WAIMATE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 960, 17 May 1879, Page 2

WAIMATE.

(from our own correspondent.) In spite of the dull times, our little town is growing. Buildings of all kinds are going up in various directions, and though money is declared to be scarce, the town presents a very busy appearance. Work is plentiful owing to the road contracts going on, and the increased activity in the bush, owing to a few more railway trucks having been obtained to carry away the timber, but we are still far from being well supplied with trucks, and in this connection I may mention that tv. o trucks which left Waimate on the Ist or 2nd instant with about 12,000 feet of timber for the Oamaru Waterworks have not yet made their reappearance in Waimate. It seemS to me that the department is guilty of gross neglect in not having these trucks returned, or else it is guilty of " robbing Peter to pay Paul" with a vengeance. I am glad to inform you that, after some delay occasioned by the carpenters' strike, the erection of the fever hospital is being rapidly proceeded with, and is fast approaching completion. It is a wooden structure, designed by Mr. Hillary, the Engineer to the County Council, and is being erected under his immediate supervision. It is a large, roomy, and wellventilated ward, and though erected to meet a contingency, it is no mean building, as it will cost about LSOO. It is intended to form a portion of the regular Hospital, the erection of which is being proceeded with at a rate of progression slightly faster than the gallop of a snail. The main building is being builtof brick, and what with the erection, pulling down of walk, and their re-erection, I should say it will not cost much less than LSOOO. A blunder has been made somewhere, but where it is difficult to say, as the blame is freely attributed to all and sundry connected with the matter. The erection of the new building for the Union Bank is nearly completed, and it is anticipated that the bank officials will take possession of their new premises in about a couple of months. It is a substantial, but unpretentious, brick building, almost entirely devoid of architectural adornments. Mr. Henry Middleton is about to erect a new hotel almost immediately opposite [ Mr. Freeman's horse repository. It is to be of brick and Oamaru stone. It will occupy a fine site, will be a large and commodious hostelry, and promises to be a handsome structure. One of the most important improvements to be made in the way of public buildings will be the new Courthouse, the erection of which will be commenced shortly. This will be built of brick, and •sfill cost about L4OOO. The contractor

for tlie work is Mr. M'Corrr,;, engaged erecting the new hosni In addition to these buildin twenty cottages are going vm : directions, so that it wSI bo despite the fever scare," and times, Waimate is not 'retro? remaining at a standstill.