OPUNAKE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 7116, 14 July 1886, Page 2

OPUNAKE.

[FROM OUR OWN CORRESrONDENT.I July 13. — The meeting house at Waianau was opened on Thursday last with immense festivities. Largo quantities of natives were camped around while great quantities of food wero provided with the usual liberality of Maoris on these occasion. The meeting house itself was used as a dining-room, and as the Europeans arrived on the ground they were hospitably requested to enter and partake of the ;,ood things set out — cakes, jellies, &c, being in profusion. The Maoris enjoyed themselves in aping Europeans at their sports. Games and trials of skill seeming to fill their time, while at night the whole place was lit up with lamps ond lanterns, making a facsimile of an Old English Fair. On Friday morning the visitors packed up and left in the usual conveyances for north tnd south. The horses of the Wanganui natives compare very favourably with those of the home people. It is said that T« Whiti has become frightened that the mountain may start explosions, and that he has determined to shift quarters to the Waianau, just south of Opunake. As an earnest of his intention several Btnall whareß are going up, and there are many more natives about than is usually the case. Rumours founded on the outrage at Hawera are flying about in all directions. At one time it is said the Maoris are about to plough in Mr. Breach's paddock. Then that they are about to start at Punehu. Last night a stranger alighted from the Hawera coach, who was immediately put down as the Native Ministers As far as can be gathered there is no foundation for any of these matters, further than that Ngamare, the superintendent of the building of the Waianau meeting houce, stated at the opening that he would require the Maoris there at the end of the month, oa'i thie, taken in connection with the avowed intention to leave Parihaka, has a very peaceful interpretation. There is also a little fuss being made about natives taking saplings from settlers' land on the Elthatn Road. It appears that come settlers consider the scrub a nuisance, and are glad to get rid of it, and therefore give the natives faavo to remove what they require; while others consider that if the natives value these saplings they should pay for them. As these sections are not fenced, nor is there a lino even cut on the boundaries, it is natural that the sticks should be cut on tho wrong 'and. Hitherto tha natives when warned have b3en amenable to the civil authority, and no complication ia likely to arise. The fame of our local industry in the matter of wheelwright and smith work haa spread as far as Wanganui. A week or two ago a native of that part brought up his express to be altered here, in preference to taking it to tho larger town. It has been converted from a luggage to a passenger vehicle, and thoroughly repaired and painted ia the proper mtive colours, blue, red, and yellow. Yes.erday tho owner arrived, and having paid for tho work departed with more than general pride depicted on his countenince. RELIGIOUS SERVICES AT OPUNAKE, Sunday, July 18. Presbyterian. — Opunake, Foresters' Hall, 11 a.m. & 7 p.m., Rev. R. J.AUsworth; Rahotu, 2.30 p.m., Rev. R. J. Allsworth. Wesleyan. — Opunake schoolroom, 11 a.m., Rev. R. Young ; Manaia, 11 a.m., Mr. T. Hammond, and at 7 p.m., Rev. R. Young ; Otakeho, 2.30 p.m., Rev. R. Young.