OAONUI.

Opunake Times, Volume IV, Issue 195, 15 May 1896, Page 2

OAONUI.

(Our owm Correspondent.) Newsmonger’s pabulum is a scarce commodity here just now. The recent heavy rains so quenched the fire so inherent within us for gossip and at* tendance to our neighbor's business that really there is nothing casual to relate. A meeting of the School Committee was to have been held on Monday evening but whether i.t to)k place or not I cannot say. I met one member of the School Committee on Tuesday morning and noticing he limped and had an altogether woe-begone appearance, I ventured to enquire after his health in the most innocent manner. With imprecations unbecoming a gentleman who has undertaken the guardianship of the educational interests of the rising generation he explained that punctual to time he had tramped to the school to attend a meeting. Finding no one there he whiled away one moderate hour in the enjoyment of the “noxious weed” —aud the cold. He tells me he has sworn off unpunctual meetings, and heaped more than blessings on his fellow committeemen who convene a meeting, and then remain “ by their ain fireside,” whilst be stiffened in the cold.

Enterprise in a native is worthy ofnotice, aud deserving of encouragement. Throughout the past season he has milked nearly a hundred cows the milk being supplied to the factory. Next summer be expects to have 120 cows going. Forms of applications for shares in the new Dairying Company are being asked for. Now is the time for farmers to put their shoulder to the wheel of co-operation, and with one combined pull each may help himself, and his surroundings. Let each one think for a moment what co-opera-tion in dairying means for the district, and I venture to say all will make their best effort.

I notice Mr Run, Bishop is erecting another new building near his residence. It is 14 xl2 feet, with concrete floor, and is intended for a storehouse for potatoes. I hear he contemplates building a more commodious residence of some eight rooms at an early date. Mr Bishop is a man who—unlike most natives—believes in improving his estate. During the last summer he has had dug something like a mile of draining, and has erected nearly a mile of fencing. Besides he has grubbed many acres of gorse, and felled forty acres of bush.