ORMONDVILLE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 7739, 20 April 1896, Page 2

ORMONDVILLE.

fOWN OOBBBSPOHDBKT.)

On receiving my copy of the Teueobaph to-night, I was filled with forebodings of evil. What if. I shoald meet my friend Gustaf in one of the by-ways? Would he produce the Tblkgbaph aud demand an explanation of my impertinent remark about his " characteristic weakness," and would he believe my assertion that the slander is entirely due to an evil genius - within the walls of the printing offioe, known as the printer's dovil? Or would he there and then give me some illustrations of obaraoteristio strength ? Well, I shall vociferate that I wrote " characteristic meekness," and, of course, the printer will say I did'nt. Result—

The devil and in* wo can't agree; I hate him aud he hates me. Kvery one is asking, " Whose cattle were killed by the train?" Aud every one is Baying, " I don't fenow." Burner hath it that somebody visited the scene of the aocident some time during the night aftor the train went away, and out off ears and brands in order to oonoeal ownership. It is a question worthy of consideration whether the Bailway Department should not be compelled to fence in all its railways. In uncultivated bush oountry, suoh as that lying between Mikotuku and Matamau, many oattle are, and ought to be, allowed to roam. It is a piece of very doubtful economy to prevent the utilisation of such land by the settlers, and to run the risk of life and of property for tho sake of the cost of fencing. Will Mr Cadman take the hintf Eeoently a petition was sant to the Minister of Bailwaya, signed by Bisty or seventy people, asking for a level crossing on tho toutheru side of the Ormondvillo railway station, so that Johnstone street might be used, thus avoiding a walk of three-quarters of a mile to reach a point eighteen ohains from the point of starting. The Minister has replied that the depaitment will grant a crossing one aad a-half chains south of the 67| milo-post if tho local authorities will undertake the cost of the work. Now the 67f mile-post, which indicated the distance tromKapier, was removed many years ago, and post 40, whioh indicates the distance from a southern pcint, stands within ft few hundred feet of tho spot on whioh post 67f stood. This indicates that tho department has not reieived auy rtport from the spot, aud has replied io tho petition after reference to aa old map. This is also indicated by tho futthor consideration that tho place decided upon for the crossing is the ouly impossible spot near by. Probably thero will be further petitioning. Sovut-al settlers havo dipped their sheep this week, eomo to-daj . The poor animals will necessarily suffer fiom cold, an before thoy uro dry it has turned wot and cold. It seems a pity thf.t all the fioe weather wo havo had ahould have been allowed to pass away beforo the dipping was done.