Ohura.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 346, 18 March 1911, Page 3

Ohura.

Mr Tom Bel), one of our well-known and hospitable settlers, of Niho -Niho, is lying seriously ill. He has been suffering a great deal the last few days and in consequence Mrs Bell and family are not a little alarmed. Dr Carolan was called to administer to the sufferings of Mr Bell but apparently without effecting much relief. All those who know "Tom" will sympathise with him and family and wish him a speedy recovery of his usual health and strength. The Ohura County Council will be putting on a fair number of extra men for road-making purposes shortly. There are at present over 200 men at work on the various roads and tracks in the Ohura district and good progress is being made in every direction. Work is plentiful so that the Ohura should be a good rer.devouz for those seeking employment. The long spell of fine weather is at last having its effect on the milch cows in the Ohura, and although the country in many parts lias not the appearance of being very dry, still it must be so from the complaints of the cream suppliers at Niho Niho that there is a decided drop in the quantity this month as compared with the corresponding month last year. The unusual length of fine weather has, it would seem, affected the growth of certain native trees, in high and dry parts, and many of the shrubs are withering away. The beautiful native shrub, Thousand Jackets or Ribbonwood (Koriwau) is flowering profusely throughout the Ohura and is to be seen everywhere on the roadside covered with its pretty white bloom. This plant usually flowers in the fall of spring or beginning of summer and it is only on rare occaison such as this that the bloom is seen. When the Koriwau begins to bloom a second time during one season the Maoris foretell a continuation of dry weather. The same applies to the Veronica (Koromiko) of which the mauve and white may be now seen flowering, usually on the banks of cuttings on the roadside. There is one pretty native shrub, however, that the central Ohura does not possess, and that i 3 the yellow Kowhai which grows so plentifully round about Taumarunui. As the nature of the soil and environments changes, so accordingly, it appears, do the native vegetation, shrubs and trees vary in kind and manner.

OHURA SALEYARDS CO., LTD. A meeting of the Directors of the saleyards was held at Mangaroa on the evening of the 11th inst., to consider the plans of proposed yard. Mr English wrote accepting position of Auditor to the Company. The tender of Mr Beresford was accepted for cleaving saleyards site. Resolved that the financial year close on 30th November and that the first annual meeting be held on the second Saturday in January 1912. Shares were allotted to Messrs McGinley, Cruikshanks and Campbell. Resolved that as the County Council has returned the vote for the Mangaroa township the Department of Public Works be written to urging the Department to expedite the work of forming Hihi street, and that the width of clearing be reduced to 33 feet. Resolved that tenders be called for erection of yards to be completed by the end of July.