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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]

Ohau

page 1106

Ohau.

Ohau, some four miles north of Manukau, affords food for author and artist and pleasure for the tourist, for here is variety in open glade and forest land, hill and dell, and lake and river scenery, the last being unsurpassed for the beauty of its blue pellucid waters, its lordly islets, and superbly forest-clad hills, sloping down to the margin of the waters on Sir Walter Buller's lake. The writer spent a day paddling over its sheeted surface in an historical war canoe, bearing time-honoured gashes and dents of the bloody massacre on the island of Papaitonga in 1824, in which the victorious Ngatiraukawas, under the leadership of the dreaded Ti Tiki, did to death over 800 of the warlike Mahopokos. On the south-west headland of Papaitonga stands a wondrous monument commemorative of the spot where the last remnant of a once powerful tribe fell. It is about thirty feet high, made of totara wood, cunningly carved by order of a great Rangitira of the Wanganuis, and erected there by the hospitable knight, who owns both
Ohau.

Ohau.

page 1107 lake and island, and who has in his possession, among many other highly-prized relics of barbarous times, a brief history in the original of the couquest of Papaitonga, with the translation into English. At the close of a fine summer's day, the lake and the tints and reflections on the stilled waters, well fringed by evening primroses, and the silhouettes of the isles, and the shadows of the wood-crested, turretted heights and terraces, make real live pictures for the finest panoramic effects, and an hour spent in this fairyland must indelibly stamp pleasant visions upon the memory. To get to this enchanted spot, however, the tourist, having first obtained permission, negotiates two miles of drayroad going north wards through acre upon acre of Sir Walter Buller's magnificent land, feeding well, as it does, thousands of the knight's well-bred sheep. Away miles to the south east the Ohau River winds through the sinuosities of a fertile valley, on the green banks and slopes of which stand many charming farms and homesteads, and here fairly good roads for vehicles and riding parties offer. Ohau has a population of 256 souls. There is a post and telegraph office at Ohau, but no accommodation, so that travellers visiting the place require either to return to Manukau or go to Levin, three miles further north.

Mails close daily at Wellington at 6 a.m., arriving at Ohau at 9.40 a.m. Mails close daily at Ohau for Wellington at 9.30 a.m., arriving at 10.5 p.m.

Hobson, John, Contractor, Cuckoo Road, Ohau. Born in Heligoland in 1846, from his early life Mr. Hobson followed a sea-faring life. At sixteen he ran away from his ship and joined another vessel, and continued at sea till twenty-nine years of age, trading between San Francisco, Glasgow and South Shields. Mr. Hobson was then smitten with the gold fever, and successfully spent some time on the Californian diggings. He afterwards shipped as mate on a brig bound for Melbourne, and was present at the first rush in the Long Plain diggings in Tasmania, and at the Bendigo, Ballarat, Kimberley, Manning and Collingwood diggings in Australia. Subsequently, with the aid of two of his fellows, he opened the famous Cornstalk claim, and was on the Blue Range diggings in 1866. He finally settled in New Zealand, and went to the Balclutha goldfields for two years. At the time of writing (1896), Mr. Hobson is employed in contracting for Mr. W. Gillett, Ohau.

Lawrence, William, Sawmiller, Ohau Sawmills, Ohau, near Manakau. Telegraphic address, “Lawrence, Manakau, Manawatu.” Bankers, Bank of New South Wales. Established as a sawmiller thirty years ago, Mr. Lawrence claims to be the oldest still actively engaged in the work in the Wellington Provincial District. He also lays claim to having been the first pioneer in the sawmilling industry in Queen Charlotte Sound, as he cut the first timber, for which a circular saw was used, in August, 1861 Mr. Lawerence started as circular benchman at the Upper Hutt in February, 1859, continuing as such till 1865, when he started the Mungaroa Mill, near the Upper Hutt, which he conducted for many years. Subsequently for twelve years no carried on business in the Wairarapa, and for about three years afterwards was at Pakaratahi, near Kaitoke, before starting the Ohau mills in 1893. The Ohau mill is modern in every respect, all the latest appliances being included, such as breaking-down, frame, and circular saws. A fine steam-engine of eight-horse-power was specially imported by Mr. Lawrence for the mill. A staff of about a dozen hands is employed, the product of the works being very considerable. The specialty is red pine, which finds a ready market in and near the Empire City. The subject of this notice was born in London, and came to New Zealand in 1857, per ship “Southern Cross,” landing in Wellington.

Saint, H., Butcher, Ohau.

McLeavey, James, Settler, Ohau. Born in 1860 in Makara, Wellington, where he was educated, at thirteen years of age, Mr. McLeavey went to Rangitikei to gain experience in sheep and cattle breeding. Remaining for nine years, he went to Otaihanga, where he remained three years. For four years subsequently he was manager of Messrs. Pascoe Bros'. station at Kereru. Settling in Ohau he leased 400 acres from Sir Walter Buller, which he now farms, having excellent pasturage for 1600 sheep and fifty head of cattle, the homestead being a comfortable eight-roomed house. In 1890 Mr. McLeavey was married to Miss Murphy, of County Kerry, Ireland, and has two sons and a daughter.