The Opunake Times. FRIDAY, JANUARY, 22, 1897. BANKING.

Opunake Times, Volume VI, Issue 248, 22 January 1897, Page 2

The Opunake Times. FRIDAY, JANUARY, 22, 1897. BANKING.

Now that the timber has commenced to arrive for the rebuilding of the jetty, which is of such vital importance to the district, there is another matter to which we think attention should be drawn, viz., improved banking facilities. The Bank of New Zealand opens a branch here once a week, which has been found anything but convenient by business men and settlers having banking business to do. This inconvenience has had the effect of cutting off a considerable amount of trade, banking and otherwise, which could be most conveniently transacted here by people living both north and south of Opunake. Those to the north have been forced to do their banking business at New Plymouth, which is a much greater distance for them to go, and those to the south and up Awatuna way have been forced to Manaia. There was another factor at work two years ago to accentuate this, viz., bad roads. Opunake was then cut off at both sides by almost impassable roads for part of the year, but this is now all changed, and good metal roads have been made both north and south. Why should a man at Awatuna, for instance, be forced to go to Manaia, which means a day’s journey, when he is within an hour’s ride of Opunake, and could come in and transact his business and get home again in the forenoon or afternoon. Settlers to the north, again, as far as Pungarehu, can comfortably get into Opunake and home again during banking hours, instead of having to go to New Plymouth, which, there and back, is a reasonable two days’ journey, besides in tailing considerable expense. The Bank of New Zealand holds the great bulk of the business of the district, and if it does not at present warrant keeping a branch open daily, opening twice a week instead of once would greatly facilitate the transaction of business and very greatly minimise the present inconvenience. The Bank holds a section in the town, and if Bank buildings were erected, and their intentions to meet the business demands of the district thus shown, we feel sure that the natural growth of the district and the acquisition of new business would soon make the necessity for a daily branch felt. We understand Mr Morey, manager at Manaia, in whose charge the present banking arrangements of Opunake are, looks with favor on the proposal to build an oflice and open twice a week, and if a general wish, on the part of the customers of the Bank, aud those who are not now clients but who have the inte v e3ts of the district at heart, and who would be prepared to support the Bank in such a forward movement, were expressed, he would be prepared to advise the head office to give effect to the proposal. The erection of banking premises would be a hostage of permanency, and our belief in the future prospeiity of the town and district satisfies us that the investment would prove remunerative to the Bank and mutually beneficial to all concerned.