MANAIA.

Opunake Times, Volume I, Issue 31, 16 October 1894, Page 3

MANAIA.

.(Our Own Correspondent.)

I regret having to chronicle the de-, cease of a well-known, and respected settler, Mr H. C. Parsons,, of Otakeho, on Sunday, the 14th, at the age of 63 . years. The Manaia Town Board- .is. just now in possession of an “ Enfant Terrible,” in the person of Mr Benpprath.; On the old Board he tried to prevent the clerk and two members from signing cheques before being passed, but, being his own lawyer, committed the proverbial mistake. This time, however, seeing that the action has been repeated, be has consulted a good lawyer with a view to doing it properly. - , The question of gravelling also cropped up. The chairman, who is foreman of Works, in reply to Mr Benporath’s complaint that the stones were not properly broken and put on the road in the right way, defended himself by saying that the old stones of years ago were working up; and further, “if the... stones were not broken, they had not paid the. man for breaking, them.” . This is about the sublimest piece of cheek on record for a foreman to utter.

The final item was the Domain seats, which cost. £3 16s each, and which could be made locally at 80s. The clerk pointed out that Mr Benporath, who was complaining, voted for the seats to be procured from Wellington. This is not correct. He merely voted that they be procured, suggesting at the time that the local tradesmen be asked to quote, and if they could not supply them at the money, then by all means go to Weilington. His suggestion was ignored, and the Board heard all about it.

The Cycliug Club are going to shift the grandstand and make a 3-lap, track in the Domain. Mr Stevenson’s Kate came in second in the trotting race -at-Stratford in which the winner paid £63. I believe Mr Stevenson is entering a protest against the winner.