OPOTIKI

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume II, Issue 203, 15 August 1874, Page 3

OPOTIKI

it'KOM OITU OWN ■** august 7. A smaut shook of earthquake was fell here a few mornings since. It lusted, however, but a few seconds, and was not repeated. We are getting so aeeustomed to these occurrences now that wo scarce iy hee l them. 1 lie steamer Southern Cross arrived at Ohiwa l ist night, lauding It passengers and some cargo, and left again Use same eve.,mg. It has been suggested by some o( our business men, and very reasonably too, that if the agent for the Southern Cross in Tauranga would telegraph the steamer's depart lire for Ohivv/i Irom I an eai .ga, we should then lie in a imien net ter podium t o send drays and I'onvin anees lor goods and pa-se ngers m t ime to meet her at Ohiwa, as a dray can only proceed to Ohiwa at dead low water, and must wait a tide there, and return on the following ebb. at the he,~t o! times. I trust that the steamer's agent wili kindly net upon this suggestion, as our Resident Telegraph Olli-er, Mr Elliott, bus promised in the event of the receipt, of such iutormatum to post it outside tile cilice immediately for public in 1j: million.

August S. Mr E. Croon, after having satisfactorily fulfilled the duties of .Librarian, and kept the books at 1 1 is private residence during tho lust sis months, has now resigned his trust, and the Comm it. too desire (o show their high appreciation of his services by publicly expressing their thanks. Mr duo. M eLeod has kindly undertaken the honorary dutie.s of Librarian for the next six months, and the books have been removed accordingly to his premises.

Captain Simpson urri ved today from the survey of the famous Modi Block, on the lino of road between Ormond, Poverty Bay, and Opotiki. i his largo block of laud is, it is supposed, intended by the Government as an immigration settlement. It is situated in the valley of Iho Motu or M araenui river, about in id-way" between Opotiki and Ormond. Captain Simpson describes it as consisting of mostly bush land partially clear of undergrowth, the soil, a rich black alluvial to a great depth, being the result of decomposed vegetatiorj. The only means of communication to the proposed new sett lement will bo by means id the Opotiki and Ormond Hoads, now in process of formation by Messrs L. and I l '. Simpson. This will add greatly to Iho many advantages wo expect to derive from the opening up of this lino, which so far, although having experienced many delays through winter weather, and tho dillicuUy of obtaining labour, has been pushed on most successfully. Tho engineering difficulties which have been encountered and overcome are almost incredible to one not conversant with tho sleep and lofty ranges, dense heavily timbered bushes, and impassable swamps which exist throughout the inland district lying between tho Bay of I lenty and Poverty Bay. It is simply impossible to describe the road properly, but to any on© desirous of observing tho natural scenery and beauties of Now Zealand, it is well worth traversing.

August 10. do our great surprise wo wore favoured with a mad yesterday through tho courtesy of a civilian who chanced to be passing through. This mail should have come l ist Tuesday, 4th, but it did’t; and it should have come on tho 6th by the Cross, but it didn’t ; so it came like a shower of rain on a fine day, when wo didn’t expect it. In writing to Auckland from here we think ourselves unusually lucky if we get an answer within tho month. Ho we avenge ourselves by rushing to tho Telegraph Cilice. It’s an ill wind that blows nobody good. Nothing more of importance this week. One or two jovial souls have been trying to persuade Ids Worship the lic-ident Magistrate that Mr lenny makes his beer rather too strong and heady, but our worthy Magistrate didn’t seem to see it.