CORPORATION PETS.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 248, 11 August 1874, Page 6

CORPORATION PETS.

To the Editor of the Cromwell Argus.

Sir, —I have heard of all kinds ot pets,—opossums, squirrels, pigs, and even children; and certainly every person has a right to indulge his taste, should it lie that way ; but never did I, until I came to reside in the Vicinity of Cromwell, hear of corporate bodies having pets. In referring to some back files of your paper, I observe that one William Scott made application to the Town Council for permission to build a sod wall, one foot on the street, so as to enable him to grow a live fence round his boundary,—a very desirable object, and would that others would do the same. However, the Corporation declined his application, on the ground that it might establish a precedent, though in that portion of the town the streets are unformed, and likely to remain sb for years. This Mr William Scott cannot be a Corporation Pet.

I have just lately observed that a Mr Jamea Marshall has made application for and been granted the most valuable site in the town, without competition, and at a nominal rental, not much more in comparison than a peppercorn rent at Home. And as there seemed to be some doubts in the minds of the body corporate about the affair being properly fixed, a special meeting <of the Council was convened to make this Corporation Pet secure. At a later meeting of the Council, Mr Murrell, a citizen carrying on a useful and respectable applied for a similar isite, and I believe others did likewise ; and all these last applicants were satisfied if they were "but allowed to compete for the said site. . However, I have come to the conclusion that they could not be Corporation Pets.'

Further, I am informed on good authority that a Mr- Robert Brown took a contract to laydown some zinc water pipes for the Corporation, rind finished the same according to the specifications. It was passed hy the Inspector of Works, T)y his turning on the water, and the same <running for some davs. However, Mr Brown has not yet been paid for his contract, —and why ? The plans were inefficiently prepared, and the first waggon crossing the pipes brought them to grief, and the unfortunate contracter must suffer. Evidently he is no Corporation Pet. Mr Editor, I have watched how some of our civic dignitaries are able to avail themselves of what they refuse to their fellow-citizens. Last Sunday, when in Cromwell, I noticed a large ale «ase and small truck ocoupving'at least two feet of the made pathway in front of the Mayor's establishment; whilst, casting my eyes across the street, I saw Mr Councillor Taylor had got his whack of our ground by using it as a timber stand. Surely both the above gentlemen must be Corporation Pets. From my own exoerience of pets, I have found that the more liberties you allow them, the more they require, until, in fact, they become regular nuisances. Anyhow, every one to his taste, always provided it does not interfere with others' rights.. The Cornoration may indulge, in pets which cost the citizens at large nothing, but when they indulge their fancy to the tune of £2O per annum, as in the lease granted to ,Mr J. Marshall, and allow the other section to lie idle, (as no convenient pet can be found at present.) it is about time that the citizens investigated the municipal menagerie, and reported thereon. Having drawn the attention of your readers to municipal pets, I would like to make a few remarks anent the pets the Cromwell citizens fancy. Goats are, when looked after, rather nice creatures, but if thev continue to increase in number as they have lately, I am much afraid that the 7000 acres of commonage to be provided for Cromwell will not prove sufficient for them, to say nothing of the few useful animals—horses and cows—that are about the town. Again, the Cromwellian delights in fowls who. will insist on helping themselves off tables, capsizing cups and saucers, etc. Pigs, T must say, are the nicest pets of all—When made into bacon. Asmpstof your citizens have some little experience in keeping one or more of the above species of pete, and find the difficulty and annoyance attendant thereto more than they are worth, I should like to know how the Corporation purpose treating theirs. Will they dock their wings or hobble them, so that they do not strav without proper bounds?. Anyhow, I sincerely trust that the Corporation who could not allow Scott one foot of ground will see how unfair it is to allow others, notably as in the instances above quoted, to have what they refused him ; and that they may also see their way to lease the section of land next the Town Hall by tender, and not in the out-of-the-way manner in which they dealt with the application of Mr James Marshall.—l am, &c., A Wotjltj-be Pet (Bannockburn). August 6, 1874. hj

A Dunedin contemporary says:—" Last night Mr Wiltshire finished 680 of the thousand miles, hut showed th(vt his strength is exhausting itself very unmistakeably. On entering the arena he appeared to he in a sound sleep, his hnad hanging down and his eyelids closed, while his unsteady gait in walking was proof that he could only he partly conscious. His wife has endured the ordeal exceedingly well; and though on one occasion there was a difficulty in rousing her—she having to be carried into the ring and roughly handled—her perseverance is not likely to give way." The inhabitants of the Cromwell district are sometimes puzzled to know which is the best and cheapest establishment to purchase their supplies of drapery and clothing at. They should no longer remain in doubt on that score. If they will only pay one visit to W. Talboys' London House, they will discover for themselves that it is not only the cheapest but the best store at which to deal for these articles. Mr Talboys has made arrangements to import his stock direct from the Home markets, and the public can rest assured that everything will be sold by him at an advance only sufficient to repay the original cost, and return a fair percentage on the outlay. Every article in Mr Talboys' establishment is marked in plain figures, from which no abatement is ever made. A fuller description of the stock will be found in advertisement in another column.-~[A dvt.]