LAKE COUNTY.

Otago Witness, Issue 1950, 4 April 1889, Page 17

LAKE COUNTY.

ApBIL I.— The weather and the crops bave been the subjects of no small comments of late. Since la*t Friday week and up to last Wednesday the weather has been very unsettled, while on Monday last and the following night there was a genuine snowstorm, so that altogether it may be put down that onr farmers have lost a solid week when time is ao precious, because harvest and seed time fall together. Although the greater part of our harvestis secured, a goodly portion is not cut yet ; but fortunately the elasticity of our climate i6.Buoh that however badly the weather may behave at times it generally makes amends, and in the end the lost time it the chief annoyance. Pibb Bmgadb Bam;.— Settling up accounts in connection with the late ball, the fire brigade had the pleasure of finding itself with £6 Is to.the good, a result which does not always attend balls. A Pbbttt Kettle op Fish.— To-day (Ist of April)— ominous time of foolery— Lake County Gounoil holds its regular bi-monthly meeting; but it must be understood that these bi-monthly.meetings are a kind of pious humbug, invented during a temporary fit of retrenchment; the' council meeting .every month, it is .supposed,- for the good of the councillors.'. In ' a former letter I mentioned hoWr'anew councillor • oharged a confrere with Illegal ' and corrupt practices— to - wit, taking up county contracts upon the "dummy" system, and bow the council, as a body, showed its contempt for the charge by giving another contract to. the same person Immediately after the charge was promul; gated. It now remains to be seen how the grave charge made at the council's board will be.treated when councillors have had a .month to calmly consider the situation. One of two lines of action only is open to them to conserve even the semblance of decency and rectitude— either they must call upon the councillor who proposed the charge to substantiate it, or demand that he apologise for the statements made.' > The ratepayers are certain to see what lineof aoti'in councillors will adopt. ■ j Killing, Kindness.— The Arrow School Committee have their own way of treating their teachers; whiohif, however.llfcfcle .'appreciated by these gen r tlemen. .The present fceacher— who, by the way, has brought the school to a tiigh state of perfection— has borne the infliction of beirig nightly serenaded by a chorus of catsand dogs, which find free passage in and out through' the glebe fence, while the rain and wind poured into the residence with equal liberty and persistence,- until the thing became monotonous^ in addition to the liberal water supply which comes into the residence free of charge, the teacher had been docked with /water rate accounts by the corr poratlon for a service that iB altogether superfluous.. §to cut'fhe Gordianknot he has sought comfort' and repose In! private quarters. ' 1 r Changes.— Up.fco a short time ago the "travelling public had the opportunity of some cheap travelling In these partfe. Coach fares between Pembroke and Cromwell, and Queenstownand Cromwell, were only 58, and intermediate places in proportion. The halcyon days are over.and the old normal prices rule again. ' Mr Craig has succeeded to the business, and lately bought : Out Mr J. F. Smith, of Queensfown,, it'ls ttated-, for £400, including good will, mail con : Jirict, ahd'teams. However pleasant the cheap fares may have been'to travellers ill these parts, it is too much to expect that the game of competition should continue for their benefit regardless of the losses of pc victims.