The erection of public abattoirs for the city, which had been exercising the minds of a number of the Taieri people, has been defin itely decided by the vote of the Taieri County Council, the body from which the opposition principally proceeded. The legal advisers to the City Corporation advised that the law made provision for the erection of abattoirs on the site selected, and this opinion was endorsed by the Crown law officers. But to show how lawyers, like doctors, differ : Two lawyers of standing in this city supplied written opinions to the Taieri County Council entirely at variance with those just mentioned, and, moreover, stated that the members of the Council would be personally liable for costs did they approve of such an illegal course. The law, those dissentient lawyers said, did not permit of the erection of abat toirs within half-a-mile of a borough boundary. The Council was further informed that the guarantee of indemnity given by the City Council to the Taieri County, iv case of legal action arising, was not enforceable, as it was an inducement to commit an illegality. Yet, in spite of all this, the County Council gave its approval to the erection of the buildings, which will be taken in hand without delay. The site consists of about twelve acres of land, and it is understood that some two hundred head of cattle, two thousand odd sheep, and about one hundred pigs will be slaughtered weekly. The introduction of this system of killing is a notable and much needed reform, and furnishes one more proof of the personal force and administrative ability of Mayor Fish.
