OPUNAKE.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 October 1921, Page 3

OPUNAKE.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) The Horticultural Society had a very successful season, the door money showjno a good increase on last year’s takings. The evening competitions, such as children’s recitations, juvenile Highland dancing, and other juvenile items, were attractive and interesting. The change of date from Wednesday to Monday was also beneficial, showing an ancrease in the takings. The. ladies in charge of the tea tables (Mrs. G. Baylis, and Misses Davis, Munro, and G. Halpin) deserve special mention for the work they did in attending to this, important part of the show. The society’s bal-ance-sheet showed a credit balance of £l'B. Mrs. A. Richards was appointed secretary.

The tunnel in connection with' the 1 hydro-electric works was prerced by the contractors (Messrs. George and Caddy) on Saturday morning. A cow belonging to Mr. H. Mann had twins (heifer calves) last week. The Taranaki Presbytery hajs appo nted a minister to the OpunaKe Presbyterian district, which will include Qkat-o and Pungarehu. The new minister is expected to take up his residence here within a fortnight. The Rev. C. S. Strand, who had charge of the Methodist circuit for some years, is on a visit to this district.

The Opunake Tennis Chib will open the season next week. Mr. C. O. Edmonds was elected secretary. With a little life stimulated into the club a very successful season should result. The courts have been somewhat neglected, but it is the intention of the \ executive to have the grqunds put in good repair. The Domain Board have had the football ground ploughed ‘and harrowed, and it will be in splendid order for next season. The seaplane from Auckland passed Opunake at 10.20 a.m. It was an interesting sight to many of us, it being the first flying machine we have seen._ It came close to the main road at Te Namu and then swung out at Middleton’s Bay to the shipping track. It was strange to see how the cattle and horses knew something strange was in the air, even before people could see the object. The animals cocked their ears, snorted, and set off round the paddocks. The Town Board held their ordinary meeting on Monday evening. The members present were: Messrs. C. A. Trotter (chairman). J. P. Burton. A. Richards, R. P. Malcolm, and Dr. Watt. The meeting decided to procure 25 seats, at a total cost of £'lls 12s 6d. The board refused an application for the use of the Town Hall for roller skating. It was decided to call tenders for painting the hall, and invite applications for the position of poundkeeper and ranger. A motion that future lessees of town reserves be compensated for improvements was defeated. This is a question of policy, and should be dealt with after fuller inquiry. The leases should be put under a better tenure. What is termed the “Glasgow lease” would be more suitable than the crude compensation clause. The board will soon be faced with the question of giving public houses, boarding houses, refreshment rooms, etc., an outlet for sewerage. Public bodies prohibit nuisances, but it has , a duty to perform in giving householders in congested areas an outlet for sewerage.