LAWRENCE NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19550, 5 August 1925, Page 5

LAWRENCE NOTES.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) THE WEATHER. The weather lias been quite fine and warm for this time of the year. Occasional frosts have been experienced, but none have been heavy. The rainfall for July was 1.16 inches, compared with 1.76 inches for the corresponding month last year. The rainfall for the six months ended June 30 was 12.17 inches, compared with 11.01 inches last year. THE LABOUR MARKET. Inquiries among local employers of labour show that there has bean practically no unemployment in the district this winter. This was due no doubt to the open season experienced. Carpenters have been very busy on new works and additions to old buildings. Rabbiting has absorbed a lot of casual labour, and the high prices obtaining for skins have made it a good occupation. Painters and plumbers have had a good season, and have been able to employed a good deal of labour. Tradespeople are not too enthusiastic over the winter’s turnover, but realise that things have not been bad. TUAPEKA PIONEER LODGE. The annual meeting of the Tuapeka Pioneer Lodge, M. L .1.0.0. F., was held recently, and the annual report submitted at that meeting shows a long record of service to the community. This institution was founded in 1865 and is one of the oldest lodges in Otago. The balance sheet shows a sum of £7939 as the total funds belonging to the lodge. The membership is 142. The institution will celebrate its Jubilee in September. The Otago executive of the order has decided to hold the next annual meeting at Lawrence, when about 80 delegates will attend from all the lodges in the province. MOTOR NUMBER PLATES. Motorists in this, district are far from satisfied with the present system of numbering their cars. It is generally held that m addition to being too cumbersome, the new number plates are, under certain conditions, quite indecipherable. Recently a motorist drove through the town at an excessive speed, blit it was impossible to read his number, and even on a second occasion when special care was taken to find out the number, it was found that a alight mistake had been made in the reading. The police find it exceptionally difficult to decipher the numbers of cars they do not know more especially in muddy weather. It is hoped that the universal criticism levelled at the system will eventually result in the institution of a simpler device. . BOWLING CLUB’S SOCIAL. The president of the Lawrence Bowling Club (Mr F. Martin) entertained the club at a musical evening and social at the Presbyterian Hall last week. About 1W guests, including members and their wives, were present. The club is at present in a very good position both financially ami as regards play. Several members were singled out for recognition of services rendered during the part season, Mr G. WBrown receiving a silver-mounted walkingstick, and Mrs Brown a handbag. Miss Nicholls and Mrs Arbuckle also received tokens of the esteem in which their fellowmembers hold them. Mrs Brown and Miss Alice Blair presided at the piano. GABRIEL’S COMMONAGE. The disposal of Gabriel’s Cpmmonage was considered at a special meeting of the Otago Band Board, held at the Court ' house, Lawrence, on Wednesday last. Air R. S. Galbraith presided, and others present were Messrs J. Smith, C. J. Indcr, T. A. Munro, and G. Livingstone. The question of mining rights and water races was fully discussed, and the board came to the conclusion that only temporary grazing licenses could be granted for the question of granting permanent titles remains in abeyance during the continuance of the mining industry. The following persons appeared and made verbal statements to the board ; —Thomas Weathorail, A. G. Mackay. Albert Rudd, John T. Gregan, Philip Cranley Albert Nwamvick, William Rowe, David M Irftosh, T R Paul Lewis Pearsall, William Anderson, J. K. Sitnpson (for Mrs Lynch), Thos. Pilling and A. Fraser (representing the Tuapeka Domain Board), and J, I\. omyth (representing the mining interests). The board decided ; 1. To grant a grazing license from year to year over an area of about 270 acres in the north-west corner of the commonage to Thomas Weathevnll. 2. To grant a similar grazing license over an area of about 240 acres (south of the area granted to Thomas Wcatherall), to Albert Rudd. 3. To grant a similar license over about 250 acres (oast of the area granted to Thomas Weathorail), to Albert Swamvick. 4. To grant a similar license over about 2£o acres (south of the area granted to Albert Swamvick), to John T. Grcgan. 5. To grant a similar license over about 200 acres in the north-east corner of the commonage, to Philip Cranley. 6. To grant a similar license over about 39 acres (south of the area granted to Philip Cranley), to Lewis Pearsall. 7. To grant similar licenses over small areas next their residence areas and on the golf ’inks to S. Hewilson and Mrs Lynch respectively. 0. To grant a similar license over a strip (about 20 acres) on or near the golf links to William Anderson. 9. To refuse the applications of A. G. Mackay, William Rowe, David IVPlntosh, J. R. Paul, and tho Tuapeka Domain Board. 10. To fix (ho rentals after the areas have been properly defined. TREE-FELLING IN THE BOROUGH. For a long time now Lawrence residents have looked with pride to the borough’s long avenue of trees which has been admired by visitors. The Borough Council, however, has been slowly removing this landmark as the trees wore becoming a nuisance. Residents here at last roused themselves to complain of the cutting of these trees. The chairman of the Reserves Committee at the council meeting on Monday considered that discretion should be used in the matter as some of the trees were very old and excellent specimens, the removal of which meant a loss to the town. Silver birch was being planted in the gaps made by the felling of the big trees, and it was considered that until these trees attained some size it would be unwise to fell more than two or ahreo trees annually. The indiscriminate use of the axe was to bo deplored both for practical and sentimental reasons. Those old giants of the forest could not he replaced as quickly as they were removed, and once removed they left a gap in the historic associations of the town, as many of them had been planted bv the earliest pioneers. BOROUGH COUNCIL. 'The. fortnightly meeting of the Lawrence Borough Council was held on Monday night. The Mayor (Mr Simpson) was in the chair. A letter was received from Mr M‘D. Findiayson (solicitor) notifying the council of the sale of property on section 6 block 27. —Noted. Mrs Dwyer wrote desiring a permit to build a balcony on the rear of her premises.—Granted. Air T. Pilling (secretary of the Domnin Board) wrote drawing the attention of the council to the collapse of the culvert in Androssan street, which was becauso of property being Hooded A letter was received from Mr R. A. Ewing (Dunedin) quoting .prices for distilled tar, and from John Charnhxu’s and Son (Dunedin) quoting sizes and prices of keystone water meters.—Both letter were filed for reference. A letter was received from the secretary of the Department of Internal Affairs, Wellington, enclosing a circular containing a draft of regulations controlling the storage and use of cinematograph films.—lt was decided to hold over the matter as it was doubtful if it applied to the local company. A letter was received from Mr J. M. White (secretary of the Dunedin R.S.A.) stating that the Department of Internal Affairs had requested the co-operation of tho R.S.A. throughout the dominion for reliable information concerning war memorials. The Imperial Government was desirous of procuring a complete set of photographs of all New Zealand War Memorials for the purpose of placing them on record at tho Imperial War Museum, South Kensington, London. It was pointed out that memorials were erected at Lawrence, Tuapeka West, Greenfield, Rongahere, and Clydcvale, and that tho letter he referred to tho Lawrence R.S.A. to deal with. Tho Town Hall Committee reported that it had inspected the roof of tho hall and there was difficulty in locating any defect, but a weakness seemed to exist at the lower hip of tho roof. This and some other minor details wore dealt with. It was resolved to forward a sealed copy of borough by-laws lo the local Police Department for use in eases of exceeding the’ speed limit in the borough. A councillor thought it was unnecessary as the local officers were, very alert and could taka action under tho Police Officers Act and under the Motor Vehicles Act. It was decided to a-k Mr Steele (secretary, Otago Expansion League) to come, to Lawrence at a suitable date to address the ratepayers on the benefits of electric light and power. The Mayor was empowered to proclaim a public holiday for the visit of tho American Navy to Dunedin .and make inquiries concerning excursion fares by railway.