OPUNAKE.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 March 1921, Page 7

OPUNAKE.

(From Our Own 'Correspondent.) The value of green feed for milking herds was exemplified during the recent dry spell. Farmers who relied on grass only for their herds showed a big drop in the supply of milk. The crop mostly used in'this district is soft turnips, and many splendid crops were grown, and those farmers who had a good supply were well repaid by the good milk cheques. The Maoris have nominated a candidate for the Seaside Queen Carnival. This will make a fourth candidate. They are all in the “royal” line, and the queen of the seaside may be a descendant of the canoe, dynasty. It was Opunake’s day at the Dawson’s Falls mountain house on Sunday week, the Opunake Band inaugurating a musical picnic. A large number of local residents made the journey A and spent a very enjoyable time.

Mrs. Bartie successfully underwent a serious operation in a Kaponga private hospital last week. The funeral of the late Mr. J. Guy, on Saturday, was largely attended. A large number of wreaths were forwarded by sorrowful friends. Deceased was an ex-member of the Town Board, ex-chair-man of the school committee, and a prominent member of the railway and harbor committees.

At the Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, before Mi. T. A. B. Bailey, S.M., judgment was given for plaintiffs in the following cases: —T, P. Hughson and Sons v. Te Waironga, <£26 16s fid, costs £2 17s 8d; same v. Stockman, £4 2s lOd, costs 15s 6d; same v. Tullock, £1 10s sd, costfs £1 4s; same v. E. Hill, £9 15s lid, costs £1 12s 6d; R. P. Morrissey v. J. Smith, £l, costs 11s. T. P. Hughson and Sons obtained judgment orders against twelve natives for a sum of about £266.

His Worship intimated at the conclusion of the case, Joseph Law v. Alexander penham, that he would deliver written judgment. Plaintiff claimed £B3 6s 4d for alleged non-fulfilment of agreement to clean out drains, keep fences in repair, etc., during the latter part of defendant’s tenancy of a farm leased from plaintiff on the Waiteaka road. Two native youths were fined £3 and costs for taking trout out of the Pungarehu riv<er without a license. Two local residents were fined 10s each and court costs for holding a pugilistic encounter in the main street.

A very heavy hailstorm passed over Opunake on Wednesday morning. The ground was white with large-sized hail. A local resident who farms a small orchard sold over 40001bs of plums this season. Cement is fairly plentiful at present. ,

It will not be many weeks now before the new picture palace is completed. It looks as if local bodies are going to have a “hard winter” regarding loan 1 money for public works. Our Town Board and County ’Council will, .like other local bodies, be forced to finance works partly out of rates and partly out of loan money (if it can be got). Ratepayers will, under the circumstances, be critical. They will perhaps awaken from their apathy and give vent to their feelings. It is easy to do this, but ratepayers should make the load easy for their representatives by taking a deeper interest in local government affairs and give their representatives, who, I am sure, are doing their best in our interests, every possible assistance. “Let ua reason together” is an old saying, and in the present difficult times it is a sound maxim to follow. If we do this, and give our hearty co-operation to our local government affairs, we will remove most obstacles and get over most difficulties.