OPUNAKE.
(From Our Own Correspondent.) The guarantors of the Opunake Chautauqua season here were required to make up a deficiency of £4 for each guarantor. An inquest concerning th.e death of Ernest Robert Madgwick, who died from injuries received in a motor car accident, which occurred on the Watino Road (Pihama) on Monday evening, was opened in the Opunake Courthouse on Tuesday evening. Mr. G. W. Rogers, J.P., presided. After' the jury, consisting of Messrs. Stewart, Hickey, Cook, and Ross, viewed the body, Constable Clouston gave evidence of identification, and the inquest was adjourned sine die. The principal witnesses, Messrs. W. Lambie and G. Newsham, were medically unfit to give evidence. The “Mother Hubbard” pantomime company opened in the new theatre to a record crowd on Tuesday evening. It was suggested at the Town Board meeting on Monday evening that when the sanitary contract expires on March 31 that the work be paid by the individual householders and not by rate. It is a matter that will be considered 4>y a special meeting of the board on Monday evening. It will be a retrogressive move if the board alters the present method, which is by a rate over the whole area. It is the simplest and most economical method to collect the cost of the working expenses by a rate than by a special collector. The board has already got that machinery, and to create a new official means increasing the burden to householders. The proposed new system will also be welcomed by the speculator and absentee. The residents who own sectioift with no buildings will pay nothing towards sanitation and the family man have his sanitation cost increased, by reason of the whole cost having to be borne by the house dweller. The proposal of the Town Bbrrd chairman to go in for a special rate for street and road improvements is a good one. The loan, of course, will be raised when finance is better. The board under loan conditions could do a large length of road improvement at a considerably cheaper rate than it can be done at present. One improvement that can be effected, and with a saving in cost, is to do away with the present washer-woman’s boiler that the tar is heated in. It has long ago outlived its usefulness; it takes a considerable time to get heated, and it is awkward and dangerous lifting tar with a dipper. I have worked out the cost of tarring under that washing copper, and it will pay the board handsomely to get a better machine for the workmen.
Mr. Dave Hickey and his bride returned to Opunake last week. Compliments from the benedicts! Another brother is following the good example to-day. The town ranger wrote to the board pointing out that owing to the poor prices for calves a number of “arrests” had to be sold at a loss. The Town Board re-imbursed him. I also noticed that a county council complained of a similar thing happening in Manawatu. Apparently councillors are unaware that the ranger can sue the owners of stock impounded for loss sustained through loss on poundage. It is not a hard thing to find out the owners from brands on the animals.
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Taranaki Daily News, 9 February 1922, Page 6
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540OPUNAKE. Taranaki Daily News, 9 February 1922, Page 6
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