LAWRENCE.

Bruce Herald, Volume VI, Issue 399, 27 December 1871, Page 5

LAWRENCE.

! (Froni our own correspondent.) Iv my last communication I mentioned the fact that we were visited by a gale of wind of some days continuance. I 'have now to state-that we" are in the midst of the severest wale that ever visited this district. . Various buildings, verandahs and fences, which from age and other causes had not the strongest constitutions, have' had to succumb ;'even trees, whose graceful tops often waved in the storm, and sturdily endured many a blast, have by this gale been made to kiss the dust —fairly uprooted ; sheets of icon are flying about as if they were paper. So severe .was the gale on the morning of Saturday, that a well-known gentleman in Lawrence, on his way from Waipori, was fairly blown out of the saddle. It is now (12 o'clock) a work of some difficulty for men to walk about, and, as for females, they wisely keep within doors. Everyone is carefully lookdng of ter^ his yro perly,\nd carpenters are in requisition. The examination of our Grammar School took place here on Thursday and Friday. Everyone present was pleased with the progress, made by all the pupib. The various scholars exhibited a quickness which was' very remarkable, and, at the same time, highly creditable. The various prizes wer°. distributed on Friday ; afterwards an abundance of cakes were distributed amongst the scholars, the gift of Mr Clarke, baker, and I assure you ample justice was done. The disappearance of the good things was at a rate of speed highly suggestive of good stomachs and good digestions. The examination of the scholars in the Lawrence Academy was also held during the week, Mr F M Coy, L.L.8., Dr Halley, and Mr M'Sweeny kindly undertaking the task of examiners The examination in every branch was highly creditable, and the quickness of the boys in arithmetic was truly wonderful. As one of the examiners said to me, "The rising generation, with the greater facilities enjoyed, places us' of the old .school entirely in the shade— far behind." Mr Sproule, the head of the academy, seems to be the right man in the right place. It is evident that the greatest affection exists between master and scholars, and whilst he mixes freely' amongst them in all their little enjoyments, it is, at sanis time, plain that he is the master, and his pupils respect Mm. Thus all teachers should be. From what I have seen, I would suppose that the master seldom has recourse to the birch. I have no doubt that this will be soon One of the leading Schools ingthe Province. To meet the required accom-modation for this gentleman's scholars*, a large building- is in course of erection. . * The children belonging to the .Roman Catholic School had their annual treat during the week. I assure yon it was pleasant to see such a crowd of well-dressed and healchr. children. Their number must have been somewhere about 150 ; where they all came from was a wonder to me, but they were, there. The Rev; Father Larkins appeared to be.in his element in his endeavors to furnish all with an abundance o£ ,-'the godd: things ; I think, not at an easy taskj—at all ;eveifts,,l would rather look on than perform feheduties. In the evening a goodly number 1 of ladies and 'gentlemen met in the schoolroom, and finished what the children beg&n. ; After tripping it on the '" light fanta.stic.toe " to sweet muiic the '' wee short hour" warned them that the best friends must part. But what interests a good many here more ' than schools and babies,. is that a quartz reef has at last been found. Diggers were always of opinion that a quartz reef must exist somewhere in Gabriels Grully "; if not, where did the gold come Irom i It HaS f&llen. to the lot of three Cornish men to find out the mother of the gold, " the hen that laid the golden egg." The locality is at the head of Walsh's Gully, east side of Gabriel's, well- ■ - known to every digger who ever handled a pick 6v shovel in Gabriels. They have ap-'* plied for 10 acres, and I hope that they :will >; be well remunerated for their time ; land*, trouble. . • . ■ -='. : :; -;: v .-;vM ;" 'The miners in most places complain* of j the scarcity of watery and many of tlienvare com--pelled to have their claims registered.' >It i? : to be hoped not for long. f.iv -c w - I/o'clock.— Damage drttieio flurbing on the Spur estimated betweeni'l^Oa^ Tli> la^e windows in MwrßnCß< exposed' W, the force of the' gale> have i tp' be' proSectea 1 with boards. Looks as if 1 preparing \ for J siege. 3 o'clbck-.-^-The gale' has not abate* any.'-W' :■.". '■■'■■■ .•■■•"'• .:■>-.. : -. :; ■•';■■■•' - ;; : -.' : " : . r , 25bh Becember, lStll*he 4a ma S e > #aß.;<iMefljr confined to chimnie^ ' f encesy- anid^ a^few weak-built outhouse* •; The damage^ done; to ;

the fluming is more than I estimated in .my letter of Saturday. -Exposed gardens have 'Buffered Beyerely. * To-day (Christmas) is lice a winter's day. end 1 should not be [•surprised to have gnow •eve night. The severity of the weatherfhas • pnt a damper Upen all ptc-nic parties, to the terrible disgust of the youngsters, who hare been anticipating a treat for months. The discovery of the quartz reef has put :everyone on "the gui vivo, and all the ground in the neighndrho jd is already marked out In digger, parlance, " there was a regular stampede."