WAVERLEY.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 465, 8 October 1879, Page 2

WAVERLEY.

(From our own Correspondent.) , October 5. The weather here for the last fortnight has been very rough, and on Saturday it changed to the south-west, and, if anything, got worse. The settlers a' - e beginning to feel anxious about it, as it will, in all probability, injure the crops. On Monday, the 29th September, young Mr Scott, son of our local schoolmaster, whilst playing football by moonlight, got a nasty kick under the jaw, which loosened a few of his teeth ; but I arn glad to say he is recovering, and will soon be able to leave the bandage off. The captain of the Waverley Light Horse Volunteers deserves great credit for the interest he takes in the corps. During the whole of the winter months, be held an evening parade in the Town Hall once a week ; but on Monday evening last, he

held ft moonlight parade, at which a good many oi : the troop were present. The Band of Hope assembled in the Town Oa : l on the evening of the 29th of September. There are a good many members, but I think the number would be greatly increased if the meetings were held in the afternoon instead of as at present—at 7.30 p.m. I have heard lots of parents say that holding the meetings in the evening gives the children a bad habit of going out in the evenings. At the present time there are three new buildings going-up in Waverley—viz., the Town Hall, a private dwelling-house for Mr F. Matheson, and a shop for Mr Koertz. Messrs. Swinbourne and McFaiiam*, who are building the hall* have been delayed through the weather, as whilst this wind lasts they cannot put the framework up. They arc only waiting for a calm clay to make a show. There is no doubt that the hall will he a great convenience, as the present one is in a moat wretched plight, it being very small, very badly situated, and very dirty. Mr Scott, who was appointed to the Waverley School, on the resignation of Mr. Hansard, appears to take great interest in his duties, for he not only teaches them what he is obliged to, but pays out of Ids own pocket to have the boys properly drilled ; and I hear that he intends to pay to have the children properly taught singing. I hope, for the good of the community, that he will not be subjected to the petty annoyances that his predecessor wao— : viz., cver-.offi'cious committee men. The public Pound here appears to be very little used, or else the animals impounded must be very quiet ones ; for I am sure that if a very lean ewe was only to scratch herself against the rails, they would tumble down,—in fact, some of them appear to have been rubbed against already. Our local baker docs not mean to be behind the times, for he has raised the bread a ha'f-penny a-loaf, because wheat has an upward tendency’. Could any of yotir readers tell me the profit on a loaf at with the Hour at—say £l2 per ton ? Not a few of Sir W.' Fox’s late supporters are drawing attention to the fact that Mr Ballance and Mr Bryce voted on opposite sides on the no-confidence division. Poor things I What a pity they cannot understand that Mr Ballance would have been voting against his own measures if he had voted against the late Government. The Highway Board accepted tenders yesterday for six small contracts, which will help to make a little work during these hard times. Whilst on this subject, I should like to draw attention to a matter which I fancy is very hard on a workingman ; that is, that each tenderer is supposed to deposit 5 per cent, of his tender as security. Now, I fancy that very few working-men—nr say.men that arc “hardup”—could spare the amount; and it appears to mo to he very hard on them, as I believe they 7 are obliged to find security’ for the due fulfilment of the work, when the contract is accepted.