WAIMATE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 945, 28 April 1879, Page 2

WAIMATE.

(FROM OUR OW CORRESPONDENT.)

Mr> ~EI. D. Buckingham's new brick warehouse and Mr. Dooley's new shops on the north corner of Queen and Highstreets are approaching completion. The latter are of wood, and form a portion of Mr. Frank Slee's old auction mart. When completed, they will be, a handsome addition to the buildings of the town. The fever has not spread here to such an alarming extent as has been reported, and people about the town, together \vith travellers and visitors, come jtu-d go as usual.

The new Unio.ii Bank of Australia, on the corner' o,f Queen and High streets, is not advancing towards completion as rapidly as was expected. It seems as if the builders were taking a rest, preparatory to the embellishment which is to be applied to its brick walls, outside and in. When finished, however, the building will form a handsome addition to the architectural adornments of the town. To show that the hard times have not touched the pockets of the South Canterbury farmers to any serious extent, I note that at an auction sale held by Messrs. G. R. Freeman, and Co., milch cows brought from L 7 10s to Lll 5s a head; yearling stock L 3, and store piga L2 per head. Oats delivered at the Hook brought an average price of Is 10-Jd a bushel, I observe that M?-. •James Gait, senr, the newly-appojnted Inspector of Nuisances, is making- a tour of inspection, and I i understand that piggeries are to be i abolished within the town boundaries. Enormous stacks of firewood are gathered at the railway station for.transport to Timaru and Oamaru, but it would seem that there are no trucks to carry off the surplus. It has been suggested that the. scarcity is owing to the railway accidents at Timaru and Oamaru ; this, however, can scarcely be the correct explanation, as-the accidents have only incapacitated some six trucks, j