Sirty Years Ago

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21554, 17 January 1940, Page 6

Sirty Years Ago

“ The Timaru Herald,” January 17, 1880

Local Jealousy Amcng the jokes of the late session of Parliament is the following, given publicity by a northern exchange:—Of all the locally jealous men in the world, an Auckland man. it says, is the worst; above all, an Auckland member of Parliament. Fully aware of this, two pressmen concocted a little joke. Taking an opportunity when 0 certain excitable Northern member was present in the Press-room of the House, one reporter said to the other. “I say C—. I am writing something about Auckland; where on earth is it —I mean, in which Island?” C—looked puzsled, and said he wasn’t quite sure, but directed the enquirer to a map hanging on the wall. All this time the Auckland man was getting redder and redder in the face. The enquiring reporter went to the map and started running his finger from somewhere about the heart of Otago down towards Invercargill, lock--1 ing for Auckland. This was too much for the Auckland man. Hailing a “towny” who happened to be in the passage he exclaimed—" Talk about newspapers! Here’s a sanguinary* special—special. sir!—correspondent, who doesn’t know where Auckland is!” When the roar of laughter had subsided and he saw he had been "had.” he added, with a little less warmth. "Well, I can take a joke as well as anyone, but I’d just like to have five minutes with the man who thinks that Auckland is anywhere near that blasted Dunedin.” So much for South versus North. Timaru Waterworks Letter from Pro Bono Publico.— Timaru is naturally an easily drained town owing to the undulating nature of its site. Our climate also should be extremely healthy, yet what is the fact? Late statistics show that the death rate is higher here than anywhere else in New Zealand. No do-.bt this is caused by bad drainage and the constant use of impure water. All water used here at the present time for domestic use is either derived from brackish wells or iron tanks, and the latter are supplied from the roofs of houses, all of which are contaminated with soot. lead, paint, droppings of birds, cats and vermin of all sorts, and I can enumerate instances where carcases of dead cats and rats have been found in tanks of water in daily use. .. It is to be hoped that this community will unanimously vote tor the extension of the Timaru Waterworks loan to the amount required, viz., £60,000. and also that the Borough Council will now see their way to carry out the business of floating the loan on the London market without any further hitches. So far they have, like many better men. mace many unnecessary mistakes. We must, however, remember that Borough Councils, like individuals, are not infallible.