PIGEONGRAMS.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2785, 17 January 1878, Page 2

PIGEONGRAMS.

OHINEMURI.

(from oue own cobbespondents.)

Paesoa, Wednesday.

People bere are considerably surprised that, in apportioning the money allotted by the Government for the formation of the Ohinemuri main road, the County Council hare left out entirely the Ohinemuri district proper, and hare stopped at the boundary of the Hikutaia block, namely, the Kurere stream. Why hare they succumbed so easily to the Native difficulty ? Methinks they encountered "lions in the way " irhen they started to make the. road past Totara Point, but they were nothing daunted, and, by using all means within their power, they overcame them. In fact, it appears to be simply a question of " ways and means," i.e., proper highways are wanted, and that meant spending money judiciously. However, " charity begins at home," and, I suppose, so also do good roads. When the Native aristocrats resident at Kiriltiri, and their pakeha friends who hare villa residences in prospectu in that neighbourhood, hare been, accommodated with a good metalled road to enable them, to drive their buggies into Shortland, we outsiders (who hare to pay a considerable share of the rates —vide the County Valuer's statement) may expect to get something done. It is worthy of note that the first tenders called for are for works in the neighborhood of Totara Point. Why could not tenders have been called for at the same time for completing the approaches on either side of the Hikutaia bridge from Kurere to Onetai ? The distances and the works required to be done are well known, as the road has already been partially formed, and is, of course, laid down on the map. A short time since somewhere about forty contracts were let for works required to be done on the northern side of the Kauae* ranga Kiver, but it would appear that On the Ohinemuri main road the motto is to be "Festina lente." It is only a few days ago that a gentleman, when crossing the Hikutaia Hirer, narrowly escaped drowning. If the works in that locality are to bo delayed, the winter will be on us before they are completed, and, not having had time to settle down and harden, the swamp portions will quickly become impassable, and the bridge will remain ornamental and useless until next summer.

I hear that Captain Tisard has been engaged by Mr J. C. Firth to do the snagging on hit portion of the Upper YVaihou, and that the steamer Tui will carry the necessary apparatus. The work is to be started without delay, and I hope that the County Council will let a contract at once for clearing their share. The. two jobs should be carried on simultaneously^ so that the whole work may be completed while the rirer is low.

The lev. W. E. Mulgan has notified hat he will leave Katikati on the 19th

(Saturday), and will hold divine service on Sunday (20th)—in the morning at - Waitekauri, and in the evening at Paoroa. .

The weather is rery boisterous, and we have had sereral squalls of rain. The wind is north-westerly, and threatens heavy rain before long, especially if it should chop round to the eastward, Fortunately, most of the oat crops hare been cut and stacked. This day, 1 p.m. There was a very heavy fall of rain last night. It began about sunset and continued, with scaroely a break, until daylight this morning. Between 9 and 10 p.m. the rain came down in perfect tor* rents, and many persons expected that we were about to hare a big flood. Fortunately, the wind kept nor' westerly, and this morning there is only a rery slight fresh in the Ohinemuri rirer, although I expect there is more in the Waihou. It ! takes a easterly wind to make big freahes in this rirer. The weather is now fine, but, as the wind is blowing strong from the westward, we may expect a few more showers.

Mr Owen arrived yesterday afternoon with a fine mob of cattle—6B—from the Waikato. They are consigned by Mr Buckland to Messrs Banks and Co. Mr Owen expects to reach the Thames tomorrow, but, if the new Countrfc-oad were passable, he could do the distance easily in a day. The Xomata mud, and the hills on either side of the Hikutaia river, are great impediments to speedy travelling.

Mr Cousens, trigonometrical surreyor, and party ..arrived at Poke per Buona Ventura last erening, and proceeded to the Upper Waihou this morning.