright prospects for the coming dairying season is noticeable in the number of marriages. Two celebrations tjgok place recently on the Opua road, and the cans are piled away to be used for another occasion at an early date.

The members of St. Barnabas' Church are holding regular euchre parties and mart sales prior to the big bazaar now being organised. At a recent social-in afid of the bazaar, Miss M. Brunette and her pupils gave a very creditable exhibition of fancy dancing. Opunake residents have organised a strong appeal to the Minister of Public Works to push on the completion of the Opunake railway. The chairman of the Town Board was a member of the deputation to Wellington recently, and urged more activity in confpleting the railway. The deputation was representative of Hawera and coastal local bodies. It is expected that keen competition will result for the soldiers' sections in the Parihaka and Puniho land ballots. The recent rains have given the pastures a grew tinge, and done a lot of good after the severe frosts. Prices of dairy and young stock will harden. Mnnv purchasers have been waiting for feed to come along before making their purchases. The .absence of Egraont delegates from the recent big conference of Taranaki representatives for the purpose of consolidating unity was a noticeable feature. This is all the more striking when it is remembered that if it had not been for Egmont the MoturoaOpunake line would not yet have be"en in the realm of practical politics. When Mr. (now Sir Thomas) Mackenzie was member for Egmont he had the Railway Commission set up. When he became Premier he was opposed strongly by all the other Taranaki members. What bright prospects there were for Taranaki, and the Moturoa-Gpunake line in particular, if the other electorates in Taranaki had supported Egmonfs member. Messrs Smith arid Masters, unfortunately for Taranaki, were not then political factors. •

The commencement rf the Te Kiri sawmills, owned by Mr. Clements, means the employment of a number of hands, and last Saturday the mill hands had a strong representation in\ the football match between Tp Kiri and Opunake, when Opunake won by a small margin after an element of good luck. It is stated tlmt Mr. Clements lias put in an up-to-date sawmilling plant, and that labor-saving machinery is a prominent feature at the mill.

Mr. SwatalH. the newly appointed manager of the Opua Road Dairy Factorv. has taken up his appointment.

We are having a regular run of sopi'Ms ibis month, the bowling club, football club and church socials all playing their parts. OPUNAKE RACING CLUB. The annual meeting was held in the Town Hall on Friday evening. There was a large attendance, a linmby of new members 'taking a keen interest in the meeting. Mr. A. Good presided. The annual report stated that the past season compared favourably with any of its predecessors, and detailed the improvements carried out, the labor and materials.costing £1362 6s !>d. The contract for the jockey and number board will lie carried out when material is available. It was difficult to finance the building of a new grandstand and other buildings, except bv mortgaging the property, and it was doubtful even then if a permit would be granted for the work.

The receipts totalled £7OIO, including a balance of £l9ll brought forward from the previous year, the expenditure amounting to £5233, including Government tax £1449, amusement tax £l9, totalisator working £1095, commission £374, improvements £1362, leaving a credit balance to carry forward of £1777. The assets were s«t down at £6524, and liabilities £BO9. The report and balance sheet were adopted. recurring question of the issue of complimentary tickets was discussed, and Jt was decided to reduce these by half. ' The following office-bearerß were "elected; President, Mr. A. Good (reelected) 1 ; vice-president, Mr. ,T. M. Hickey; i treasurer, Mr. G. Barr-Brown; auditor, Mr. D. Markham (re-elected); stewards, Messrs. E. S. Forsyth, D. Campbell, F. Carter, G. Hammond, D. Ilarrop, F. Julian, R. P. Malcolm, S. J. Richards and J. Young. Committee: Messrs. G. ilammond, J. Young, E. S. Forsyth, S. ' Richards, F. Carter, D. Campbell, D. Harrop and J. P. Burton. A vote* of thanks was accorded to the outgoing committee, and a bonus of £lO granted to the secretary • for the specially good work he had done for the club. It was a recommendation to the committee to increase the charge of admission to the saddling paddock and lawn. Mr. E. S. Forsyth was re-appointed chairman of committee.