LAWRENCE. (From Our Own Correspondent.) July 25th.

Otago Witness, Issue 1601, 29 July 1882, Page 14

LAWRENCE. (From Our Own Correspondent.) July 25th.

It rainod with but littlo intermission during the whole of last week. The roads are in a shocking stato. If the County Council make the threatened reduction in the number of surfacemen employed, traffic will be carried on under considerable difficulties. It is to be hoped they will devise a scheme of retrenchment to tide them over the present temporary dopression, that will cause less inconvenience to the general public than dismissing the roadmen would do. At no time were their services more required than now. August, as a rule, is a very severe month here, and if the roads are unattended to during that period, councillors will discover that they have been following the " penny wee and pound foolish " policy. It wili also be an injustice to the roadmen to be thrown out of employment at this time of year, as there is no 'work going on, with the exceptisn of a few small contracts. It is unfair that the poorest-paid of public servants should be the first to feel the, financial depression. Our worthy chairman cannot be accused, as his predecessor so frequently was, of undue leanings to his own portion of the county. Tho up-country roads have had the lion's share of the expenditure during his term of office. „..., Dr Withers has taken up his abode in the vicinity of the Hospital, declining to return to the residenco in which he contracted hi* illness. Strenuous efforts will be nude to provide him with a dwelling. The Hibernian Society have led the way by donating 10 guineas for that purpose. The othor benefit soci-ties will no doubt contribute in proportion to their strength. They are in a more flourishing condition than the H.A 0.8.5. Mr Hunter, solicitor, generously offers a like amount, conditionally that nine others in the district subscribe each asimilar sum. The Blue Spur people o*nnot decently allow the challenge to pa».s themselves. At one time they spoke of defraying the whole cost of a surgeon's residence. The Hospital tenlers have occasioned more than the usual amount of unfavourable oomments. The supply of groceries has been considered a certainty to one storekeeper for a lengthened period. A repetition of the move— this time in the coal supply— is openly alleged to have been effected. A great deal has been said on both sides. The successful tenderer put in at a figure that would have no chanGe of succeeding against competition, which is a suggestive circumatanco. However, the wordy waif are now going on will possibly bring 011O 1 1 all the facts. It is unfortunate for the institution, as it will f urnißh an excuso to some for withholding their subscriptions. A terrific " storm in a teacup " followed my last enclosure in your columns. The tradesmen one and all were indignant at my attack on " vented interests." One of the proprietors of the local paper found it necessary to publish a disclaimer. The city magnates, I understand, singly and in pairs, interviewed him, breathing vengeance dire. I much regret that Mr Pilling should be, oven for a moment, charged with my enormities. By way of offering him a crumb of comfort as amends for tho annoyance I have unwittingly caused, allow me to remind Mr Pilling that advertisements are as essential to storekeepers as seed to the farmer. When another decade hag stamped his youthful brow, he will estimate at its true value tho patronage of those "littlo" big people who will not see an inch bo3'ond the narrow circle of self-interest. Since I havo had the honour of contributing to the Witness, my humblo efforts have beeen for the gene : ral good of the community Individual interests have never been considered by mo, and the assertion that we have no enterprise will boar repetition. We are altogether behind the ago. Hence, as their families grow up, our best citizens are compelled to leave, taking labour and capital which might be absorbed hero to other localities, where there is a prospect of employment for their children. What a number of valued citizens have left here during, say, the last five years from this cause, and how many more are already castingabouttncniforachangeof quarters? Thepoorer people remain, perforce, their boys and girls drifting in all directions in search of employment Those who have the means to settle in your city or elsewhere, break up their homes and depart together. Iv Dunediii, if paterfamilias find a difficulty in getting employment, tho young people are immediately engaged Thecoßt of living is reduced to half. He can still do as well as in Lawrenc", whore, perhaps, he wa3 constantly omployed, and, what is more desirable, the family circle ia unbroken. Tho children are stil subject to home influonco, and their evenings and Sundays can be spont in company. In suggesting how theso departures might bo prcvonted. I imaginod I was aciing in the best interosts of the district and of tho very class who are so awfully rilo-1 at my remarks anont the prices. But those remarks begin to bear fruit, and parcaking thereof, I meekly bow my head to the passing storm, lifting it again unscathed. Mm Silk, pastrycook, exhibits this week a window full of while \vh ilesoinc-lookiiij; full-sfccd loaves, marked 11 fivepence cash," the price heretof ro being «ixpence. May others emulate her plucky venture with much succoss.