OPUNAKE.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 December 1920, Page 2

OPUNAKE.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

Ilia ordinary monthly meeting of tho Town Board was held on Monday evening. Mr. C. A. Trotter (chairman) presiding. Other members prosent wore: Messrs. J. Burton, A. Richards and It. P. Malcolm. , Mr. C. A. I'easo submltled a report upon thi erosion of tho VValau river. Ho proposed three methods of prevention, and tho one he suggested as the most feasible was to out a fresh channel and divert the water to the centre of the old river bed, It was decided that the report and plans of the proposed work be forwarded to tho Public Works Department with a view to the work baing undertaken by that Department. One can anticipate the reply. The river erosion question has been several times before various local Town Boards, and reports have been obtained, and nothing beyond planting a few willow trees has been done. Tl:e trouble is that the work will cost a year's rates, and the land that has slipped into the river Is from the Town Board road, education reserve and private property, and the only interested party wlllltig to shoulder its responsibility is tlm Town Board. On the opposite aide of the river is Public Trust land, and it Is making that land.

The Egmont County clerk wrote to the Board that one field gun and two machine guns had been allotted to Opunake. Tire agents for the supply of cement to the Opunake hydro-electric works (Messrs. Bennett and Sutton, Hawera) wrote that the Tnranaki Cement Committee hoped to obtain a supply sufficient to make a start with the works.

The census taken by tho Town Board of the town's population showed It to be ESO persons. The Board will make further Inquiries regarding the steps necessary to hecojne a Town Board with controlling authority! over the main road in tte County. Probably it may be necessary to await the taking of the Dominion census. The Board will have the sympathy of the majority of the ratepayers In the town regarding the controlling by the main road in the town, and the Board Is doing a wise thing In making inquiries. The Council, generally, Is not opposed to the move. I remember wl:en Mr. M. Fleming was chairman of the Council stating, when he was putting through a division In the Rahotu riding and creating the new Opunake riding that he did not know what Opunako was doing in not taring reached the 501 population. -He knew it was not the fault of the old hands. The Town Board should consider the question of obtaining road-making machinery. They might fool some of the people but they cannot fool all the ratepayers all the time by stating that they can do the work cheaper than the Council. For these reasons tLe bridges were built out of loan money at a rate that will not be as low again for many years to come. The hospital rate is fixed by the Hospital Board, and the metal work Is done as cheaply as possible by reason of a contractor coming out in a line and big contractors taking several contracts along the main road. My advice is; Drop pin-pricking I and state boldly "we have a right to control our own affairs." We cannot see at I piesent our way to lessen the rates, as we must face the question of obtaining machinery to make all our roads. We can give the whole of the town good roads. Under these conditions tho Board will succeed. Where comparisons are made the Board will get the worst of it.

Mr. E. J. Wallis, the local saddler, has obtained the contract for dog collars for the town district.

The town foreman reported that a number of owners of land were not clearing the gorse from off their frontages, On Sunday the Federal Band gave an open a|r concert at Opunake's promenade—the seaaide frontage. There was a large attendance, and the programme was appreciated. A sitting of the J.r. Court was held on Wednesday, Mr. G. W. Rogers, J.P., presiding. The James Bros., on a charge of alleged window-breaking, were remanded until the 15th inst.

Tte many friends of Mr. C. Callaghan will regret to know that it was necessary for him to undergo an operation to his right arm at the New Plymouth hospital. The visit of the Kaponga School boys to Opunake last Saturday, when they played the local school boys in a cricket match, has revived tte good old game. The • visitors completely outclassed the local boys, who were novices at the game. The next time these teams mieet Opunake should be a much better team.

The tender of Mr. Burgess of £9OO, has been accepted by the Wiremu Road Committee for work on the Wiremu Road. At a meeting of the Opunake branch, of the Returned Soldiers' Association, Mr. J. S. Tosland resigned the position of secretary, and Mr. R. Peat was appointed.