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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 65

Opunake

Opunake

Consists at present of two hotels, Prosser's and Middleton's, several stores, Court House, Post and Telegraph Office, and Government Schools.

There is a large farming community round, and the settlement of most of it is so recent, that one cannot say much of its capabilities as an agricultural district. There is a flax mill, a [unclear: cordial] manufactory, and brewery.

But the chief beauty of the place consists in its harbour, a bay of no very great size, but capable of being made with a small outlay the emporium for the whole district. There appears to be a reef running across the entrance, leaving only a narrow opening for steamers to pass into the harbour. This could be easily blasted at low water, and with the erection of a jetty or wharf, would obviate the present unwieldly and troublesome method of transhipping by surf boats. The southern side of the harbour is crowned by the Armed Constabulary redoubt. It is worth a visit; the men's quarters are clean, the clematis has been trained over the walls, and has a cheerful appearance; the men have a reading room and library, and own a boat in which they indulge in excursions. The [unclear: cemetery] is about a mile to the southward of the town, the principal subject of interest there being Miss Dobie's monument, who was murdered by a native a few years ago.

The drive from Opunake to New Plymouth passes through slightly more diversified country, and Mount Egmont has company in the shape of ranges that come into view after passing Rahotu. The Rahotu redoubt is a still formidable stockade on a hill, and is page 64 very strong. There is an hotel and one house a mile nearer Parihaka.

At Pungarahu there is a Police Station and redoubt, but under the present ministry the men have been removed, and a Sergeant of Police and one or two men now keep order. You can go by a somewhat winding pathway to Parihaka, but there is nothing very picturesque about it, and now the excitement of Te Whiti's teaching has died away, very little to repay one for the divergency from the main road. The scenery gets more diversified now up and down hill, the Sugar Loaves come into sight, and New Plymouth is reached.