Omahu District.

Hastings Standard, Issue 130, 25 September 1896, Page 4

Omahu District.

[Fnoii Ock Own Corespondent.] I notice that the "weather" is a grand institution for correspondents in a fix for i.u r.reading matter. When everything el;.;e is used np and nothing presents itself to their fertile imagination they have always, like Captain Edwin, a theme to write about that takes a lot of rubbing out. " Your own " of Omahu is no exception to the general rule. Since my last to your valuable journal figuratively speaking we have bad a taste of India's coral strand and Greenland's icy mountains, with a slight addition of the earthquakes of South America by way of a change to liven us up ; and very badly we want something to stir us up out this way, a3 things are very dull at present. The roads are again in good order, and the contingent of the " longhanclled shovel brigade," under General Tracy, who were doing fatigue duty amongst us, are skirmishing in some other direction at present. That useful division are well used to forced marches, and their General keeps them at it.

What grain crops that were not inundated by the late rains are coming on famously; but I am sorry to say a large area had to be resown, through the rotting of the original seed where the water lo.y for so long a time. The Natives are the heaviest sufferers, but they are manfully repairing the damages. I am happy to have to chronicle the safe arrival at their home of Mr, Sirs, and Miss Donnelly and Miss Shaw; and we all hope that they have enen joyed their short holiday. Their absence caused a blank out here that was not easily filled. The Ngapuke Creek is gradually washing away all that valuable flax flat that runs parallel with the road to Okawa. Mr Broughlon is taking energetic measures to cope with the evil. He has a large staff of hands employed at the work under the able guidance of Mr M. Leahy, and good progress is being madeThe same enterprising proprietor is also seemingly going in for dairying on a large scale, if not going to start a butter factory. He is having a large dairy built with all the latest improvements as regards ventilation, and with a constant flow of water running through it on a floor built of English tiles, so that the temperature will be always cool in the very hottest weather. Mr McKenzie, the well-known contractor, is erecting the whole plant. One for the City of the Plains.— Matthew, the native owner of the 10-power-power steam engine, had the misfortune to smash the hind wheel engine. He had the wheel taken to the establishment of Messrs A. Jones and Sons, Hastings, as our local vulcan, Mr T. Taylor, had not the appliances for repairing it. The Hastings iirm made a new wheel and made it well. It could not have been an easy job by any manner of means, as I believe it took five strong men to get the damaged wheel on Bill Lane's cait at Ngapuke. Good local industry. Nearly every place we hear of tries to head the list with something noteable—llavelock for big pumpkins, Taradale for apples of enormous dimensions, Clive for artisans, Papakura for mealy-potatoes, and Hastings for large drains. Last Saturday the natives at Okawa speared an eel weighing 30| pounds in one of the creeks on the estate. An i lea can be formed of the size of the monster as when it was thrown across a pole resting on the shoulders of two men a couple of feet of its head and tail dragged 011 the ground. The thickest part of its body measured about 12 inches in circumference. Truly let Okawa take the palm for big eels. I had the pleasure of seeing our member the gallant Captain —may his shadow never grow less —the other day. He looks wonderfully well considering the work he is undergoing and the uphill battle he is fighting against long odds. In. pugilstic terms he is a game one, no striking below the belt, no hitting one behind their back. Long may he continue to represent us. He is the man for Gal way. As the time is now fast approaching when Greek will meet Greek and we will have the tug-of-war, I would earnestly request ail those that are eligible to see they are on the roll. Let us throw no chances away ; we never know what may happen. We have only to look how narrowly we escaped defeat at the last two elections to sec that we must be unanimous and work together to return the man to Parliament who has served us so long and faithfully. " Women " and men of Omahu district do your duty. A verv pleasant evening was spent at the hall at Fernhill oil Tuesday last, when Mr Ben Joll gave us a graphic account of his travels in sunny south America, introducing a number cf the songs and dances of the Negro on the plantations, with banjo accompaniment. Mr Joll is a lecturer and vocalist of no mean order, and kept the audience in wrapt attention for two honrs. It is Mr JolTs intention to give another entertainment shortly of which I will give you due notice—in aid of the Library fund, Fernhill, when he will be assisted by several lady and gentlemen amateurs. I wonder if by any possible means we could induce the Rev Dr Hosking and Mr F. Sutton to come out here and give us one of their debates. The subject is interesting to both publican and sinner. I can assure the two gentlemen if they can see their way to come that they will receive a right hearty -welcome and fair play. I wont vouch for the " spondulix," as free shows go down best but this way. "Old Joe," our genial mail-coach, proprietor and driver, has a natural curiosity in the off-side leader of his four-horse coach, and that freak of nature is a bay mare with five complete feet, although only shod on four. The old man had a tempting offer for the curiosity when th® M owns was

here, but be would not part with her, knowing what a grand catcher she is. Reader?, interview Mr Joe Vv'ells and have a look at the mare.