As Others See Us.

Opunake Times, Volume I, Issue 4, 13 July 1894, Page 2

As Others See Us.

EGMONT SETTLER. 'lt is with very great pleasure that we have to acknowledge the receipt of the first number of the Opunake Times, a paper published at Opunake for the first time on Tuesday. We are amongst those who have always had unbounded faith in Opunake, and from time to time have pointed out the advantages of a closer connection between Opunake and this district. We heartily welcome the advent of the Opunake Times as another advocate of the claims which we have repeatedly advanced for perfecting the means of connection between Opunake and this district by way of Elthara and Opunake Roads. The policy of our local bodies, which have the control at Hawera and at Manaia hitherto, has been to delay the construction of these true main roads, and push on with the construction of the roads running from the mountain to the Great South Road, the objeet being, not the true interests of the bush settlers, but to compel them to resort to Hawera or Manaia to do their business. The late Mr Ballance recognised the value of this connection, and said the thing to be striven for was the continuation of the East Road to the Port of Opunake on the one side, and Auckland on the other. We have already often pointed out the advantages of the port of Opunake to this district, being, as it is, the nearest port in the North Island to Australia. It only requires proper development to make it the first port of arrival and the last port of departure for Australi in going steamers. Had one-fourth part of the money that has been wasted at New Plymouth been spent at Opunake (instead of Opunake people being unjustly saddled with the New Plymouth harbour rate) Taranaki would have been much more prosperous, and have possessed a port equal to any in the colony. We heartily congratulate the people of Opunake on the establishment of a newspaper in their midst, and hope our contemporary will have a long and prosperous career. As far as lies in our power, we shall gladly render it every possible assistance in securing the “righting of the wrongs ” under which the district has suffered in the past. Judging the Opunake Times by its first iisue, it is a most creditable production, alike to the district and to the management, while the editorial department is in hands of one who is intimately acquainted with the wants of the district he bas undertaken to champion, and whose interests, will, we feel sure, be safe in bis bands. We extend to our young contemporary a hearty welcome, and wish it every possible success.