CLYDE

Otago Witness, Issue 2506, 2 April 1902, Page 32

CLYDE

March 23. — Five consecutive day?' ram is a record for this district, and yet, strange to state, our creeks and water courses remained unaffected by thp downpour. Even the Molynpux i\s"lf reft) ■ j ecl to put on an extra foot ol water dv.ing the unprecedented rainfall* However, the pasture has benefited to no small extent, though harvesting operations have been impeded, with the result that our farmers are bound to a strict examination of conscience before the thanksgiving season airives. Clyde Commonage. —There is much current gossip about the reported expense of rabbiting the lands of the Clyde commonage under the system in vogue. The Stock department finds the expenditure a rather heavy draw upon :ts finance, with the Result that the department is anxious to be rid of the encumbrance somehow. By reverting to the sybtem of having the rabbiting done by contract, a considerable saving would ensue, as beyond question there are capable men v/ho would readilj contract to execute the work thoroughly it a much smaller amount than it has cost the denartment annually during the past 10 or dozen years. Some £350 has been paid for keeping the pest in check during the past season, whilst the revenue from cattle depasturing upon the lands has been consideiably under a "Ijiikt."' There is much trouble and annoyance attached to the collect-on of tins small levcnue by ofncer& of the department, und thi3 work a »«i be

extremely disagreeable as a -duty. Io thos*•vrho might successfully contract fcr the rabbit* ing and care of the commonage, the collection of the fees lor depasturing stock wotild be « matter of business which would not he ne< glected under the most evasive tactics of th« landless fcattle-owner, who would stock hia neighbours' land and public reserves without so much as "By your leave." Were the depart* ment to let by contract the work of keeping the rabbits in check upon the comnionege, ancl et the same time permit the fees for stock to bi collected by the contractor, a s-aving of hundreds of pounds annually wouid be the result, whilst the lands would be administered raorr satisfactorily in. the interests of owners of s'.ock who do really pay a fee. The present system of dealing with the lands in question is glaringly expensive to the department, and should not be allowed to continue a moment longei than is necessary to abolish it. Country Note. — The usual bi-monthly ordinary meeting of the Vincent County Council took place in the Council Chambers, "ClySe, on Wednesday and Thursday last. A vote of £50 was gianted for repairs to the SpringvaleAlexancua road, and £30 was also voted for repairs to the Clyde-Alexandra read. The engineer leportod that the Government had uci yet forwarded the vote for very necessary repairs to the O'Connell bridge, at Ophir.— The Secretary to the Alexandra Bonanza Gold Mining Company wrote asking a deviation oi th> Galloway- Ida Valley road, near Galloway station, as the company desired a part of th>. present road line for a tailings reserve. The engineer was authorised to inspect the plans , of deviation, and report on same to nesrt meeting of the council.— The Golden Link God Dredging Company were granted permission to dredge jn the river, near the Maiudiertlcia. . bridge. — The Alexandra Lead Gold Dredging 1 , Company were refused permission to dredge within the five-chain limit at the Alexandra ' bridge. — It wrs decided to call for fuilher applications for the position of engineer at $ salary of JESOO a year, without private practic» or travelling expenses. — The Miniug VnJuer re ported a falling off in values for the year t« the amotmt of -£136,000. — An inspector of work* was appointed at a salary of £200 per annum. — Consideration of the Clyde water works scheme was postponed to the nexi meeting of th; council. — In the absence of Cr Horn, Cr Laidlaw occupied the chair.