OAONUI.

Opunake Times, Volume V, Issue 215, 25 September 1896, Page 2

OAONUI.

(Our Own Correspondent.) Mr A. Wills, of Opua, has finished his new residence, and takes his departure for Westport, or some place in that direction, for the purpose of bringing home a wife. Before leaving he manfully invited his friends and neighbors to pay him a visit en masse on his return, and no doubt both he and the futnro Mrs Wills will receive an enthu i.a ; ic reception.

Mr V. Harrison sustained a severe loss on Monday last, when four out of five cows affected, died from the effect of eating tutu. To a new settler struggling to make headway, such a loss is hard to bear ; but I fancy ha is the sort of man to pull through loss without murmuring. It has been definitely settled that the Oaonui Dairy factory will pass into possessions of its new owners on the first day of October. The delay was occasioned at the request of the Crown Company. An amicable understanding has been arrived at between the two companies, which, no doubt, will benefit both parties. The principal topic of conversation in this district is that of wheel-tax, and in some quarters rather acrimonious discussions have arisen upon the subject. Opinions as to wheel tax or tollgates are much divided. Some favor the former method of taxing. Did not the Council seek to over-do the thing by levying a tax extortionate and unreasonable. On the other hand, many settlers contest that the tollgate is the fairer system because it will continue to catch all and sundry. They contend that persons engaged in cattle-dealing pursuits, and constantly driving large mobs of cattle which do as much, if not more harm to the metal roads than dray traffic, would escape all taxation. There is something in this print, though I doubt it is of sufficient moment to control an argument. Mr G. W. Gane, I fancy drew on his fertile imagination when he told the Council he could, had be wished, have presented a petition the length of his arm in favor of wheel tax. Were a vote taken in Oaonui district on the question, I would wager odds the tollgaters won. Personally, I would rather a direct and single tax, whether it be termed wheel tax or anything else, in preference to tollgates, provided the tax were made on a reasonable basis, and a straightforward agent appointed to collect the same. But there’sthe rub. Unless the Council are watchful as to what terms they give those who collect the tax, the collectors will reap the harvest and the Council the experience, whilst the taxpayers generally, will remain pretty much “as they were ” as far as good roads and safe bridges are concerned.