OPUNAKE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume III, Issue 305, 25 September 1882, Page 3

OPUNAKE.

♦ (from our own correspondent.) Many capitalists and intending intending investors have recently visited our township, and I am sure all those gentlemen will 6ay that they were favorably impressed with Opunake and its bay. The prosperity of this rising township is apparent to any one who seeß the quantities of goods, building material, and fencing wire, &c, &c, daily leaving the place for the new settler's lands. This shows the good effect Mr. Bryce's policy has achieved, which I tnißt will be continued. The natives at present are on the most friendly relationship with Europeans, including the A.C.'s in this quarter. At last meeting of the Opunake Lighter Company, a yearly report was read by the Chairman, it ran as follows : — " In submitting to the shareholders the balance-sheet for the first year's transactions of the company, the Director's regret that they are hot able to recommend the payment of a dividend. However, they consider that the past year's business is fairly satisfactory ; and are of opinion that with energetic and careful management, the future of the company is likely to prove more remunerative. The balance-sheet, which Ims been made up to 31st July, shows receipts and expenditure of the company, which considering the low rate cf lighterage chai'ged is not unsatisfactory. With a \ie\r oi meeting 'the liabilities, the Directors have made a fourth call of £1, which is now duo; and further, the Directors consider present tariff too low, and recommend it to be increased, which will be seen per advertisement in Star. With regard to the foregoing, lam not so favorablyimprcßscd with the prospects of tbe company ; and as to the auditing of balance-sheet I would like to know how the balance was struck and how the auditors found all correct. I hear there is a more on the board in the A.C. camp at Ngaviki. It is thought a'detachment will be located at the river Te Awanui, near William King's settlement, for the purpose of carrying out certain important works there. Since Colonel Roberta took up his quarters here a roomy and substantial mess-room has been erected for the comfort of the men. The construction of same has cost very little indeed, as the timber has been eawn by men of the force and the place built by them. Captain Morrison superintended the work, assisted by Sergeant Stracban. Any one visiting the various A.C. camps cannot fail to notice from various works done the ability displayed by members of the A.C Force.

A movement is on foot to establish a general weekly half-holiday in Oamaru. The bombardment of Alexandria furnishes the first instance in which the actual progress of a naval battle haß been reported by telegraph. A telegraph ship . was included in the fleet before Alex- ■ andria, and by the utilisation of the ] Mediterranean line of cable, the War i Office in London and the civilised world i were kept informed of the move- j wents of the war vessels and the re- ( cults of the firing. The nearest cable ( station from Alexandria was afc Malta, distant about one thousand miles from . the scene of the battle. A press dis- • patch says that when a telephone was attached to the Malta end of the cable the firing of the guns at Alexandria could be distinctly heard, though no oral communication was possible over that length of cable. It is not stated whether a telephone transmitter, was used at th« Alex- J andria end, or whether the general electrical disturbance, caused by the explosion of the great guns, so affected the cable as to retort the shots, through the telephone at Malta. (