Omahu District.

Hastings Standard, Issue 25, 26 May 1896, Page 2

Omahu District.

[Fiioji Our Own- Cokkespondext.J Funeral of Charles Bridge. Another short act in the drama of life was enacted at Omahu on the afternoon of Saturday, the 23rd, when 1 the earthly remains of poor Charley Bridge were consigned to their last place of rest in the little cemetery there. As the sad cortege left the residence of Mr Broughton at Ngapukc quite a large number of friends from the surrounding district had assembled to pay their last tribute of respect to the poor lad who had been so suddenly cut off from amongst them in the prime of a young life, and many were the sad muttering* of grief heard on all sid.es as the procession slowly wended its way past the paddocks where he had so shortly before been working in full vigor, and it was sad to see his faithful dogs trotting slowly by the side of the vehicle that contained the remains

of their lau. m.:-".! »•, sit slnv iy wended its way to •• God's Acre." The ehi* f i::- rs w. r. rhe brother, sister ami brother-in-law of deceased, the young lady the poor fellow intended so soon to make his bride, ami MvW. Bronghtnn. Deceased is the only European buried in the cen>«t» rv, ;i fw ; -ion made by the N:.:i\es which went to prove his popularity. The pall-bearers were employes on the Ngapuke station. On Hearing the cemetery at Omahn the sad and impressive wailing chant of the Native women receiving the dead they loved, broke weirdly on the ears of Europeans not used with their customs. The monrm ---> w> re in. t at the gate of the little picture -"(tie Church of England at Om.dri h\ the Reverend A. Clarke, of AH > ■ Tiir"- Church. Ttiradah.% who cond-uud th-" burial services in a most impr.-,-iM Manner, and in feeling terms alluded to the deceased and to the -hortm-- Mid uncertain ty of life. The coffin and gm vu u covered with a large profits 011 if beautiful wreaths and floral c o-- - vent I v sympathising friend fi > far and near. Much sympathy is felt for the bereaved parents and the other members of the family in the sad loss they have sustained by so distressing an accident, and also with Mr W. Broghton in so untimely losing the services of so very promising a voting man. Gene p.al. Ploughing is now started for the early crops and the Natives intend to have a much larger area under crop next season than thev have hitherto had. The road metalling contractor is pushing along during the fine weather we are now experiencing. There are quite a large number of drays employed on the works. Thanks to the late rains, we will have winter feed for the stock in abundance.