OPUNAKE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7399, 27 February 1902, Page 2

OPUNAKE.

VISIT OF SIR JOSEPH WARD. OPENING OF NEW POST OFFICE AND COURTHOUSE.

(from our own correspondent.) Sir Joseph Ward arrived here to-day, at about 1 o'clock, having driven from Eltham via Kaponga and Awatuna. He was accompanied by Mr E. M. Smith and Mr F. McGuire.

The Reception Committee received the party, and Sir J. G. Ward immediately proceeded to open the new post office, and in an interesting speech referred to general matters. He gave statistics of postal and telegraph work and savings bank returns, all showing the great increase of prosperity during the last few years. Mr Smith and Mr McGuire also spoke a few words. Sir J. Ward then declared the Post Office opened, and proceeded to the Courthouse, which was declared opened in a few appropriate remarks.

THE LUNCHEON. The luncheon then took place at Middleton's Hotel. It was an excellent spread, prepared by Host O'Meara, and was fully appreciated by 50 or 60 guests. The first toast, "The King," being duly honored, the Chairman (Mr M. J . Brenuan) proposed the health of the guest of the occasion, the Hon." Sir Joseph Ward, K.C.M.G., and in a short speech thanked him in the name of the residents for the visit, calling his atten-

tion to several needs of the district, especially rail connection with the rest of the colony, and the question of native leases. Sir Joseph replied, thanking the people for the reception, and expressed his pleasure at seeing such signs of material progress. On the subject of native leases, he pointed out the great

difficulty of the case was to avoid, on the one band, checking the progress of white settlers by unsuitable tenure of land, and on the otheC any injustice to the native race, to whom the land belongs, and on whoS9 Bide much may be said. In replying to the toast of " The Parliament uf New Zealand," Mr Smith hopud to soon see not only railway communication with Eltham, but the whole of Mount Egmont ring fenced with a railway, the metal of which will be made by his company out of Taranaki iron sand. Mr McQuire spoke on the native lease question, and substantially fell in with the Chairman's view on the subject, that is, to purchase the land irom the natives, paying for it with debentures at a rate of interest guaranteed uy Government, and leasing to white settlers in perpetuity, thus ensuring to the natives a certain and continuous income, while, at the same time, placing the white population on an equal footing with the Crown tenants in the other parts of the colony. Mr Tindle proposed " Agricultural Interests," and shortly referred to the progress of the district. Mr Lambie responded, and advO' cated the necessity of an outlet for local produce, either a railway or a port. Mr Malcolm also responded. Sir J. Ward, in proposing " Commer cial Interests," touched on the sixpenny telegram, the penny post, and the nev Pacific cable, and said the reforms hi had brought about had more thai justified themselves already. As Sir J. Ward could not remaii longer, the toast " Local Bodies " wa foregone, and Sir Joseph, in a ver; happy speech gave the health of th Chairman. The company then joinei in heartily singing " Auld Lang Syne.' Sir Joseph immediately left on hi return to Eltham to take the train, M McGuire accompanying him. The town was gaily decorated by M DesForges, assisted by Messrs Wallac and Swaysland. The school children had holiday, and turned up in foroe, and good number of the general public.