OPUNAKE NOTES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 182, 19 July 1900, Page 3

OPUNAKE NOTES.

(prom our own correspondent.) The north-west gale of Monday has at last broken up our spell of fine but cold weather. Our roads, which had assumed quite a summery appearance, will now, no doubt, return .to their former semi-liquid state. The stonecrusher has long since ceased work, so, if course, metalling has not progressed. One of our oldest and most respected settlers is about to leave us. I refer, of course, to Mi\ S. A. Breach, J.P., whose farm, consisting of some 700 acres, has, I believe, been bought by the Crown Dairy Company. The dividing of this fine property into farms, which is, I understand, the intention of the (. ompany, should prove of great benefit to the district. The township was honoured on Tuesday last by a visit from a distinguish ed stranger from country (the South Pole, to wit). Whether he had seen anything of M, Borchgrevinck or not, the visitor did not say His stay here was short, as he had business, I ucd3! stand, in the vicinity of the Equator, and was most anxious to bo off. His name is ilalichoerus Grypu?, or Grey fcea', and ho is a very true FjeoinKn of that family. His entertainer?, the Maori, took the liberty of measuring him, when he was found to measure 7ft., whil-a his weight was estimated at 3cwt. He took his departure, at a pace that literally astonished the natives, th ough the surf without waiting to say gocd bye. The school clildrm had an opportunity of cling this rare visitor, and they made the most of it. Oar toweship is pr jgressing steadily, the latest addition being a furniture shop, which Messrs Bang Ohong and Co. are adding to their establishment. New houses are going up in various parts of the town, while the splendid sales that Messrs. Tindle and Stewart are having show that there is a good solid foundation to back the advance of the township. We only want that light railway to tap the main line at Bit ham to make this oae of the most flourishing ports on the coast.