Omahu Notes.

Hastings Standard, Issue 506, 20 December 1897, Page 4

Omahu Notes.

[Fkoji our own Correspondent.]

l?efore again commencing where I concluded the description of the memorable trip to the Whana, I wish to impress it seriously upon the minds of all readers interested in Omahu news that there is nothing of vital importance to recount out this way since my last effusion.

Since last writing we have had an increase to our steadily-growing population, a son and heir having been born to the house of Perritt.

Last Friday night the Native shearers on the Okawa station gave a most sumptuous dinner in celebration of the finishing of shearing. Invitations were issued to friends far and wide, and numbers of both Europeans and Natives rolled up in answer to the friendly call. The large woolshed in which the spread was laid was most artistically decorated with flags, and native plants, and brightly illuminated with kerosene lamps and Chinese lanterns. A beautiful arch was erected at the main entrance door of the building. The erection of the arch must have cost no end of labour, as it was on a very large scale, composed of pines, flax, toitoi, and fern trees, and when lighted up with different colored lights showed a very pretty effect. There must have been quite two hundred and fifty persons of both sexes sitting down to the table, which reached from one end of the room to the other of the large building, on which was placed a repast that would have done credit to ' Eodger Winsky,' the world-famed caterer of Hastings. After full justice had been done to the good things provided, the table was cleared away and dancing was kept up till the early hours of the morn. The music was supplied by the Fernhill and Omahu fife and drum band. Messrs Wi Duncan and Taranaki, of record reign acted most efficiently as M sC. The bright and gaudy dresses of the dusky belles contrasted most strikingly with their more sombrely apparelled fair-skinned sisters. The floor was in splendid order for dancing, reflecting great credit on all who labored to make the re-nnion such a success as it proved to be. Mr and Mrs T. H. Lowry, accompanied by some friends, who were on a visit to Okawa, passed a considerable time in the ball room, and joined in a few of the dances.

The finishing of the shearing ball on the Okawa station is an annual institution that is long looked forward to by all concerned. I have myself attended them over a quarter of a century ago, when the respected father of the present proprietor was alive. Mostly, if not all, the parents of the now present shearers would meet to celebrate the same occasion. Query : Where are they now'? With an exception or two, I cannot see an oldremembered face. I expect most of them have gone on a journey from which there 13 no return ticket. Such is life ?

I consider it a great pity that more such pleasant meetings as the above one do not take place 011 more of the other large stations in New Zealand. It goes a great way in bringing matter and man more into touch, and would help to do away with strikes and socialism, and other such abominations that ruin any community. Pewa, the Maori prophet, with his retinue, has arrived at Omahu on a visit. He has a great number of adherents here, who firmly believe in him, and he is surely a most clever imposter. Hay making on the Fernhill station is now in full swing, and there are a large number of hands employed getting it together. The owner tells me that notwithstanding the adverse season he will have a good crop of grass seed. Captain Hill is great on manual labour-saving appliances, and he has, with the aid of our local vulcan (Mr Tom Taylor), and his head shepherd (Mr Doucherty) shifted the works of his horse-power that he had at the homestead out into the hayfield, and is now working the elevator to raise the hay up on to the stack. The contrivence is a great saving of real hard work in forking the hay up. Whilst talking of Fernhill, I might mention that quite a large colony of English rooks have taken possession of the plantation behind the dwellinghouse, and are now busily engaged bringing out young rooks. Their noise morning and evening, puts one very much in mind of the Old Country. The rook is a bird that should be highly protected, as they are death on all creeping insects. Whilst on birds, a native woman at Omahu has a clutch of paradise ducks now well forward. The eggs were hatched under a hen at the Pahat, and it is to be hoped the young birds will do alright, as the paradise duck is one of the feathered tribe now seldom seen. They would be a fine adornment to the ornamental lake on the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club's racecourse. It was my intention when I took up my pen to have continued the Whana Whana trip, but spabe in this issue will not allow of my doing so. But I still intend to inflict the description of that memorable trip on your many readers in the sweet by and by. And now, Mr Editor, in conclusion, I feel confident in saying that I have the voices of all the inhabitants that we highly admire the stand you have taken in regard to having a hospital at Hastings. Every large centre in the sister colonies have"" 1 - their hospitals, and why should we not have one in such a densely populated district as this ? And I am sure from past experience that when it comes to a question of £.s.d., we of the Omahu district will not be backward in coming forward with our mite. It is a want that has long been generously felt and now the only thing I wonder at is that you, a stranger to the district, should be the first to move in such a decided manner in the matter.

Whilst, on the improvement topic I sfciok those it) authority wight see

their way clear to erect a public convenience in some retired portion of the town. I know of no city in the Southern Hemisphere with such a water supply and such good drainage, where all foul matter is so clearly swept away, and I do not know of any place outside of the large towns where so many visitors arrive and depart. Something should be done in the direction indicated. You intend having a morgue that may be used ence or twice in a decade. Let something be done for the community.