OHINEMURI. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 155, 22 May 1886, Page 7

OHINEMURI. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Paeiioa., Friday. Ox Saturday evening last, the 15th inst., a number of the local orchardists anl others interested in the extirpation of the Co'Uin Moth pest, met, afc the invitation of Mr John W. Thorp, of the Poke Orchard, at the Public Hall. The majority of the fruit growers ol the district were present, including 1 Messrs F. Cock (county chainian), B. A. Wight (Komata Orchard) ; P. Sheehy (Belmont Orchaid) ; J. W. Shaw (Opita) ; Wnj. G. Nicholls, Robson, Mitchell, Sorenson, &c. Mr J. W. Thorp being the oldest hand at fruit growing in the county, was voted to the chair, and opened proceedings by stating that he thought the matter was one in which the Government had not properly legislated, and further, that a petition should be sent to Wellington showing the extreme importance of such legislation in a district like Ohineranri, where the fruit' industry should have a great future before it. Several present spoke of the un workability, not to say absurdity, of the "Codlin Moth Act, I8U," and several suggestions as to probable amendments of such Act were made, but no motion was formulated. After some considerable discussion, Mr K. A. Wight proposed, and Mr James M. Robson seconded, a resolution to the effect " That a petition should be sent in to Government, requesting that the Act should be enforced in this district." Mr P. Cock mentioned that Government would be only too willing to receive sa *- gestions as to any amendment of the Act, that would help to facilitate the extirpation of the pesfc. He thought that there were several objectionable sections, but as it seemed the desire of the meeting that a trial of the Act should be made, he would not stand in the way either in his position in the local body. or as an orchardist. Mr C. F. Mitchell also spoke to the motion, which was finally carried. A committee composed of MessrsJß. A. Wight, W. G. Nicholls, J. W. Thorp, Patrick Sheehy, and Jas. W. Shaw was appointed to carry out details ; and a vote of thanks to the chair closed the meeting. A telegram was received from Mr H. Kenrick, R.M., on Wednesday last, reporting the death, at the Whau Asylum, of Tini Poaka (a chief of the Ngatitamaten Tribe). The unfortunate native was convicted of stealing clothing at the Thames about three weeks ago, and was fined four times the value of the goods stolen, according to native custom by Mi Kenrick, 8.M., and given a week to find the money. His tribe being in

a state of indigence- could not rurso the funds, and Tini Poaka was accord'agly sent to »".ol for a month. The confinement preyed on his mi ml, and lie hod to bo placed in astraLjht-j.-ickofc, aiul finally sent, on tho certificate of two doctor.-?, to the Whan Asylum, where he died last Sunday. The members of his hapu are endeavouring to gefc Government to transport the corpse to his home here, and, should this vequest be granted, a great tangi will bo held on its arrival. A petition from the Chairman, Councillors, and inhabitants of the County of Ohinemuri has been largely signed, and was forwarded to the Hon. the Minister of Lands on Tuesday last, praying for a portion of tho Komata Noith Block to be withdrawn from (he salejjof lands on the 27th inst., and given as an endowment to the county for the purposes of recreation ground and shinglo reserve. There hag boon a good deal of misunderstanding in connection with this petition, but there can be no doubt that the local body are acting for the real benefit of the district Another petition -is also going the rounds, viz., for the local body to be invested with the power and privileges of a Board of Conservators for the rivers in Ohinemuri district. It may interest Ohinemuri readers to know that Capt. Harry Dal ton, late of the "Ta Aroha" 'and « Waitoa steamers has struck a goo 1 Dung \n his claim, the "Elizabeth" at the new find Waiomo Creek, Thames. Mr L. A. Durrteu, Provincial Auditor, has been gazetted Auditor for the County of Ohinemuri. The recent increase in the river trade has induced Mr J. C. Firth, to erect a capacious goods shed at the wharf,known as Frasers at Paeron, for the convenience of those getting goods by the S.S. Kotnku,which now trades regularly between Auckland and Paeroa. It is proposed to close the half time schools at Mackay-town and Owharoa an 1 carry on one running full time at Karangahake instead. A suitable site has been pegged off at tho latter place, and it now remains for the School Committee ami Board of Education to act in the matter.