Our Ormond Letter.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1032, 4 February 1882, Page 2

Our Ormond Letter.

[from our own correspondent.] The broiling hot weather experienced here during the past week has so enervated the powers of your own that he fears this epistle will meet with a cool reception at the hands of your readers, but even should sueh be its fate there will be an object gained by showing that coolness of any description can be obtained under the tropical influences now being brought to bear upou us. Our Ormond detachment of the J Battery, are, I understand, taking steps to raise a Band, this shows considerable esprit de corps, and it ia io be hoped their efforts will be successful, as independently of the advantages derivable by the detachment in having a Band attached to it, the residents in the locality generally would be provided with a source of pleasure and amusement in the concerts and similar entertainments which would be held periodically, and so remove an obstacle, which, iu the absence of an organised musical society iu the place, has hitherto rendered attempts at getting up entertainments of the kind, weak and spasmodic. The fruit season is coming on a pace, the orchards in the neighborhood give promise of good yields, and we shall soon be revelling in peach.ee galore for a short time, it is a pity the season was not longer. There is a good opening for any enterprising and experienced person to utilize some of the splendid fruit sure to go to waste in the course of the next month, by setting up a preserving establishment. What a shame it is that horses, cattle, pigs and sheep should gorge themselves on and trample under foot, fruit, which with very little trouble and expense could be made a very welcome addition to the table iu the approaching winter, when such a thing will be unattainable.

The thistles still remain a nuisance and an eyesore, they are getting daily stronger and larger. To enable the children of the place to get to school, : he footwalk along one side of the road has been partially cleared, and the disgraceful appearance now presented makes one wish that he were able to sketch the scene and give you some idea thereby of the present state of our leading thoroughfare. The road is good enough, and it does seem an absurdity that when a few hours labor at a comparatively small expense would dear the drains and make the place look decent, the thing will be allowed to drift along until the winter sets in, and a considerably greater amount will require to be expended on repairs and labor.

We were thrown into a state of alarm and confusion on Wednesday afternoon last, by the very severe earthquake which no doubt made itself felt in other parts of the district than Ormond. Its direction here appeared to be N.E. to S.W., and two distinct shocks were felt. Clocks were stopped, crockery thrown down and broken, window-panes cracked, and people who happened to be indoors were to be seen rushing incontinently out into the open to make themselves sure that their habitations were not coining down about their ears without further notice. However, the panic and consequent stampede, soon was quelled, and peace and quietness commenced their reign again.