ONERAHI.

Northern Advocate, 20 April 1915, Page 2

ONERAHI.

Excellent progress is being made by Mr J. Ruddle in his contract and the whole system of township roads is rapidly nearing completion. Apparently little more remains to be done and with a few final touches here and there, of levelling and cleaning up, the works should be ready for handing over to the Town Board** The clearing of the roads and opening up of communication between the various holdings has wrought wonders in appearances, besides adding. not a little to the property values. Already there has arrived an influx of land agents,.] etc., from the city, on the look outi for the acquisition of likely sections.

The contemplated action of the Auckland Education Board towards closing the Limestone Island School, if persisted in, seems likely to result in raising a hornet's nest about the ears of that august body. The whole thing seems to lie in a sort of craze for centralisation with little or no regard for the rights, privileges or convenience of residents concerned. The intention is to close the Island school and transfer its scholars bodily to the Onerahi roll. It is needless to say the suggestion has aroused keen opposition at Limestone where the, innovation will be fought tooth and nail- Since the fire, the number of children on the roll of the Island school has no doubt been reduced, but inauguration and completion of the new works, it is pointed out, the, attendance is not only sure «■<> again top its normal average, but in all probability will be materially increased. Attendance at the Onerahi school would also be fraught with much inconvenience and discomfort to the children themselves. It would necessitate transference by launch across the harbour. In fine weather the: trip is a delightful one, but when wia'ter winds ate blowing and a high sea- running in the channel conditions are reversed. Eliminating, as remote, any possibility of actual danger, there remains always the chance of the youngsters arriving at their destination drenched to the skin by a sudden rain squall, Under these circumstances It can be easily under-, stood'that "few parents Would care to subject their olive branches to . the tender mercies of the.passage. There is always, too, the danger attendant on the embarkation and disembarkation of twenty or thirty youngsters, at a rough landing, in a high sea. Altogether, the scheme appears undesirable, if not actually unworkable and, in fact of the opposition aroused, there seems nothing for it but that the, Board must retire gracefully from the -position. they have taken up. Meantime the Onerahi School Committee, as far as can be gathered, regards the project from a quite dispassionate standpoint and is adopting,an attitude of masterly neutrality: The rumour* that the Board's action was finding influential support from the Onerahi side is entirely without foundation.

Winter has come upon us, this season, with a jump. The fine isummqry weather that prevailed till last Thursday has given place to.a succession of rain squalls driving from the S.W. on the wings of arctic winds. As a corollary of the sudden change colds an-d influenza have descended'upon the less robust among us. But, even these discomforts find their consolation. Onerahi has put on her garb of greeii. Drohghtr&tricken jstretcHJes. ,«of drab grey-brown are spread with living carpets of springing grass, most grateful to the eye, and long:dry water-run-nels are tinkling, -once more to the music of a full flow.

The damage by fire to the freezing works at Whangarei Heads is bad hearing for Onerahi. Work in the winter (and, especially in war time), is none tod easily obtained and many Onerahi residents are holding permanent positions on the works staff.