Some sharp fencing, with buttons on the foils, had taken place between the Mayor (Mr J. H. Walker) and Mr J. McDonald, and an undercurrent of irritation in Cr White's remarks threatened to be contagious.
The ammonia plant was described in so many uncomplimentary ways that it became a species of nightmare.
Suddenly Cr Fiddis rose slowly, and, pointing to the clock, he said, "It's past 10 o'clock, your Worship. Would you have any objections to some of us having a smoke?" His Worship said he had not.
Committee, witnesses, and the public produced pipes, and a great sigh of relief and an equally convincing cloud of smoke resulted simultaneously.
After this matters were taken in a more philosophical spirit.
• The oyster season opened in Dunedin yesterday with a supply of 80 sacks, each containing 90 dozen oysters, which arrived from the Bluff at noon by the Koonya.
Selling at 4d per dozen, the same price as last year, they found a ready market, and as the demand has been larger than was anticipated further lots have been telegraphed for.
The quality of the oysters, contrary to expectations, has been found to be quite satisfactory.
• The annual marine survey of the steamer Clyde is just about completed, and she will resume her ordinary running up the Molyneux River at the end of this week.
There is a good quantity of cargo awaiting transit, including reapers and binders, fencing posts, and coals for threshing.
Preparations by the Bluff Natives for the mutton-birding season were commenced on Monday with that preliminary termed "flaxing" or the procuring of large quantities of flax for the manufacture of baskets, etc.; so indispensable to the industry in question.
• The passengers on the evening train from Wanganui one day last week had a most unusual sight.
When the train was negotiating the Fordell rise (says the Taihape Times) it ran into a long mass of caterpillars which were crossing the line from seaward and making for a paddock of oats.
Two or three times the train was stopped in order to sand the rails for the engine wheels to grip. - ODT, 3.2.1910.
