The Inangahua Times. PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 1885.

Inangahua Times, Volume X, Issue 1527, 27 March 1885, Page 2

The Inangahua Times. PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 1885.

The ciibie news this mornlnjr in Awain disquieting, and the "small dark cloud nn blower than a man's ■ hand " has not yet •Usappenred frrtro th© p«>H ical hori««n in connecti.m with affair* in Afghanistan. A;tiv« miMtary preparations are still in prosres* i<« Tndia, and we are told that all , the Enalish Ad miralty dock yard* are busy \ with war-like preparation*. The messages are, h-»wr<»v«r, ominously silent as to the course «f the negotiations pending with Russia, but judged in the light of the active armament g"ing on the pwspects of a pacific settleroeut are by no meant encouraging. Mails for the Australian Colonies and Uuited Kingdom and Continent of Europe via Hobart, close at Bluff per " Waihora," oh Saturday 28th inst at noon. Due in London on the 12th May. It was stated at the Council meeting nn Wednesday last, thut the amount of County bills current was £2,954, this, is of course exclusive of liabilities current and contingent, bank overdraft, etc. At the last meeting accounts arowunttng to £667 were passed, wMch would add so ■much additional to the Coimty debt. Avainst this there is the rev«nue weekly accruing under th« different branches of income, but what seems to siif-geat itself in this connection is that this heavy flontins debt of the County must be exerting a very prejudical influence upon local trade. These County bills are largely held by tradesmen and others in business, ■nd in the face of the present disfavor with which the Banks regard discount business of any kind, the locking up of so much money must have the effect of seriously hampering trade operations. In view of this position of affairs it would appear to be the duty «f the Council to keep a tighter r«in upon the expenditure, nt nil events until such time as the Conn* oil again gets its head above water The time has also arrived when the pruning knife should be used in cuttine down the departmental expenses of the C«>until. At presont there are two Engineers receiving £6 «ach weekly. Clerk <4, Rate Collector '4, Overseer €4, which with Chairman's salary, members fees and expense*, horse hire and other charee*. probably bring up the weekly expenditure of the local h<»dy under this heading very little short of £35 per week, or £180 C per annum. It needs no argument -to prove that this is extravaeance «f * very gross kind, if is beyond doubt that a saving of quite ' 800 per year coul 1 be effected in this respect alone. With only monthly meetings nf the Councilthere i« no reason why thedntiesof Clem, Bate Collector, Inspector of miners rights, etc., should not be performed by one and thesatne p«r»on. Mr Garven and Mr Noonan are admittedly both efficient and attentive officer*, but in the present •traightened condition of County finance, the need for both is hard to see, unless by the combination of offices. "Wi% the large departmental expenditure now goingonit is not to be wondered at that traders who are lumbered up with nnmeltable County kites should f«el disatiafied with the conduct of local public affairs. F.ir several year* part the resists of T«t»T» Flat have been agitating for the extension of telegraphic communication to that place. Totara Flat is the centre of a large district in the Grey Valley, and the necessity of proceeding to Ahaura t» dispatch messages fnrni that place has long been a sotiro* «»f inconvenience. Mr Menteath, M. H. R.,, frrnn representations made to him «»n the subject by the residents of the Flat, laid the matter fully be fore the Government, th» result being that he this week received a communication from the Hon. Mr Tole, acting Postn.suter General, stating that the Governtneut had considered the application and lia.l (W\-*'A l" ostnb'ish a telephone [ station at Totora Flit Th« step's to give*

•ffect to thU decisian have already been anthurised, and there is very little doubt that in the course of * few weeks the station will be open to the public. As the Reef ton produce market is largely supplied from Totara flat, the establish ment •f the service will be of considerable benefit to Reefton business men. Drowsinass, biliousness, pains and aches, and a«ne. Hop Bitters always cures if ma le by American Co. Read. ONE BOX OF CLARKE'S -'B 4t PILLS is warranted to cure all discharges fr«m the Urinary Organs, in either sex (acquired or constitutional), Gravel, and Pains in the Back. Guaranteed fren from Merourv. Sold in Boxes, 4s. 61 each, by all Chemist* and Patent Medicine Vendors : Sole Proprietors, Tkm Lincoln AND MIDOAVD ConNTIBS DRUG Co., Lin c«ln, England. Wholesale of all the Wholesale Houses.