MOUNT SOMERS GOSSIP

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1917, 13 August 1888, Page 2

MOUNT SOMERS GOSSIP

The weather up here during tht last three days has been quite abominable. Rain without wind, rain with wind, but rain m every ooncelvabla manner, generally a steady, monotonous downpour, occasionally relieved by a load pattering of slanting sleet, or a noiseless drizzle. While I am writing, the steady downpour haa ita turn — the school is surrounded by a large stream of water ; the gooseberry bushes and a large heap of stones m the garden, stand forlorn and isolated oat of a perfect waste of waters, with which the thoughtful care of our Road Board provided ub ; through leaving the drains on the road Bide prettily encnmbered with hay, Btraw and gorEe. The schoolmaster's garden, Mr Todd'a road and Mr Price's lately acquired farm, serve as an outlet for surface water on the left of the road, while the permanent way for the railway extension to Sprlugbum serves the same purpose on the right. A pretty little stream of about a yard's depth raoea merrily along the extension^ work?, smoothing down or wiping out what the unemployed have left unfinished.

I hear that the Boston limekilns have suffered a little from the late heavy weather, bat the damage is reported as easy remediable.

I waa delighted — and ao are no doubt your readero— with your criticism io Friday'o Inane of the "Guardian," on the aegaoioua way m which oar Railway Department manage to help the travelling public Into trouble Jn the matter of tickets on market dayß. What* nioe, little trap for our ladies 1 1 have tried hard to make my f rir nda understand that they may use a market ticket for the purpoae only of going to the market, and that l£ the market be held at Tlnwald, at Tlnwald etatioa they mnat get out and wait for another train, If they wish to go on to A&hburton. But m vain ! Oar ladies are co obtuae that they insist on knowing a reason for every little regulation : they will not Bee that ths Railway Department are not goiDg to r ye "reasons on compulsion, no ! not if reasons were as plentiful aB blackb<r,.ieß." I don't know the reason for this little market tioket regulation, the guard of our train does not know It ; and ao I bave to leave our ladles unconvinced, that whatever Mr Maxwell and his subordinates have ordained is for the best. I can do no more m Mr Maxwell's interest. I have tried to show that going to market to buy pigs, horses, or Bheep is quite a different thing from going to market to buy flour, sugar, or tea. Bat the ladies a»y that there is no difference, that m either case they go to market to bny what they ataad m want of, and that it's just like the impudenoe of railway officials to pry into the passengers' private business. Perhaps you, Mr Editor, may be able to convince my lady friends of the wisdom of our railway authorities, I cannot do bo.

No school to-moirow t That 1b plain. Bat how about the teaohers* payment by average atteudanoe ? Is a day with no attendance to be reckoned for or againat the teacher ? If against him, I think our teaober will have to live next quarter on what he oan obtain m the shape of neighbours voluntary subscriptions towards hlfl support.