OPUNAKE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 75, 29 December 1880, Page 2

OPUNAKE.

(FROM OJT& OWN COBBESPOTTOEHT.) Opunake, Friday.

Now that a portion of this rising township is sold, immediately after Christmas I expect to see buildings commenced, and the sound of the hammer heard all round. Already orders have been given for timber, fencing, &c. Messrs. Newman and Coffey, who bought Mr. Espagne's business, are getting a shipment of timber, for the purpose of erecting a new store ;' and no doubt before long Opunake will present a very marked improvement. The Hinemoa arrived here last week, and after discharging the remaining portion of the timber required for the A.C. buildings here, she steamed for Wellington. Mr. Parris was on board.

I suppose you have heard ere this that Opunake is to be the head quarters of the Constahulary. [Detachments of men are daily employed escorting Government stores from Waihi to here, preparatory to the abandonment of that station, which, I believe, is to take place soon. Manaia will then be the frontier position at the Hawera side.

The native -whom I referred to in my last (George Grey) died last week at Puketapu. I forgot to mention that the wife of the deceased — a half-caste woman named Riakao — is a sister of the Chatham Island murderer.

At present, there must be very few natives left at Parihaka (comparatively speaking), considering the numbers that passed during the week, en route for : their respective kaingas.

The Government steamer Stella arrived yesterday at 1 p.m., bringing the GoYernor's aide-de-camp* Ga.pt. Knolly&,who proceeds to Parihaka with a view, it is thought, of clearing the way for Sir A. Gordon's subsequent trip thither. However, this remains to be seen. Should such be the case, then I must say Te Whiti is a true prophet.