Letters

Time to take pet responsibility

It’s time people with unwanted kittens took responsibility for their pets’ breeding. And time they consciously realised what they already know but won’t admit: there is no good ending to dumping unwanted litters on country roadsides. That super-cute kitten won’t survive, have a good life or even have a chance to reach its first birthday.

As the British political philosopher Hobbes put it: life will be harsh, brutish and short. That was the horrible reality of the latest (there have been half a dozen others) kitten dump on the roadside at this farm. When we found the (probably) six week old beautifully-marked tabby it was lying, back broken, near the wood pile and had to be euthanised. Sickening.
The previous dumpings which included one of three kittens ended the same way. Adult cats dumped also have the same ending. … Continue Reading

Know your town

A brake loaded with wool for export fording a river.

By 1873 good progress was being made in establishing a working society with boards formed for providing roading, local amenities, schools and churches. By 1874 every settlement large or small had it’s own school, Maroa, Kaiwaiwai, South Featherston, Tauherenikau, Tuitarata, Wharekaka, Pirinoa to name a few. Wharekaka’s was held in the Presbyterian Church, with a tender for a purpose built school being let in 1875.

A library service had been set up with six book depots; Wharekaka, Featherston, Greytown’ Pirinoa, Whatarangi and Kaiwaiwai. … Continue Reading

From the mayor

Communication is one of the most important functions in Council’s day to day operations.  It also an area where SWDC has copped a lot of criticism in recent times.

There is no doubt that with the advent of social media and smart phones that the rules have changed around how Council shares its information with the public.  People are no longer prepared to wait for the quarterly rates newsletter to find out what’s going on.  Even though Council currently uses at least fourteen different information sharing  options we are still censured for not keeping the public informed. … Continue Reading

Did you know

THE oldest piece of space junk is still in orbit is the U.S. satellite Vanguard 1 which was launched in 1958

BRITISH women , over the age of thirty, were first given the vote on February 6th 1917

CIGARETTE adverts were banned on British television on February 8th 1965

TO ESCAPE earth’s gravity it is necessary to obtain an escape velocity speed (ignoring friction) of 40,200 KPH … Continue Reading