CORE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3398, 30 April 1919, Page 23

CORE.

April 28. —The scarcity of winter feed in the district has caused a sudden and phenomenal drop in tho price of store sheep. Many farmers will be considerable losers this year owing to the present state of the stock markets. Trainloads of sheep are daily shipped for the north, and many animals are in too weak a condition to undertake the journey. Anyone who has a good acreage of turnl'ps at the present time- has an asset for which he may receive practically any price he likes to ask. Reports of sheep-stealing have been heard frequently of late, and in one particular part of the district a detective was employed to try to bring the delinquents to book. Efforts so far have proved unsuccessful, but those who have been bitten once have made elaborate preparations to prevent a recurrence of this law-breaking. Tho Farm.—Winter has come quickly this year —too quickly for the farmer, who has been prevented in many cases from gathering in hia crops by the unseasonable conditions. The season has been a memorable one as far as woather conditions are concerned, and 1 ' the farmer has had a hard row to hoe. Elections. —Four candidates have offered themselves for the mayoral chair, these

being Messrs D. M'Dougall (the retiring Mayor), John Kay, Thos. Rhodes, and Andrew Martin. Considerable interest ia being taken in the impending poll locally, as during the ensuring term the council will have many and varied works to shoulder The electric lighting department of the council's affairs will have to be extended i the flood-protection scheme, which has now been started by the Publio Works Department and the Railway Department, will need careful handling,, and West Ward wtll have to be given the same modern facilities aB the rest of the town. Many claims for compensation have been made by residents whose properties' will be affected by the flood-pro-tection works, but in all probability _ these will be dealt with by a special commission. Town Clerk. —Much adverse criticism haa been indulged in over the Borough Council's appointment of a civilian as town clerk. Six returned soldiers, all with excellent testimonials and experience of municipal work, such as is required for the local position, were rejected by the council, which in _ its wisdom selected a law clerk for the job. Naturally, the soldiers desired an explanation as to why the appointment was made, and two meetings of the Soldiers' Association wore held to deal with the matter. At the final meeting the soldiers passed a vote of censure on the council, and urged 'that the business be conducted in open council in the future.