ONE-TREE POINT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2372, 17 August 1899, Page 34

ONE-TREE POINT.

August 14. — Seasons course along; we are hxirled out of winter with its chills, bleaks, and boisterous elements, and converted from hibernal misdemeanants into full-developed buds of verdant spring. Providence has begun to smile on damaged roads and muddy path-ways, and without the aid of rates, surfacemen, or long-handled shovels the laws of Nature are satisfying the most fastidious ratepayers. Fire. — A somewhat destructive fire happened at Oteramika last week, and reduced several of Mr Munro's farm buildings to a heap of debris. A dwelling house along the Seaward Bush railway had a narrow squeak from utter destruction lately — timely aid preventing serious damage. Road Board. — As the sequence of an indignation meeting held at Seaward Downs recently, petitions are being prepared for receiving the signatures of all and. sundry dissatisfied ratepayers praying for amalgamation of the road board and county council. The discontent has long since became chronic, and this latest parochial movement is as ilat, dull, and cold as a yesterday's pancake. Were committees formed throughout the district or a representative committee set up in a suitable centre, then united action might accomplish something decisive; but until a move of that description is adopted the indignation party will only cut the amusing figure of a second-rate parish vestry claiming credit for the tide rising and falling twice in 24 houi«. Unique. — There is a certain school committee that has had to deal with a small but delicate matter. It is not the rabbit pest, nor the small bird pest, but another pest; and the noble committee is nearly pestered unto death by a lot of pestering i:>arents.