OPUNAKE.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 May 1921, Page 7

OPUNAKE.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

The death of Mrs. Jas. McCook (nee Connie Murphy), which took place in the New Plymouth hospital on Wednesday, came as a shock to many of the deceased’s friends, although medical attendants gave no hope from the first. Death came before deceased’s intfimate friends were aware of her illness. Deceased only took ill a week prior to her death. She was 21 years of age, and leaves two little children, the youngest only six weeks old. At the last sitting of the S.M. Court, judgment was given for plaintiff in the following cases: Clough and Harris v. Miss A Foley £1 19s 3d, costs 8s; Powell and Shepherd v. F. Hiekey £2 16s, costs £1 8s 9d; same v. G. W. Hayward £2 16s, costs 15s; same v. T. Judson £2 Os 6d, costs £1 8s 9d; same v. A. M. Sims £4 12s 6d, costs £1 8s 9d; Newton King Ltd. v. S. Walters £6 5s 2d, costs £1 7s 6d; same v. F. Hickey £2 15s, costa £1 7s 6d. The Magistrate dismissed the charges preferred against J. Forsyth for presenting a gun at a Maori woman. At the last voting recorded in connection with the Seaside Queen Carnival, the town queen candidate (Mrs. Lyttle), is leading by a small majority. Mr. J. Boylian, who has been for some time in charge of the Club hotel stables, has taken over .the Opunake Hotel stables, Mr. R. McCullum is in charge of the former.

A change is noticeable in the country in “pushing tradesmen'.” A butcher’s van from an outside town delivers mutton to Tea merchants and drapers are also on the road. Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Thorpe, who sold out of business here some six months ago, and paid a visit to the Old Country, returned to Opunake on Monday, and will remain here for a few days. At a committee meeting of the Seaside Society, the balance sheet in connection with the last fete day showed a credit of £lO2.

At a meeting of the Town Board on Monday evening, presided over by Mr. Trotter, and commissioners J. R. Burton, A. Richards and Dr. Whtt, the clerk was authorised to draw the council’s attention to the bad state of the waiter channels in the main street. Necessary footpath work had been attended to by the board’s staff. The hydro-electric works arfe being pushed on. The board is anxiously waiting for some flnalty in connection with the proposed power board. On this matter depends the difference between the larger and smaller scheme. The board has a license for a certain area, but can develop enough power to supply a nine mile radius. If the Government Department grants the power for setting up a hoard the Town Board scheme will be taken over by the bdard. If not the smaller one will be proceeded with. There is no possible chance of the Taranaki Powers Board supplying power to the farmers in the Egmont County until every other part of Taranaki is supplied, and if the Government scheme is carried on as quickly as railway construction, we will not get electric power until doomsday. The quickest and best—in fact, the only possible way at present—is from the Opunake scheme. Then why this delay with the department? The Town Board should put more ginger into their advocacy. In'fact, they have been slow all through with it. If other •towns had our possibilities in regard to hydro-electricity, things would hum. | Shake up the department and -wake up i the country! The scheme is worth it, I and the possibilities of future developi ment are greater than the most sanguine can anticipate. Let us hear more and more about hydro-electricity. The football match between Okaiawa and Opunake was the best seen on the ground since the days when Opunake won 'the senior championship. The Okaiawa barrackers were in strong numers at Opunake, and had finance to burn. Some of the latter they left behind. A large following of Okaiawa natives were badly taken down over the game, and will remember the match for many days to come. Okaiawa have what I believe they have never had before when on tour, that is, an extra mr ' ready to ■take the field if the necessity arose. After seeing the display made by Okaiawa on Saturday, I feel certain of that if the same combination continues they will beat any visiting combination on their own ground, not excepting Clifton and their importations. The Opunake seniors want to master the best tactics for breaking up a scrum quickly. The forwards are light, fast, and hard as the shaggy woods that grow on our coast, but to beat heavy opponents, they must keep away from compacts. Why not try the three-two-three scrum formation (English style) of getting the ball ? It is the most effective for a light division.