Why not use 4 text boxes (called Text Frames in OpenOffice)
Create a Text Frame (text box) by going to
Insert
...Frame
Under the 'Type' tab, set width to (e.g.) 8 cm, Anchor to 'Page' and then under the 'Borders' tab, set borders to zero.
Do that 4 times, (or copy/paste the first one)
Drag each to where you want them on the page.
To get text to automatically flow from one textbox to another, do this . . .
Click the edge of a frame that you want to link. Selection handles appear on the edges of the frame.
1. On the Frame bar, click the Link Frames icon (chainlinks icon on toolbar).
2. Click the frame that you want to link to.
NB The frame you want to link to must be empty.
The text frames can be re-sized by clicking on the edge and dragging one or more handles.