OPUNAKE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 7 October 1924, Page 6

OPUNAKE.

' (From Oi],r Own Correspondent). CONCERT. A large and appreciative audience greeted the initial concert programme given by the members of the Opunake Citizens’ Club in the Town Hall on Wednesday last. The girls are to be congratulated on the manner in which the items were staged and, on the ability of those contributing to the programme. In each instance the audience demanded a recall, and if in the future the club decide to provide an entertainment they can be assured of a bumper house. Mr Whiting was in charge of the lime-light effects, which considerably added to. the effect of the items in costume. During the evening a quantity of raffia work done by members of the club met with a ready sale. The total proceeds amounted to £22, and .after paying expenses the nett amount will be handed to the local hospital and Plunket Society. ANGLING SEASON. The fishing season, which opened on Wednesday, promises to be a most successful one for local anglers. In each instance the bags secured on the opening day were very substantial in the various streams in this locality. Fishing in the Waiau river , and lake, some very fine rainbow have been landed. The latter place affords good sport, and being so handy to the town, is, perhaps, the most popular. The members of the local Anglers’ Club liberated last week end 45,000 brown fry in the Waiau, Mangahume and Taungatara streams. A POPULAR TEACHER. On Tuesday last teachers and scholars farewelled Miss Stiller, who has been on the staff of the local State, School for some months, and who has been transferred to the West End School. New Plymouth. A shc.rt musical programme was given by pupils and teachers, after which the guest was, the recipient of tokens from the school basketball team, silver brush and comb : Standards 4 mid 5, of a- leather-bound writing tablet-; and from her fellowteachers, a volume of poems. Miss Edna. Hindi suitably expressed the, regret- of the pupils of the school at Miss Stiller’s departure. Miss Stiller suitably replied, and..after the singing of “Aukl Lang Sync,” three hearty cheers were given for the guest. Mr G. Walden, of Wellington, has been appointed to the position vacated by Miss Stiller, and took up his duties on Wednesday last. SCHOOL AFFAIRS. The committee of the local school, .supported by Mr J. Curtcis, • actingheadmaster, have been active for some time past in the endeavour to secure sufficient pupils, viz., 25, to attend the local District High School if re-estab-lished. It is now reported that assurances have been received for the attendance of more than the requisite number, and it is confidently expected that the High School will be in operation on th,e ,re-opening after the summer vacation. McLEOD SHIELD. Local townspeople heartily joined ip the cheering of the. school football team when they returned with the McLeod Shield on Saturday. The shield will be formally presented at a social to be held in the near future. The local ooys are greatly indebted to Mr Brook3i*. who. has during the past few days put them through some much-needed training, and to their popular actingheadmaster (Mr Curteis) who has taken a keen interest in their sports during blie time that he has been in charge. HOSPITAL COMMITTEE. At the monthly meeting of the Hospital Committee, held on Saturday, Sister L. M. Macdonald reported that a total of 14 cases had been attended in the cottage hospital during September, 7 of which were maternity cases. From the 18tli inst. Nurse Wilson, of New Plymouth Hospital staff, had. been assisting. Present indications pointed iic permanent nursing assistance being re quired for the future. Details in connection with the street mart on the 6th inst. were arranged. Mrs Lusk handed in £l2 2s 6d, being amount collected by a committee 61 young ladies of Oaonui towards the effort to raise funds for ground improvement. It was resolved that the seertary convey t-o the committee of young ladies of Oaonui this committee’s appreciation of their efforts and of the generous response, of the residents of the Oaonui district. HARBOUR BOARD. The monthly meeting of the Opunake Harbour Board was held on Friday. Present: Messrs T. P. Hughson (chairman), C. H. Hurst, H. Young, C. A. Trotter, A. H. Moore and T. H. Sinclair. It was resolved that the Board subscribe to the “Board and Council” journal, also that it continue to subscribe to the Harbour Board’s Association. The Board went into committee to consider their solicitor’s opinion re validity of procedure followed for striking rate. Upon resuming the chairman reported that the legal opinion stated that the method of striking rate was in order. The chairman’s action in procuring the solicitor’s opinion was confirmed. Payments from loan account, £1167 11s lid, and fund account, £8 4s, were passed for payment. A letter was received from Mr A. H. Moore, asking for r. return of hours worked on certain days during September, if work was carried on intermitently, and to what account such time was charged. The engineer presented the timei sheets, which clearly showed the information asked for. The engineer reported that two, 25ft. spans had been completed since last meeting of the Board. Iron ba.rk supplies had been shinned from Australia on Tuesday per s.s. Waihora, and would come to hand in time to prevent •' hold-up in the works. On Soptcmbei 21 the placing of stone had been commenced at the base of the breakwater. A total of 3691 cubic yards had been removed from the beach no;- day wort at a cost of Is 11. for earth and 4s 2jjd for stone. The total excavated to date was 8617 yards earth and 603 yards stone; average cost over all 2s 0(d per yard. A total of 26 men arc now employed. Weather conditions had somewhat delayed the work during the month. A concrete pile had been made as an experiment. The engineer stated that a total of £15,328 3s 3d had now been spent on works under his control. The engineer also presented plans c.f proposed wharf. After lengthy consideration the plans were adopted, and application is to be made for the Marine Department’s approval. The plan provides for a structure on concrete piles, with Australian hardwoods for stringers, bracing, etc. The wharf itself is 150 ft long by 20ft wide, and will berth at low tide ships drawing 12ft of water. The approach to the wharf is 350 ft long, with a width of 12ft., provision being made for extending width to 20ft without additional piles.