LAWRENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1584, 1 April 1882, Page 13

LAWRENCE.

(FROM OUR OWN OORRKSPONDKNT ) Alj>ti23-h.

Tlvs spn'ta on St. TatncK'ti Dny at.'.no'ui a fairly s'ood mvUorlng to the r.iecooms<.\ uii-ru (iui vurioufl ovontH woro \v oil contested. 'I ho u'Cithor w.w favourable and the d\v i>usat.d pic aantly. The umiitour pciformanco in tho evening waa witfcfiicfory to all concerned The Town Uiill wns ciwd/d iooxcc-s. As the tickets to the concert iilom- weie lulf-a-croMi, too ff.A.C.II.y (for wh'ise bum- fit it wa«) must have netted a naml* mv amount. Tn.it tho auditiiico wi re well pleased was proved by 'he lioirty applamo given and the numerous encores flonwiulcd. Tho oeJeoiiona ivdu the "PiiAtcs of Ponzauce" were io well chosen and tendered that it was regretted that the opera had not been attempted in its entirety. These who aro qualified to judge affirm Ihat tlio famoui play would not suffer in the hands of oui local amat'urs. They were ably asaiatad on the occa-ion by Mr John Grant, <t Uillon, To Air Wbeda, the zoaioua secretary of the fk'ciely, great ered ! t is duo for the completeness of his air.'uigiwuents. Thoie Has not a hitch in the whole proceedings. After tho performance the hall was dearcd tor dancing, which waa kept up until morning. The conundrum-) woro vnfhor a weak lot, but voty aunisintf. Tito prize was auuidod to .Mr Lundon, who seat in three, (uiy one t f whicli would have borne off the palm The grand jury at tho recent sessions hero havo subjected themselves to much criticism by the manner in which their duties wore discharged. The cases of Williams v. Smith, for stabbing at Tuapeka West, was thrown out by them, uotwltbstundlri^ Mat there was no denial of the charge, The case sin>p)y hinged

on whether Williams 1 wounds were inflicted in eelf-dc-fenco, or Smith waa really the stacking party and on this point there was but oath MPJ«»t outfa,^ no vfitnesses being present. Much interest has been taken in the matter, boUi patties bcimr well known and equally respited. They « e , fa "^ ,nd neighbours! A bows of bickurinwi enlm noted in the affray referred to, and in whwh m }'}^"% ceived some nasty wounds. Each declared the otnu struck the first blow. The grand jury, aay one section of the community, have exceeded their i™c»w» B by deciding whoso statement was tho move wusi.worthy. Another section defend thuir action, saying it was a decision of heart, not head, and justifiable under the circumstances. A little roufcn on Williams to bo sure ; but see how good, it waa for Smith. A. true bill was found o^amas Butler for criminal assault on o. child, but ( l. eom r hiK the evidence insufficient, tho petty juvy acquitted him. Aftsrtlie Court there was rather an amusim? passage of anna between a grand juror and a wotty ditto.- G. J. : " How camo you to lei thai fellow oil t I cannot understand such a verdict."— -l» J. : ' How came you to let Smith oiir'-G.J. : "A different matter, air. Smith's family, &c, &c."— P. J. : "Ah, well, the morcy must have been in tbo sun's rays this morning ; you see thoy shine all round." This last'ease was undoubtedly an outcome oi the inadequate police protection in Lawrence, reference to which has been made by the Tuapeka Times mpro than once. It wore better for the residents that tho gaol hnd novor been reopened, if tho one foot policeman atationed hero must act as giiolcr in addition to his former duties. Had tho hotels boon under proper surveillance, publicans would have hesitated to supply the man with liquor until he bocaini? ho intoxicated. Noith^r would ho have beon allowed to lie down m that beastly state where a number of young children wore playing. If the town had been patioilcti by police as it should be, the probabilities are that Butler would havo boen nrrested for dnmkenneiw at an earlier period, and society would haw boon spa red the shock of seeing a child, not yet five yews oln, in the witness-box giving evidenco in such a wihd. Tho police are having a busy time of it just now. A charge oft'aimfc Buliin, Tuapoka West, exercised them a^oodclea). It wa3 for »ly grog-selling. lUilfln was acquitted. As udiial in these cases, there was sonic very hard on hoth aides. Tho temperance societies bold their nnnusl gathering 1 on the racecourse on Thursday last. Untnttunatoly tho rain cuno down in torrents in thu afternoon. A retreat was made to th • Towji Hall, whore the youngsters were regaled with an unlimited supply of fruit, lollios, &c.