Omahu Notes.

Hastings Standard, Issue 494, 6 December 1897, Page 4

Omahu Notes.

[Fhoji our own Correspondent.] With this issue of the Hastings Sta.nda.kd, I, your own of Omaha, bid a sorrowful farewell to the late proprietors and publishers of this journal. The feeling of regret at parting is rendered more painful, knowing that it is practically caused through the continued ill-health and prostration of one of the members of the vonng firm. This illness may be attributed to his untiring zeal and devotion to duty as a journalist, and in his labour in trying to keep up the high standard the journal has attained as a purveyor of authentic information on all subjects local and foreign, against immense outside opposition. We, from the outlying districts, who have been brought in contact with Mr W. D. Arnott, whose state at present we are truly sorry to learn is critical, can all testify to his courtesy and obliging manner, and to his readiness at all times to fearlessly advocate the cause that wanted assistance in a legitimate manner, although himself suffering intense lmntal and bodily pain. Mr Arnott's health since being amongst us has not permitted his being widely known as a public man, but by means of his pen he has contributed greatly to the advancement of our district in bringing it more prominently under the notice of those in authority and thus having many of our wants attended to and remedied. We may truthfully say that through the persistent efforts of the Standard our much-needed bridge at Fernhill has began to be erected, and several other much-needed works have been taken in hand. Mr Arnott and his relatives can feel assured that they have the full sympathy of the residents out this way in their time of trouble, and all hope that such a promising member of society may be soon again restored to a perfect state of health. Under the able supervision of MiMalcolm the concrete approaches and support to the bridge on the Hastings side were completed last Saturday. Mr Malcolm had no easy task in doing the concreting, he having a heavy flow of water to contend against, as the foundation of the whole was several feet below the bed of the river. The timber for the construction of the bridge not having yet arrived from Australia, Mr Malcolm, with a large staff of workmen, proceeds to Mohoka to erect the bridge there. As it only consists of two spans, he will not be a great time over that contract. It is a pity that he couli not proceed with the erection of the bridge here, as the river is very suitable at present for bridge building. I am sorry to say that the crops out this way will be a perfect failure this season. It does not in the least matter now in regard to the present crops whether we get rain or not. They are past redemption. It is a thousand pities that after all the disadvantages to be surmounted through the submerging of the land by the disastrous floods had been overcome and the land had been again got under crop, such a bad season should follow. Surely the farmer's lot, like the policeman's, is not a happy one at present. Feed for all stock is becoming veryscarce, and all the hills round about are looking quite parched and dried up. It will be a hard matter for the Natives out this way to weather the storm, as all the crops they had to depend upon are utter failures. I see by your Saturday's issue that a Norsewood resident declares that there is as much money in fowls as in sheep-breeding. I cannot undertake to say, not having tried either. It may not be generally known, yet still it is a fact, that we have one of the largest and most complete fowl-breed-ing establishments in the North Island out this way. A short distance from Ngapuke, Omahu, on the Ohiti side of the gorge, resides Mr John O'Brien, better known out here as " Jack the Hermit" (a distant relative of the noted Smith O'Brien, who played such a conspicuous part at the time of the Irish rebellion). " -Jack the Hermit" quietly resides on a small plot of ground obtained from the natives, where he rears his fowls by the hundreds, and a very fair competence he is deriving from his undertaking. In company with two well-known residents of Hastings who were in search of Christmas poultry we visited the establishment of the " Hermit," who received us in a most cordial manner, and after a short rest kindlyshowed us over his domain. The premises are situated on the never-failing creek, close to the Native settlement at Ohiti, and are in everyway well adapted for fowl-rearing. There is plenty of natural cover for the young chickens, -with any amount of room for them to run about aud obtain green feed. There are different enclosures for the different breeds, and separate enclosures for the different aged young birds in case they may quarrel and fight, as they are apt to do. We were shown a great many different varieties of breed, but the bird most suitable for table purposes seemed to predominate. There must be considerably over a thousand full - grown fowls, and the young chicks are countless. The owner takes great pride in some birds that he received from Mr Jackson, of bacon renown, and also some that he obtained from the laird of Ngapuki, Mr W. M. Broughton. Mr O'Brien does not conline himself alone to hens and roosters, as he has geese, ducks, turkeys and pigs ad libitum. Only for the large scope of country the inmates of the farm have access to, it would be a hard matter to keep them in food. Yet, they are all looking uncommonly well. Some idea of the size and the nature of the establishment can be formed when the two gentlemen who accompanied me purchased one hundred pair of fowls, twenty ditto of geese, ten of ducks and twelve of turkeys at a satisfactory price to both veudor and buyer, not at ail a bad

order considering tbe times. In conversation, Mr O'Brien told us that he met with a deal of difficulty when he first commenced operations at the farm, his worst foe being the weasel, but by the help of a couple of splendid English terriers which he has, he surmounted that difficulty. I would strongly advise anyone at all interested in fowl raising to pa}' a visit to the Ohiti breeding farm, where I am sure they will be cordially welcomed by the proprietor, and they will ba sure to pick up some useful information on the subject. Before concluding, I may mention that Mr O'Brien is an old and tried veteran, having medals for service in India and New Zealand, and having also been mentioned in despatches for bravery in action. The only friend he has residing with him whom he can converse with is an African parrot, presented to him by Sir Maurice O'Eorke, and the " Hermit " and his feathered triend can be heard talking lovingly together long before they are seen.