Omahu District.

Hastings Standard, Issue 85, 4 August 1896, Page 3

Omahu District.

[From Oue Own CoiiiiEsroNDENT.j

The writing on the wall! I hear that there is another Richard, or more correctly speaking a Hislop, in the field for Parliamentary honors. lam happy to say, Mr Editor, that I am not like you, " impartial lam to my bootlaces an " Oppositionist," and I only wish that a knight of higher calibre or better metal had entered the lists and thrown down his glove to measure blades with the genial " Jimmy." That pleasant, plausible member now in office will be a hard rooster to conquer on his own xxxxhill.

Whilst on the topic I may mention that I had the pleasure of yesterday seeing, if not speaking to, our member, the gallant Captain. In racing parlance he looks big and well; the work he has done lately seems to have no ill effect on him. The more work he gets the better he seems to like it—he fairly revels in it. That is where the thoroughbred of stainless pedigree comes in. Shares in the " Fernhill River Bank Willowing Protective Works Co., Ltd." are now in the market. Investors will find that this is no Panama or South Sea Hubble. The company has been formed with a very strong and reliable directorate, of which Mr B. J oil is Chairman ; Mr W. Wells consulting engineer ; and Mr W. Kilpatric-k, secretary. From the latter all information may be received at his office, Fernhill.

It is high time that steps were taken in this great and urgently-needed work on the Fernhill side of the Ngaruroro River, the benefit of which can be easily seen by crossing the bridge and having a look at the work undertaken and accomplished by a private individual. I allude to the protective works which have been erected by Mr W. Broughton to save the Omahu land that was being constantly washed away by the action of the river in flood time, and I am happy to say that his energy and forethought have been crowned with marked success. However high the river may rise it matters nothing now to the Omahu lands, as they are safely protected. It behoves every man, woman, and child, of the fast-rising and flourishing town, Fernhill, to band together to save it from being carried over the bar—l mean the bar at the mouth of the river—and now is the time for doing so. Procrastination is the thief of time, and delays are dangerous. The County Council roadmen are at it late and early fixing up the damages done by the late rains in this part of the district. There is no knowing when a buggy with a fast trotting bay and a grey may unexpectedly come round the corner. It seems hard that the elements should be so rough on some more than on Not content with utterly devastating the home of our respected neighbor, Mrs Hollis, when there is a day fixed to sell her effects, and when she has gone to no end of trouble and expense to prepare and have a sumptuous repast for the visitors that congregate, down comes the rain in torrents, and the sale for that day is postponed. It is to be hoped that when the sale has eventuated good prices will be realised for everything sold, and also that brighter days may be in store for her and family. There is an old saying that one must go from home to hear news. I saw in the Hastings correspondent's budget to the Daily Telegraph that the large dining hall at Omahu was totally destroyed by fire the other day. It still stands very much in evidence to the generosity and large ideas of the departed chief, Renata Kawepo. Several other Natives are following the footsteps of the chief Karena, and are having substantial wooden buildings erected. They are a marked improvement on the old Maori houses. The fire-fiend has again assumed command in our town. On Monday morning, between the hours of 1 and 2, the comfortable and handsome residence of Mr William Moreland was totally destroyed by the devouring element, nothing being saved. From information received from a reliable source, it seems that Mr Moreland returned home at between 9 and 10 o'clock at night, having been away all day. Being alone in the house he prepared some supper, to do which he lit a fire in the kitchen, situated in the back part of the house. After finishing his meal he took the embers out of the grate in the kitchen into the front room, in which he was going to sleep; and after, as he thought, seeing everything safe and secure he retired to bed. Happily he was awakened by the choking sensation caused by the smoke, and not overcome by it, as he might easily have been. The fire having such a hold on the premises by the time he had regained his senses, and no assistance being at hand at thdt time, it was an impossibility to save anything. I believe there is an insurance on the house, but for what cuaount I have no idea. All I have to say in conclusion is thai I feel sorry for Mr Moreland in the loss he has sustained by the fire, and that the building destroyed was an ornament toFeso&U.

I sincerely hope and trust that our rising generation may quickly increase and multiply so that we may bare a school and teacher out this way. It is rough 011 the children having to go to Hastings or Taradale this weather.