DUNTROON.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1167, 13 January 1880, Page 2

DUNTROON.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONIVBHT.) We have a grievance that reflects anything but credit on the County Council and its Inspector. I refer to the drainaga of the upper part of the township, which, since the road was formed, has found its way to the front of some of the shops in the-township, where it forms a stagnant pool, alike obnoxious to the eyes and nose. The road forms a dam, and a nice trap for unwary pedestrians to fall into. A small aud inexpensive culvert would have obviated this. lam sure that oven, the County Councillors' sense of proprietywould be shocked were they near enough, to hear the expressions used by the. people of this usually very proper com--munity when victimised by this County Council's quagmire. Our school, which has made noticeableprogression under Mr. Meelcing, is still in a state of quiescence for the Christmas, vacation. The School Committee must find funds somewhere to fence in tha school reserve, the master having complained that horses and cattle counter l * irritate the itchiness of their carcases on the corners of his house during the hours that should be occupied by him in slumber. The school report which you lately published informs me that the Education Board has notified the School Committee that they may remove the school furniture on the occasion of one mora entertainment, and yet they expect ua to raise LSO to defray the cost of fencing in the teacher's residence and school out of proceeds derived from suoh a source.. The members of the Board must be singularly defective in their knowledge of: Colonial geography, or they are not; addicted to thinking. We are not yet a. London, although we sometimes arei favored with flying visits from a worthy settler who has lately been there. £ think that the Board should be less straight-laced when Committees are laudably endeavoring to do that which tha Board professes to do, and ought to be able to do. Sohool Committees, after all, are only intended by the Act to be administrative bodies, and not providers as. well as dispensers of the " needful." I must say something about the crops; in and around this district. They soaffect our lives either for happiness orwoe. Of course, they are looking wellFrom an impression gained during a flyingvisit to "The Tables" yesterday, I feel sure that we shall be blessed with a plentiful harvest. I am told, too, that the crops at Kurow' and Hakateramea are no less excellent. The sparrows are too abundant here to be quite pleasant, but still I do not hear many complaints from the farmers about them.