WAIMATE.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1282, 29 April 1878, Page 3

WAIMATE.

[FBOM THE COBEESPONDENT OF THE PEESS ] This district, in common with many other parts of New Zealand, is suffering from the chronic scarcity of railway trucks. In addition to its cereal products a largo trade is always to be done by the saw mill proprietors in sawn timber and firewood from the wellknown Waimate bush, and it is no figure of speech to say that orders are lost to the district through the uncertainty as to when delivery can be taken by the consignees, A notable case occurred during the present week, when, in reply to an enquiry made by an intending purchaser to one of the mill owners, if he could execute a large order in a week, the latter said, “ If the drays were now available as was the case before the railway was opened to Waimate, I could give you delivery in three days ; all I can do now is to send it to the railway station, hut when you would receive ibis very uncertain,” The order inqueetionwaslost to the district, the would-be purchaser preferring the more certain delivery by craft from a Peninsula mill. It is not too much to say that if twenty trucks per day went to the Waimate station, freight would be found for them. The blame cannot be attributed to the traffic manager—indeed the wonder is he can manage so well as he does. The grain season of 1878 has come round without any adequate addition being made to the rolling stock, and the delays of 1877 are being repeated on a larger scale. Even if at the fag end of ihe session orders had been given for the requisite rolling stock (instead of calling for tenders in April, 1878), to the various firms in Dunedin and Christchurch, the present miserable state of affairs might have been obviated. The Waimate County Council Chamber is rapidly progressing towards completion, It is built of brick, which is being plastered with cement. The large blocks of Oamaru stone, which will cap the front of the structure, are on the spot, and are fast being nhced in position. When finished, the building will be an ornament to the town and a credit to the County of Waimate. *' On Thursday evening a harvest thanksgiving service was held in the Episcopalian church, which was well attended. The service derived additional interest from the fact of the Rev. W. A, Pascoe (formerly the incumbent) being the officiating clergyman, and many Waimate residents availed themselves of the opportunity afforded by his visit to renew his acquaintance. The concrete korbing and channelling in the High street is nearly out of the workmen’s hands, the noticeable difference between it and the same work in your city being that in the latter instance wood kerbing is largely used, whilst our councillors, with more ww*

dom, prefer the solid material for both parts of the work.

The cluster of sod cottages to the sou’-west of Waimate railway station are doomed. The immigration office has caused notices to bo served on the different occupants to quit during the first week in May, after which it is intended to lay out the site as a recreation ground, which will be a boon to the town.