OTOROHANGA NEWS

Waipa Post, Volume 36, Issue 2146, 19 April 1928, Page 8

OTOROHANGA NEWS

KING COUNTRY ITEMS. V ;'. '■'< , (Own Coirespondent), The football season opens jat Otorohanga on .Satur.biy afternoon when the following teams will represent the Otorohanga Club in the seven-a-side tournament.. Senior B.—Christmas, Quin, Bittington, Hales, Clarke, Taylor, Brown and Harris. Senior A.— Egan, Kirton, McCready , Sweetman, Jeffcott, Dockery Craig and W. Seymour. Junior B.—Robertson, Hunter, Ormsby, Mexted, Cooper, Old, Murdock and A. Cooper. Junior A.— Cowern, Hill, Sircombe, I Patterson, Lee, Irwin, Derecourt and Love. Considerable interest is already manifest in the first local games of the season. A heavy delivery truck, the property of the Farmers' Trading Coy., and driven by Mr Hunter, ran over a steep cutting in Te Kawa S.treet, on Tuesday last, and capsized at the bottom of the gully. The trfick and contents were damaged but' the driver fortunately got clear. One of Otorohanga's oldest citizens, in the person of Mr Robert Ormsby, died rather suddenly here on Tuesday morning. Mr Ormsby was a son of Mr Robert Ormsby, who taught the first school in the King Country, at Te Kopua, on the banks of the Waipa River, some eighty years ago. The old pakeha schoolmaster had married into the Maniapoto tribe and reared a large family, on the northern border of'"the King Country. The late Mr Robert Ormsby, his second eldest son, was born at Honikiwi 76 years ago, on the spot now known as the acacia grove on Winger's farm. During the Maori 'wars Robert fought with the pakeha as a trooper in the cavalry corps then stationed at Te Awamutu. He afterwards went on the trail of Te Kooti, the outlaw. Like all of his family the deceased was an able speaker, and assisted the Crown in the early days in the white settlement of this territory. He was also engaged in the first survey work done by the Crown in the Rohe Potae, working under the late Mr Lawrence Cousins. Robert was a most loveable man, and popular with all class.es of this community, where he had spent the major portion of his long life. He leaves a daughter, Mrs Toa, of Otewa, his wife having died many years ago. A large tangi is now being held and the burial takes place at the family burial ground at Mangaiti during this week. Five brothers arid a large number of grandchildren survive him. The native princess, Te Puea, with a considerable following presented a successful social and dance in the Otorohanga Town Hall recently. A full Maori orchestra supplied the pleasing music. The entertainment was in aid of the building fund, for a home for the poor and sick of her race which the princess inaugurated some months ago, at Ngaruawahia. The tender of Hall and Searancke, of 4s 4d per cubic yard for metalling Hewer's Road, has been accepted. There were six tenderers and the work will be commenced at once.

!T><? Otorohanga branch of the Plunket Society contemplate an early

start with the' erection of Lladies' Rest Room in the town where a Suitable site is in view. average monthly attendance of children ; and infants at the local Plunket Room last .year was 80. J-The mothers of the district have greatly appreciated the assistance given in the past by Nurse Nelson. The Otorohanga Referees' Association held their annual meeting on Tuesday evening) Mr P. F. Skinner presiding. Examinations will be conducted regarding certain specific rules bearing on the conduct of Rugby. Mr Skinner was elected president and Mr J. Trapski Secretary. A judgment debtor (C. Searancke) amused those who were in the Otorohanga S.M. Court, yesterday, while he was being cross examined by creditors' solicitors in the box. The debtor proved more than a match for those who endeavoured to set an order against him. The defendant stated (in answer to Mr Trapski) that he had a family of 15, twelve of whom were living. The eldest is 27 years of age. Six children were dependent upon him. He received a family allowance. Eight children were living with him. Six of these were under 14 years of age. "I have three homes, but they are not mine—l am trustee." Some of the boys are living on their sister's land. Mr Trapski: "What do you do for a living?" Defendant: "You had better come out and have a look." His Worship: "Answer the question." Defendant: "Well I grow food on the property, as much as is required for such a large family. His Worship: "I quite agree, but look here Searancke, you are living in a very cunning manner. I will not make an order this time but no storekeeper, or indeed anyone, should give you credit until you pay your just debts. Now you do what you can to pay up." __________ '