LAWRENCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11598, 5 December 1899, Page 3

LAWRENCE.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

December 2. Shortly after noon to-day we were visited by the heaviest hailstorm ever-experienced in the district. It was accompanied by'a gale of wind, and hail, or pieces of ice, fell larger than pigeons' eggs. It did not penetrate the corrugated iron roofs so far as I have heard but it made sad havoc in the window glass exposed to its force, very few houses escaped without some broken windows, and some had as many as 30 panes demolished, while conservatories with their glass roofs were literally riddled. The vegetable and fruit gardens also suffered very severely. The mayoral election on AVednesday caused a'htile stir, a number of traps being engaged during the day to convey electors to the polling booth. About half-past 6 o'clock the returning officer declared the state of the poll to be, 10? Mr Winn IG2 and for Mr Arbuckle 95, being a majority ror Mr Winn of 67. There being I air gathering o voters present, Mr Winn? in thanking them for putting him in the proud position at the head of the poll, said he looked on that as an acknowledgment of his many years good services.as a councillor, and would assure them that their confidence would not be misplaced, and thought he would be able to fill the civic chair so worthily that at the end of next year they would ask him to continue to ?i" i* V 1 o- Ur? her term- Jlr Arbuckle, in thanking the 9d electors who, unsolicited, voted for him said he was quite satisfied with the result. Pie had made no personal canvass, nor asked anyone to vote for him, as he disbelieved m touting for votes. The contest between Mr . Winn and himself had been carried on in a most friendly manner, and he congratulated him on having attained the summit of his ambition, and now begged to move a vote of thanks to the returning officer, which Mr Winn seconded. Influenza is very prevalent all over the district. The Government candidate (Mr Bennet) is so ill with it that he has been ordered by his medical attendant to lie up, consequently bo will be unable to address the electors in the Town Hall to-night, as advertised In spite of frequent thunderstorms, the weather continues extremely sultry and heavy. The ram is bringing on the green crops, aud the grass is very abundant. Gold dredging matters will be superseded for a few days by thesceneral election