LAWRENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1682, 16 February 1884, Page 13

LAWRENCE.

(FEOH OUR OWN CORRKSFOMDBNT.) Sports/ Ihe Blue S v-- m.oriß which were postponed f 'om New Year owing to the rain, tok \< ace on a aUU more disagretab'e day; but despite wind and rain there was a good attendance. As ama 1 1 rof course, Donald Irtntiie iook the lioi'a eharo of the prize mdhe\; but with it, I fear, no ve>y enjojable reratni-cences oMhfe Blue Spur— he and the ( omnnr. tes having some smart passsges-acarms dm ing his Bt*y. The trifling sum i»r txpiess hireenkte and C>mmittee alike repudiated, until the exprißSman get the law in motion to obtain his fare. Rkskrvh (jccupa-nts. — Hanger Hu.'han has made Mother raid on the i legal occupant* of the reserve s, wikh the iistifti result— a fine and r.oti eSo remove the fames. The floep are paid. As to the removal of the lancea, well, perhaps they will be removed, or perha pi ttie occupants will look on an animal U .c as an eq'i.valent for their privilege. Generally tpeakii.fr ■ympatby is with those people who are looked on a* tha victims of i formers, who have in the past done exactly the same, but were mo>e successful than their ' fucceaiore. A few jeare ago ie was a common occurrence to fence in a slice of tho.re a ervo anu afterwards apply to purchase, such application being jarely" refuseH. Now it i> different. The reserves are narrowing and the cattle inct easing, and the encroichers of a few years ago aio the denouncers of taoie who are following iv their footsteps, 'and have »'- stronger cace than the farmeis with whom tho reserve-'quattinj; originated, and who are now so furiously hounniog down the uustoui. Gaceunutd by precedent, people fence in areas greater or less. The County Council lecosnite tnemtJ. levying lates iv proportion to the sia- or tasir holdings. If tha* body tad power to levy, in aidition t > rates a rental on tno c paddocks, it wou d meet the difficulty, without being a hard.- hip to an.\one. C<v c our men womd stop short of 2» or 30 »i i§ if they hnd to my proportionately ; while his who only looked for sum jete t to m< piy his home canfimptlon would be no worse iff than beuro Tuia oiurce would not divert tae reser.es from their le iti mte use they would sii 1 ba accessible to the miner. Without; a proh bitory compen&ati >n clause they would be made to yield a revenue, and iho-e con-t*m-Hh]A- h>f flings attendant on "I forming" would be avoided. * i U4F4KA iivsi'iTAij. — At the annual meeting of Hospital BUbscriLeis, a new de arture iv the right direction 'Was m*de when a resolution was paused prohibiting tenderers ' from acting on tho Tendering for' Hospital supplies ha** always been a sore subject here', charges of favour been freely made oil every occasion. This step will go far to reotnre confidence, although it will d«lve some very zealous friends of the institution out of office. Tnere is a i'.rlking want of public spirit among our citizensBorough and Hospital wcrk is allowed to devolve on theoneset perpetually It ia always lho tradesmen, who can pcarcoly be expected to voluntarily forego a e^ancj of doing business* even when they have to p iss tuelr own accuunt3 au'd sit iv judgment on the quality of their own goods If this rule ia strlctiy enforced, tho?e trentlem'-n who are not iv trade >■ ill be dra*vn from their retirement to assist in the transaction of public' business. Another graceful act at the meetinjr was awarding a life Kovernorship to Mr B. Buchanan, Woipori, who has wtll merit- d the honour. Mr Arbuckle feelingly alludi dto that batth of life goven ors nominated sonao time ago, but.Bmuebow the o'i'hu iasm had evaporated. His lemarka only elicited a smile.