PALMERSTON NOTES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 10582, 11 October 1910, Page 2

PALMERSTON NOTES.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

The annual horse parade was held m the show ground at the conclusion of the monthly stock sale on Monday last. A largo number of local farmers and breeders from Dunedin and Oamaj'u were in attendance. Ten stallions were oil parade, eight draught horses and two light ones. No competition was held in connection with the parade, but Messrs D: and E. Lefevre's Captain Barclay and Mr White's Glenkenick seemed to find most favor in the eyes of the interested spectators. The pedigree cards were read by Mr Duke, and the general arrangements of the parade were superintended by Messrs R. M'Kenzie, R. Cameron, and W. M'Gregor : (president, and secretary of the local A. and P. Association).

The long spell of dry weather was interrupted on Wednesday last by, a cold snap; sleet showers and'high, windsprevailed all day, and on; Thursday ■morning the high country was covered with snow'. It is to be-hoped that the lambing, which is now general, will not thereby' be inj.ured. - - Nothing short of a flood will make the Shag River this year suitable for fishing is the opinion of anglers who since the .season opened have tried their luck on the Shag. The river is very low and the pools are "choked with weeds -from the .banks to the centre. The local agents of the Acclimatisation Society have issued only 12 licenses this year as against, 32 last season. ' The' Palmerston Athenfeum Committee at its meeting on Monday last was asked by a circular letter from a London publisher to purchase! the complete ornithological works of John Gould at the price of £630. The Committee, although it would not for a moment deprecate the benefits to be derived from' a perusal of John Gould's monumental'work and being not unmindful of the healthy opinion entertained by i the London publishers of the size and i resources of our town, modestly declined the offer for the most excellent i reason that the Athen£eum: income is less than £4O per annum. The Wailiemo County Council will at its monthly meeting on Saturday next be confronted with a notice of motion by Councillor O'Neill to rescind the Council's resolution of last meeting to amalgamate the offices of county clerk and inspector. The Council's action has evoked from the ratepayers a pretty general expression of disapproval. The ground of dissatisfaction is hot so-much whether the amalgamation of the offices is or is not desirable in the interests of 'the County, but rather because of the hasty and ill-considered manner in which the Council proceeded to its resolution. The motion to amalgamate was sprung i on, the Council after the luncheon adjournment without previous notice and was carried in half an hour. Councillors had 'not before "them an atom of material for consideration nor a. scintilla of evidence on which to base their judgment. No information was forthcoming regarding the success or failure of the amalgamation of the offices of clerk and inspector in counties where the offices were or are now held by one person. The motion now before the Council will give Coimcillors a belated opportunity of hearing and considering evidence on a question weightily affecting the internal economy of .the County.