TIMARU.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 6 December 1880, Page 2

TIMARU.

(FKOM OUR own COE RES POND E NT.) . December 2. , Continued changes from heat to cold and cold to heat, wet to dry and dry to •wet, seem to indicate that the -weathercock has not yet fixed upon a spot whereon to settle. At intervals it is so intensely warm as to render respiration difficult; while at other times, by a sudden change, down comes a deluge of rain. The howling winds, too, after the rain, soon dry up the face of nature, and besides the oppressive scorching sjun, the " stour " on the streets and roads is almost intolerable. The heavy showers that have fallen have, however, re-animated- the^-fever-stricken .crops, and have afforded, our washerwives a good - supply of the cleansing fluid. They have also caused" an abundance of green feed to spring up for our famishing live stock ; so that, on the whole, weighing the benefits against inconveniences, however grievous, we may say that the weather is.,highly favorable for the general welfare of the district.

To frustrate the destructive operations of tfao<nor'-westers, as well as to teaeh our highly intelligent " fathers" a salutary lessdii, an enterprising youth has obtained a loan of the borough water-cart, and, havin'g oanvassed the town for subscribers, he has obtained the names of a goodly number who have signified their intention of assisting to support the enterprise. The" cart has been plying too and fro a little over a week, and although there seems to be some difficulty in thoroughly subduing the clouds of dust, it promises to save many pounds weekly to the tradespeople who* contribute towards its maintenance. Timaru is noted for dust, which is sometimes simply blinding in the main street. The reason of this is that the wrongly*named guardians of the town, in meeting assembled, ta,lk the most absurd nonsense, the result of'their deliberations generally becoming manifest in " smoke." Our. civic authorities are particularly fond of doing things by halves, and the.ir policy seems to be in everything to rob Peter to pay Paul. Lots of the ' most useless work is carried on at the expense of the rate-payers, while the most necessary things are left undone. Like all sinners, they leave undone those things which they ought to ds, and those things which they ought not to do. For example, roads that were passable untouched have been ornamented with deep cuttings, which must afford pedestrians a good opportunity of breaking their bones under cover of a dark night. Stones from the seaside, too, have been so lavishly expended on our streets as to call for the censure of the local press. Then we have iron hoops, kerosene tins, oil drums, and hosts .of other sorts of rubbish endangering people's lives on the back thoroughfares ; while in the Great South and Great North Roads there peacefully repose in the gutter a wellcolored" watering-can, and—well, maybe a ream of paper in the shape of Cole's circus posters. As a rule press correspondents utilise their wits in cracking up the centres in which they live, but it is at all times the part of a conscientious scribe to chronicle passing events in their true, unadorned colors, and, bearing this in mihd,T report to you the real state of our " clean" little town. The fact is, citizens are so disgusted that the interest felt in municipal matters has iu many once public spirited, men ceased altogether. At the mayoral elec.tjon our old friend the "Captain" was ' allowed a walk-over, and probably the old gentleman cordially congratulates himself upon being the undoubted choice- of the burgesses.