ONGA ONGA.

Waipawa Mail, Volume I, Issue 20, 20 November 1878, Page 3

ONGA ONGA.

I (from our own correspondent.) November 16, 1878. 1 Our usually quiet township was all ’ alive on the 13th instant, the day to prove which gentleman should be returned as member for the Rua Taniwha Riding— Colonel Herrick or Mr A. Ross. Although the time of year was very inconvenient to many, it being shearing time, all hands turned out to record their votes, the result of the poll being that our old favorite Colonel Herrick beat the Dunedin gentleman by 45 votes, and I feel quite assured that the number of gentlemen who came from Waipawa and other places will agree with me and say—We have the right man in the right place. Hurrah for Colonel Herrick! I may here mention that many of the visitors who came from a distance and who had never before seen Onga Onga were surprised at the snug little township. Many perchance, expected to find it a dreary waste, but were most agreeably surprised to see how we stand here; and to learn on the best authority the amount of business done. Many of the gentlemen who visited Onga Onga on the 13th have travelled over a greater part of this province, and they were quite satisfied that from position, quality of soil, and the number of s.tations and smaller settlers around that Onga Onga has a bright future before it. The township will he offerred to the public on the 22nd inst., at the Criterion Hotel, Napier, at 12 o’clock p.ni. Most of the sections being lmif-acres, with the best of soil, will prove a good investment for married men who, with the township being so well backed up by stations, viz., Taufiela, Ashcott, Forest Gate, Spring Hill, Green Hills, and Nettley, will always be enabled to obtain work and secure a home for their wives and families, which should be the aim of The late dry weather is now beginning to tell upon the crops, which look any think but well. The Kuapawoha bus.’i i 1 lias been on fire for the past week. On j the 12th instant, Mr Webster, of Black- [ burn, was burned out. Yesterday I am sorry to say, Mr E. Foulger, ex Waipawa policeman, an old settler, was also burned out at Ashley-Clinton. Mrs Foulger, in attempting to save some documents from the bed-aoom, was severely burned. I hear Mr Webster’s loss is covered by insurance. I hope Mr Foulger’s will be inured also. The lire is still raging. M ssrs Ross, A. Mackay, Bridge," ami Morrison have lost a considerable amount of fencing. The smoke from the fires yesterday was something dreadful, and shepherds from the different stations were busy until a late hour in removing stock to a place of safety. During the evening we had a shower of rain, but the wind again got up, and at the time I write there is nothing but smoke. Shearing has commenced. Messrs Bridge, Herrick, Rhodes, and Ilolden being hard at it. Mr Bridge lias natives for his shed. The other settlers are going in for the white man. Later. The fire at Makaretu is still raging. Mr Charles Morton, in endeavoring to save some of his cattle—two" of which were killed—met with a most serious accident, by a branch of a tree falling upon his neck. He has remained insensible from yesterday until noon to-day.