KAITANGATA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2413, 31 May 1900, Page 30

KAITANGATA.

May 28.— The weather since I last wrote has been very changeable, and is apparently getting more wintry, as durinp last week we had some cold sleety showers, and this morning there was a very severe frost. The rain has much retarded the .threshing and all farm work, and has also left our roads and streets in a very sloppy state ; but the shortest day will shortly be here, and then wintar will soon be gone. Borough Council Works.— The piotection works on the river bank are almost completed, and should render a very dangerous part of the main road into Kaitangata quite safe. A good few extra new lamps liavc also been erected, and not before it was time, whilst the question of the new bridge, and also th'o improvement of that fearful creek, which is a disgrace <to civilisation, is not being overlooked ; thanks jto the plague scare. Presbyterian Church. — This congregation is about to lose its esteemed minister, the Rev. Mr Fairmaid, who has accepted the call to South Taieri. He will be much missed; but our district's loss will be South Taieri's gain. The next thing will ba to find a suitable successor. If Mr Collie, who was here for some time last winter, were in good health, and gave us a visit, he would be very much welcomed by a host of old friends. The Creamery. — The rush is over for smother season, the creamery only being opeiz four -days a week at present, and only a limited supply coming forward. The manager, Mr Alex. Lindsay, was enjoying r u short holiday last week away north, his place being taken by Mr Mawson, from the Tnch-Clutha Creamery. Tt is to bo hoped that the local creamery will bo better patronised next season than it was this oae. Moy 28. — The Vincent County Council met n the Council Chambers, Clyde, on Wednesday nad lliuisday of last week. A special rncct- ' -~ V 33 held, at which ths duly-audited ba- » sli col for the past ye«r came up for con.-

sideration. The council has a snug credit balance at bank. In moving the adoption of the balance sheet Councillor M'Whirter referred to the economical manner in which the business of the council was carried out. "While no studied course of parsimony was adopted, there was still a laudable effort in the direction of economising expenditure with a view to keeping within a safe margin of the council's revenue. ' The balance sheet was adopted. Fining a Contractor. — The Vincent County Council have decided by resolution to fine those contractors who so far exceed the time specified for the completion of contracts as to warrant the infliction of a penalty. This course has been adopted with a view to abating the absurd practice, persisted in by contractors, of allowing themselves any time beyond that specified for the- completion of work. At last week's sitting of the council a first offender in thi3 respect was mulcted in a penalty of £2. Another matter of interest to contractors was the discussion respecting the negligence of one or two maintenance contractors. The council resolved that failing the necessaiy repairs being executed to the satisfaction of the i engineer, the persons complained of be relieved ! of their contracts. Small Bird Pest. — The council discussed the respective merits of checking the pest by poison or by a system' of nest-robbing. Cr Kane favoured paying for eggs, and said school teachers within the county might take delivery of the eggs from t^ie , school children. After a lengthened discussion it was resolved to pro-, cure a quantity ctf-poisoned wheat for distribution amongst the -farmers within the county. Tlie prepared wheat- may be had by applying to the clerk at his- t office, Clyde, or by communicating i with the members for the respective ridings. At the conclusion of the sitting the chairman applied for five months' leave of absence to enable him to carry out his intention of visiting the Home country. I "It was," -he said, "his first intention to tender his resignation, but he became acquainted with the fact that the council would not hear of this step, therefore he now pursued the more formal course of asking leave of absence. He had during his term of chairmanship found it a pleasure to conduct the business so inseparably connected with the position of chairman of this council. Councillors had assisted nim^m every way towards lightening the -duties incumbent with the position. He had found the council's officers both efficient and obliging, and, upon the whole, as a local body, they had worked amicably together in the interests of the ratepayers. The balance sheet, he thought, went to &ho\v with what success their efforts were rewarded." On the motion of Cr Kane, seconded by Cr Partridge, the chairman was granted leave of absence for six months. Cr Kane 'moved and Cr Partridge seconded ihe motion, and it was carried — "That Cr Butler be acting chairman during Cr Horn's absence." Weather Note.— The frosts that set in during the latter part of the past week have now given , place to more genial weather, thousrh during tlie past' day or two a' dense fog lias hung along the mountains. A similarly hazy atmosphere prevailed here last year when the unusually sharp frosts were > experienced. II is to be hoped we don't get a. repetition of such an experience. Hospital Buildings.— The stone work of the new hospital is nearing completion. The building, when completed, will ba of magnificent dimensions, as regards masonry, thougn it may be feared that valuable space is saciificed by g too fine regard for solidity and eitect. Sanitary. — The few in our town have instt-* tuted salutary sanitaiy arrangements with a view to meeting the appointed inspectors on the cleanest and clearest footing possible. The inspectors are expected our way at any moment, hence the unusual demand of late for Jeye's fluid and similarly evil-srneihng disinfectants that are plagues in themselves, since they have diminished the almost solidified odours that pervaded our by-ways, and amidst which we lived and moved and "had our being without experiencing the slightest ill effects, or without any expressed feeling of repugnance or detestation. Now, when we are growing accustomed to the odours of disinfectants, we don't desire the restoration of those we condoned in the recent uneducated state of our olfactory organs.