RAHOTU.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 9953, 14 March 1894, Page 2

RAHOTU.

♦ ~ A MESSAGE FROM THE SEA. [from our own correspondent.] Mr Thomas Mourow, jun., picked up a bottle on the Harriet Beach on March 6th, containing the following, written in pencil: — " S.s. Ruapehu. All well. 18th June, 1887." Perhaps some of the crew of the said steamer, or passengers, will see this; if so, perhaps they will kindly iuf orm your readers in what latitude and longitude the steamer was on that date. The bottle was picked up about nine miles north of Opunake, Taranaki, New Zealand; and it will be interesting to know from where. This bottle had been floating about for nearly seven years. The paper was slightly discolored with water. In your issue of March Bth you report that the s.s. Ruapehu had left the Cape for Wellington on the 6th, so on her arrival we may hear more about it. I am sorry to say Mr King, our popular schoolmaster, has had to apply for three months' leave of absence through illhealth. Probably the overcrowding of the school is not good for him. It is time the Education Board were moving in the matter of enlarging the building. A coat of paint would not be wasted on it. Mr West is teaching temporarily. Mr Simeon, our genial host, has added to the other attractions of hiß hotel a billiard table, under the management of Mr Ireland, and it seems to be well patronised. Mr West, our coachbuilder, has his hands full. Mr Armstrong is still manager of Mr J. C. George's butter factory. We have been favored with beautifully fine weather, the result being very good burns. According to the report of the County Council there is a probability of the Heimama bridge being r«-erected, so that communication will be open between here and Opunake. As a great quantity of merchandise is imported and exported, it is a matter of serious consideration to keep the road open.