OPUNAKE.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 May 1924, Page 7

OPUNAKE.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) Mr. Alf. Mitchell, who met with a severe accident some weeks ago, is about again. The residents at the Namu end of Opunake are disappointed that a street light is not scheduled at or near the approach to the Namu Bridge. From there the nearest light is at Longfellow Road, and for half that distance pedestrians have to use the main road, as no footpath is formed and the sideways are mounds and hollows. If no street light can be spared the board might provide a footpath, as the motor traffic is very constant to and from Opunake, including an awkward bend in the road.

It is expected that the valuation of the west coast leases will be commenced very shortly, and an officer will visit this district in connection with the expectation of the ten years’ extended leases. Wednesday, May 28, was the tenth anniversary of the turning of the first sod of the Opunake railway. Since that date many sods have been turned. A large number of our most prominent leaders in railway promotion have crossed to the Great Divide, including the late Sir Wiliam Fraser, the Cabinet Minister who turned the first sod of the Opunake railway, and the late W. C. Dudley, who was chairman of the ceremonial committee.

The croquet club has set up a committee to erect fences and mark off an area for a playing lawn on the site of the club’s new ground. In the Des Forges Cup competition for players not engaged in the Union Rugby matches, the Pihama Club is leading. The Rahotu, Opunake and Oaonui clubs have each had a loss, and the teams are evenly matched. Yearling calves have been sold at the Opunake pound for 5s a head and the poundkeeper has to as© a fair amount of persuasion to get a shilling bid. At present prices it pays farmers to grow fat roosters in preference to rearing calves. In the Magistrate’s Court on Monday, the sharemilking case Pollard v. W. R. Wright, and counter claim, was settled by arrangement after the case had been partly heard. The basis of settlement was that Wright is to pay a further £3B 10s to Pollard in addition to the £93 15s 2d already paid into court. An arrangement was made concerning the costs awarded to Wright last court day and each party is now to pay its own costs.

Judgment was given plaintiffs with costs as follows:—R. E. Peart v. L. Hardgraves, £7; L. West v. E. Corrick £1 ss; Hughson’s Ltd., v. Fred. Kah-ui £4 2s 6d; Chas. Smith v. Tommy Harry £2 7s 6d; A. E. Parkes v. E. Cave" estate £lB 3s 6d; E. Cave estate counter-claimed and obtained judgment for £74 0s Id against Parkes. In the claim E. J. Rodger v. J. and E. O’Keefe and O’Keefe senr., judgment was given against J. and E. O’Keefe for £23 12s 7d, the case against O’Keefe senr, being dismissed. L. Jones was convicted and ordered to pay costs 7s. >for failing to send his child to school regularly. On Monday evening “The Girl Citizens’ Chib” held a mother’s evening and mock banquet to bid farewell to one of their councillors, Sister MdFadgen, and three of their club mates, Misses Hair, Neilson and Clemence, who are leaving Opunake during the month. After an interesting display by the physical culture class, games, charades, dialogues and musical items were the order of the evening. About 9.30 a dainty supper provided by the girls, and nicely set out on prettily decorated tables, was done justice to, after which the following toasts were honoured: “The King,” with musical honours; “The Mothers,” (proposed bv Miss Cron, and responded to by iirs, Clough); “Our Club,” (Miss Gertie Geary—Miss Mary Feaver); “Our Departing Councillor, Sistar MdFadgen,” (Mrs. F. M. Corkill—Sister MeFadgen); “Our Departing Club Mates,” (Mrs. Corkill—Miss Wilson); “Our Councillors,” (Miss Wilson—Mrs. Corkill and Miss Cron). Mrs. Arnold Richards proposed “The Future Success of the Club,” and Miss Feaver responded in a neat speech. This terminated a very enjoyable evening.