LITTLE OMAHA. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) May 10.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 3056, 13 May 1867, Page 5

LITTLE OMAHA. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) May 10.

A meeting, called for the purpose of considering if there is sufficient inducement for a steamer to call at Little Omaha, on her trip to and from Wangarei, was held to-day at this place, Mr. James Anderson in the chair. The Chairman called on Mr. Greenwood to give them a statement on what terms the steamer would call at Little Omaha. Mr. Greenwood, in reply, said that, although not at present a settler amongst them personally, still he felt that it would be one great inducement for him as well as other absentees to come and cast in his lot amongst them, if they could only have regular communication with Auckland ; and he was glad to tell them that Messrs. Holmes would meet them in a most liberal spirit. He was glad to say that their charges will be what he considered most reasonable. He thought that no one would object to pay the same for a steamer as they had paid for a sailing vessel. The fare will be— passage 7s. 6d ,' and 10s. per ton freight,and cattleper agreement; and let them consider what a great boon it must be to all the adjoining settlements to have a regular weekly communication with Auckland. He was glad to say that he had a safe and handy little cove for the steamer to run i», where she would be safe against all weather; there was no bar harbour, and no breakwater was wanted. All would be snug and safe while she lay there. There would be no need to wait, as it had been formerly, for a boat several days, and sometimes for week*. If they would only give her a reasonable support, they would then be brought within five hours of Auckland, — rather better than being sometimes as many days. And, as regards cattle, look what an advantage it would be. There would not be that loss in value by the steamer that there was at the present time, when the cattle are sometimes pent up in a close hold for days and nights without food and water, and they all knew what a disadvantage it was to have cattle sold after a long passage in a sailing boat. There was also another matter which he thought was of great importance to them and also to the adjoining districts — that was their postal communication. They wanted a post-office in their distrioti If the steamer was only well supported, ha did not see why she should not bring the mail for all adjoining districts, instead of being carried overland, from Auckland, as at present, and their newspapers left to the tender care of some sailing vessel. Under the present arrangement, the Little Omaha settlers had to go to Pakiri for their letters and newspapers — some seven miles there and seven miles baok — a nice little journey of fourteen miles, when they ought to have them left here. It would be a great boon to the postman as well as the settlers and gentlemen. There was also another want — that was an accommodation house for passengers by the steamer to stay at, where, if one of the settlers from a distance brought his horse, he might be kept and cared for while be was away. He also thought they were in duty bound, as well as in interest, to do all they could to bring these subjects into their consideration, as there was nothing which would be more to their advantage than speedy communication with Auckland. And he hoped that the settlers would bo much more the producers than they were at the present. The land was there, as he wai told by one present, that he had some maize this year that gave eighty bushels to the acre. This showed what the land could produce. Mr. Greenwood moved that a flagstaff be erected on a conspicuous spot, to answer for a signal, to let the steamer know there were passengers bound for Auckland ; seconded by Mr. Kirkbride, and "carried. Proposed that Mr. Clark be appointed to see that the flagstaff be erected at the earliest opportunity. — Carried. The settlers pledge themselves to erect the flagstaff, and they feel that it will be greatly to their interest to support the steamer, as long a» the charges are moderate. The meeting was brought a close with the usual vote of thanks to the ohairman, Mr. Greenwood returning by the steamer to Auckland the same night. Mr. Greenwood can speak with all confidence of the steamer, as being well worthy of the ■upport of all who desire to see steam to the North — after his passage in her last night.