OPHIR AND OMAKAU.

Otago Witness, Issue 3773, 6 July 1926, Page 55

OPHIR AND OMAKAU.

July 2.—Hammering and sawing are still the order of the day in Ophir. Three men are still busy on the Peace Memorial Hall.' which promises to look very well indeed inside. Mrs Guildford has carpenters at work altering the old Colonial Bank, also Mr Craig is renovating J. W. Moore’s old drapery shop and residence. Of the twenty dwelling houses and business premises on the northern side of Swindon street, no less than twelve have been renovated or altered within the last two years. . Only three months ago the Shamrock Hotel changed hands, and now the Blacks Hotel is following suit. Over the riter at Omakau Mr F. 7. Bloy’s section is being prepared for the

erection of a substantial drapery shop and dwelling house. Wireless Enthusiasts.—Not many Central Otago towns can claim the possession of two wireless enthusiasts and the ability to hear every evening vocal and instrumental performances in far-off Queensland Mr Sam Leask and Mr Jack Booth have not cooled in their love for their sets, but have rather become more enthusiastic as their experience and skill developed better results. 1 had the pleasure of listening the other evening to performances issued from Mr Booth’s loud speaker. Dunedin and Wellington were brought next door; a few seconds later we were listening to the announcement in the Melbourne Town Hall that a famous violinist would appear, the applause that greeted the performer, the pianoforte prelude, the master-playing of a masterpiece as audibly as if in the next room, suddenly silence, and Mr Booth’s eyes twinkled; the rich voice of a great singer in Brisbane; silence again; the last strains of the violin in Melbourne ; the thunderous applause of the audience that would not be denied an encore. It was all very wonderful. Willows and Water.—The Ophir Presbyterian Church which is at present without a minister, sdnee the transfer of the Rev. Mr Bloomfield to New South Wales, haß been having irregular preaching supply for the last three months. Last Sunday the Rev. A. Morton, formerly of Lovell’s Flat and now on the retired list, wes in tho pulpit. Mr Morton, who is somewhat famous as a “dowser,"' gave a private exhibition of his possession of the inexplicable faculty of divining the presence of water. He declares that a narrow stream of water runs underneath the middle of the school residence. With a forked willow twig held bv a fork in each hand, Mr Morton walked slowly across the track of this stream, and at the point of crossing the twig moved as if filled with animal life, and so violently that one fork was broken. The touch of a “non-conduct-ing” person upon the dowser’s body stopped the animated twig instantly. The point of a non-forked twig moved vigorously to and fro and up and down at the same spot. A copper coin under one foot had the same effect, which was neutralised by a silver coin under the other foot. Dogs and Horses.—We had some glorious nights recently, celebrated by the local *logs in the usual way. Dogs and horses are useful and valuable animals in their places, but when barking dogs pursue galloping horses up and down the street of a town at any time (or several times) between 1 and 4 o’clock in the morning, they are out of place. Two Ophir horses, with much spare time on their feet, got out of their paddock night after night to taste the weeds in the street water-tables. To the doggish excitement of the moon was added the irresistible temptation of stray horses, and all the loose dogs took part, with ~the chained ones m chorus. And so sweet sleep fled for a season. Rugby Football.—On June 19 the first round of matches between the eight first fifteens of the Maniototo Sub-union ended with Matakanui Club in the second place. The splendid June weather in the Central meant no breaks in the programme of matches, so every Saturday saw a match on the Omakau ground, which was in perfect condition every day. On June 5 Matakanui beat Naseby by six points (tries by Naylor and Frank Donnelly) to nil. It was a very good game—very willing, but not over much so. During the first half it was anyone’s win, but Matakanui asserted its superiority in the second spell, though hard pressed on several occasions. It was Matakanui’s “day off” at kicking—all five shots at .goal failing. Mr Haig refereed. On June 12 Matakanui journeyed to Ranfurly, where they were decisively beaten by 23 to 8. On June 19 St. Bathans came to Omakau, where Matakanui scored 25 (7 tries, only two goaled) to their opponent’s nil. Mr R. Mee controlled the game, which was very ragged, brightened only by some flashes by St. Bathans’ forwards and Matakanui’s backs. Last Saturday we had one of the best games of the season—the return match between Becks and Matakanui. The former scored six points (an unconverted try and a penalty goal) in the first half, while Matakanui turned the tables with 8 points (two tries, one goaled) in the second. During the first spell Becks was superior in back play, handling, fielding, and kicking, but after half-tTme the local men effectively smothered the other backs by more “willing” play, and made their 8 points in ten minutes before Becks quite realised the change of play. The last SO minutes was a ding-dong trial of strength and wits. Mr J. Haig again refereed, and with Mr Mee got all three matches over a few minutes after 5 o’clock. —The Second Fifteen is still having good practi.ee with adverse results. Kyeburn won by (Tto 3; Naseby by 13 to nil: Patearoa by 25 to nil. On June 6 the Ranfurly Seconds defaulted owing to inability to get a team to Omakau in time to play before the big match. Weather.—A common greeting these days is, “How nicely we are getting through the winter.” Indeed it is so, for June brought no winds and no snow (though some fell twice on the mountain ridges) and several afternoons were quite spnng-like—-on one occasion 87 degrees in the sun. Certainly we had low temepratures every night, always below freezing, but if we did not have that in June we should have a fall of snow instead. On one morning (June 6) the ground temperature was 25$ deg. below freezing, but the next coldest was 20 deg. The lowest in the screen was 18$ deg. on the 6th. Tho rainfall was normal for June—s 6 points, which fell upoii nine days, bringing the January to June fall this year up to 8.07 in, compared with last year's 6.45dn. On the evenings of June 19 and 25 there were short manifestations of an extraordinary rayed aurora, three rays fully 140 degrees in extent shooting from a point due west—their light not coloured. Railway Official Changes.—Mr Bate, our new station master, has Just got nicely settled at Omakau, when the senior guard of the night goods train from Dunedin has orderß to move. Mr Purcell has been here seven years, and the community is giving him and his family a good send-off in the Ophir Hall to-morrow night.