CLYDE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2318, 4 August 1898, Page 26

CLYDE.

August 1. — l- It is always cold here oi hereabouts," obseived my friend when we met recently and indulged in the customaiy inlioductory remaik-5 to present-day conversation. I was about to launch iorth in a defence of our climale, but the truth of my friend's observation dawned on me, and saved me displaying my ignorance in astiononncal science Although it was not snowing when we passed heie'somo I' 2 months back, I have a ha^y recollection of it being about to do so, and since it is snowing at the present moment, tho probability i* that tt-e escaped being snowed sn in this quarter last year, and are now getting the tail end of the storm after our 12 months' peregrinations Ihiough fairer skies and round old Sol — a Ion;* journey, certainly, and yet there aio people who say they never travel. OiK llosi-ital. — Dr MacGregor has had his littlo fling at our local hospital in his annual reports, but his remarks are in no way worthy of credence, for more reasons than one. To those? who are acquainted with the umennlting care and attention which Dr Hyde bestows upon tho inmates of the institution, it will bo ob.'ious that Dr MycCregor was not quite nimself ■when he considered lint Dr JT>de managed *' the hospitil vicanou«lv, while he devotes Ins mind to other pivr&mts." Diumg the ycais XL* Hyde ha-3 been ic^idenfc tuigeon at the hospital, I have never known him to, or 3)caid of him, neglect his duty to the institution. Rather is it the other wa> about, and I am sine that scoies of people who ha\e been jiatieM'i in the hospital at one tune oi another will bear me out in saying that Dr Hyde's care and attrition to the inmates aie worthy hi-Ai fncomuims. I daresay that Dr MucGregor has learned of Dr Hjde interesting himself in tiic di edging industry, and consideis the mfoimaiion "justifies him in asserting that Dr Hyde "manages the hospital vicariously, while he devotes his mind to other pursuits," and again, "the patients appear, when Dr Hyde is othcr\visc occupied, to be well looked after by Dr Gregg, of Alexandia, who attends the hospital as a sort of supplementary medical officer. ' The lirf.t pail of Una asseition is not tine, the lattti) part is 'an entire misappiehen*ion, and ■very probably Dr MacOregor recognises it to fee so now that he sees it in cold print. Since Dr Giegg look up piactice at Alexandra, he may have visited the hospital some few times independently while acting as locum tcnens for Di Hyde, he may hpve paid just as many visit* more, but to asseit that Dr Gregg is "a Hoit ol supplemental othcei ' these is "3 much an injustice to that gentleman's supercxcolleiico as it is to Dr Hyde's devotion and loyally lo the institution. Some poison hai been ' -luffing" the professor this time, and he i'mv- p.otes&or) was lacking his customary di:-cv':uinc:it, otherwise he would not have been go laMi in his statements. Dai7cg.— Tho annual quadrille party have commenced then Wednesday evening dance jjj the Town flail, and the affair seems to be well patronised I had a look in last Wednesday evening, when I was surprised to see quite a large gathering of you 115 and old, all evidently enjo;. ing themselves at a cotillon. The dance is conducted very creditably by Mcpst* Holden und Mitchell, while the matchless Williams bupplied Ihe dance nnwic ad libitum. Vixceki' County Council.— Tho council met here on Wednesday lA3t. Before proceeding ■with the business of the meeting the Chairman (Mr R. Shepherd) made feeling leferenco to the death of Sir Francis Dillon Bell, who, he remained, waa one of the principal ratepayers in the county, beside-* being one of the earliest settlers in the Ida Valley district. liy the death of Sir Franci3, the colony had lost a good colonist, and an honest politician, ami

j one who took a warm interest in all that pertained to the v.elfare and advancement of iho counhy generally. Amongst the correspondence leceived by the council was a, communication from tho Mines department pointing ! out that the sum of £250, voted lor repairs to the Clyde-Cromwell road must be spent upon road repairs only. It appears the council li-id intended expending a portion ot the vote 111 tree-planting upon a sanded part ot the loud known as Brewery Hill. The undertaking promised to be a specific for the drifting sand evil, but ufortunatey tho remedy is not to be applied owmq lo the action of the Mines department in directing the cxper.dituic ol the veto upon paiticnlar works. Probably tho council will t'sk that a special vota lor ticoplanting in this particular part of Hie county slull be placed on the Estimates al some future occasion. Scholastic— The public school is closed for a, week, in order to allow repairs to be executed. Skylights are to be put in, and the seats so altered as to give moic door space before the master's desk.