OPUNAKE.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 November 1922, Page 2

OPUNAKE.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) The annual school concerts in the country are announced. >So far Opunake •ha<s not been announced. What with political meetings and local “get-ups,” it is hard to get a look in for booking dates for travelling shows. The boy scouts and girl guides are energetically practising for their forthcoming concert. The bowling club has decided to .defer the erection of a pavilion. A local Maori who intended to erect an up-to-date bungalow in Opunake cancelled his timber milling order on account of the anticipated increase in valuation. He erected a whare instead. Tire seaside society has announced that it will prosecute drivers of vehicles exceeding the speed of four miles an hour on the beach. It would be a blessing if the seaside society had legal authority to do ro. A worthy attempt was made to form a chamber of commerce here. A meeting was commenced, but there were insufficient enthusiasts. Most of the local business men have appointments on local bodies, and committees are not keen on duplicating their labors. The proposal to make Opunake a separate town district is moving forward. Probably no exception will be taken to the alteration, but the contention that the ratepayers will be financially better off is. in my opinion, difficult to see. Opunake’s improvement does not affect the matter in question—the taking over of the main road. It depends on our internal conditions, the improving of footpaths. apart from the main street, and the seaside side of the town. I maintain the board cannot do any important improvements on a 2d rate. Take the figures supplied. Under the new valuations ( .£110.000) a two-pence rate will produce £O9l 13s. an increase over the present revenue of £322 ISs. The commitment to the county council is £3B], or. in other words, the board has an extra revenue on a 2d rate of £322 to meet council commitments of £3Bl. and an extra mil 4 of main road io maintain. Thus it will be seen that Ihp board cannot manage on a. 2d rate. It will take a full 3d rate oi. the new valuations to make any progress.

The political candidates are making every post a meeting of electors. see them frequently in our part of the electorate. The indications are that the /•ontest will bo a close one. So far the campaign is a clean and healthy one, and is not blurred by side-issues. The Rev. Harkness has been asked by the Cape Egmont Methodist district to accept another year’s appointment. The Rev. Harkness has agreed, and the parishioners will be pleased to hoar the request confirmed by the conference.