Otautau.

Southland Times, Issue 14100, 13 July 1898, Page 4

Otautau.

(from our own correspondent.) In the depth of a Southland winter there is not much of general interest to chronicle. The weather has been decidedly bad lately —rain, hail, and] snow, and mud prevail everywhere. Therg is no doubt the fireside is the pleasantest place, but we cannot always be thsre. There is one comfort —we are past the turn, and the days are lengthen- , ing a little. The roads are as bad as they can be. I have never seen the one via Merrivale to the Waiau worse than it iS"at present, for there has been a good deal of heavy traffic on it—the material for the bridge at Clifden, and grain from the Merrivale settlements. The finest crop of turnip i I have seen anywhere is on the Merrivale estate —a very large paddock, and the roots are wonderfully even and good. Mr Story has had a lot of ploughing done this year—about 700 acres under wheat alone ; the land seems well suited, for the cereal. There was a sale of stock here last Friday, but the weather was execrable, and there was only a sm ill quantity of stock yarded and the attendance was very limited. This town is beginning to show signs of progress; several buildings have been erected recently. The county office is a very creditable structure and an ornament to the town. The Presbyterian Church has undergone some alterations which have very much improved its external appearance and the comfort within. A belfrey has been erected and the sound of the bell on Sabbath mornings suggests pleasant memories. The seats have been re-arranged, giving accommodation for a larger number of people, and I notice that very few seats are vacant at the services. Then we have two large buildings erected for Mr George Harrington ; one of them contains a billiard saloon and two small shops in the front occupied by Mr G. Ross, hairdresser, etc. The other is a large shop occupied by Mr Ferrier, draper. With the advent of spring we shall probably see several more buildings commenced, as a good many are projected. The Spanish-American war, which excited a good deal of interest here at first, appears to be drawing towards a conclusion. I am inclined to think President McKinley would show better taste if he refrained from thanksgiving services and celebrations, exulting in the success of the American arms; it is unworthy of a great nation to exult over a conquered foe, especially when that foe is the weaker of the two. Of course there can be no sympathy fir Spain, and no English-speaking people ought to wish for a different termination of the contest, than the decisive success of Uncle Sam. War at its best is a diabolical business, a writrr in describing a great battle spoke of the “iron hail of a million murderers,” and I do not think he was very wide of the mark. But so long as there is injustice, treachrry, and covetousness, there must be war. There would be no necessity even for our law courts if every man was just. A local storekeeper who holds a license for selling stamps showed me a circular he recently received from the department. I cannot recall the exact words but in substance it read as follows : It having been reported to the department that many holders of licenses for selling stamps are in the habit of sharing the commission - allowed by the department with those with whom they deal I am directed to inform you that the license of any person who shall be detected in such The commission allowed by the Government is per cent., or sixpence in the £. It is scarcely credible that any storekeeper would waste his time by offering a bonus of threepence to a customer of a pound’s worth of stamps. It would be interesting to know who are the informers. The punishment threatened is very dreadful. I am afraid convictions will not be very easily obtained, unless indeed, inspectors are appointed to watch the sale of stamps. The storekeeper is not entitled to commission if he buys under two pounds’ worth of stamps at a time. One would imagine that it would make no difference to the Govtroment if he gave the stamps to his friends, or burnt them, so long as they were paid for. It is a pity the officials in the Stamp Department have not some better way of occupying their time. The settlers about Drummond and Heddon Bush are somewhat f anguine of seeing a railway line through their district at no distant period, and our member is doing his best to support the work. It is a pity that the people’s money should be wasted in surveying works that the Government has not the remotest intention of carrying out. At least I should imsgino the Government would’never be “o insane as to sanction the construction of thia line. Wi'h a railway on each side—the Winton and the Nightcaps lines—and good roads, the farmers in the Drummond and Hiddon Bush districts have nothing to complain of A railway from Wrights Bush to Heddon Bush would only reduce the earnings of the two existing lines, and would not add a penny to the general revenue. It would be much wiser to etpend the money on roads and bridges adhere they are really needed. "fl h 3 appointment of Mr Rowe, who for so many y> aw Jias conducted the Waianiwa school, t > the school here has given widespread satirfaction. His arrival caused quite a little sensation, a traction engine being employed to haul his furniture and

effects. lam sure we will all unite in giving Mr and Mrs Rowe and family a hearty welcome. Miss Howe, ho was acting-mistress for some months, has won deserved popularity, and was the recipient of many presents and expressions of esteem from the scholars and parents on leaving here for Makarewa. llth July.