LAWRENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1793, 3 April 1886, Page 13

LAWRENCE.

March 20. — We have been so honoured by visits from notabilities latterly that the hope was entertained that Sir George Grey al.-o would favour ,us with an address, but this intellectual treat has not been vouchsafed us. Possibly the local ppwers that be deemed it savouring of v ingratitude to the present Ministry, who show such a desire to favour Tuajieka, to invite the venerable statesman to visit 'us. /yet Sir George Grey would have received" a" warm welcome. His addresses elsewhere were read in your columns with avidity by one and all; especially were his, views on tae'all^absorbing land question grateful to our heavily-burthened farmers. By some strange fatuity/ farming and borrowing have- gone hand in- hand in Tuapeka, until one hardly knows who ought to' be conimherated— the farmer who finds himself in his old age, after a life of toil, hopeless and helpless in the meshes, or the mortgagee who each year finds it more difficult to collect his interest, and his' chance of ever regaining' the principal more vague. To tho^o who are acquainted with the position of laudholders in our vicinity, it .is appalling to reflect on the amount of liabilities the agriculturists ? r< ? groaning under, the sums of money rockJessly Uenttmd-as recklessly borrowed, which it

is obvious could not be realised from double the acreage under mortgage. This unfavorable .season will complete the ruin of many a poor man who has btruggle/l bravely for years to meet the high rate of interest on money he has sunk on his land. Two have already abandoned their holdings to the mortgagees; others continue in possession on sufferance — no better tenants can be found to take their places. Thus this all-important industry is paralysed by a feeling of insecurity militating alike against the best interests of lender and borrower. It must not bo inferred that all are unsuccessful farmers in Tuapeka i we have our safe ones also, to wHom a bail season brings ilo terrors. They are chiefly of the few wlio shied clear of borrowed money in the early days, wh'd looked longinglyatthecomfortabledwi'llings.themodern labour-saving implements of their neighbours, yet contented themselves with the primitive appliances of their forefathers. The independent farriers df , td-day are thd?e whose humble system of working and living provoked the pity and contempt of the people who spent hundreds of borrowed money, besides their own savings, their time, and energy on their laud. By the cruel irony of fate the tables are turned. The model farmers, after years of hard work and anxiety, have a millstone of debt around their necks which no effort of their own can relieve them of ; while the moneyed men are the apparently shiftless individuals who didn't ovvn so much as a dray for the first decade of their farming experience, whose harness comprised more flax than leather, and whose home surroundings were for many 3 ears oil a similar scale.

Mining. — When this industry generally is so dull, it is pleasant to hear that the Tailings Company have cleared off their liabilities and continue to do well.

The Fruit Industry. — The new premises for the Bank of New Zealand approach completion. The building is truly an ornament to the town. It is rumoured that the old bank will be converted into a jam factory. This has proved an exceptionally good year for fruit, but the growers derive no benefit from the abundant yield, as there is no outlet for it. An enterprising Chinaman from the Teviot district brought some delicious peaches and very good grapes here la^st week, but he will scarcely repeat the venture. He sold some of the peaches for one .penny per lb, aud was obliged to dispose of the grapes at Mr Arbuckle's Saturday night aujtiou at a ridiculously low figure. The Roxburgh Railway Project. — The survey party are busy with the line of railway to Roxburgh. Government will hive good value for the money advanced to the Borough Council to meet the tailings trouble, there being about 60 chains of embankment ready for the railway between the drainage and sludge channels.

Improvements. — New buildings still go on and are projected, showing that times must be improving. A new bakery and store are, it is stated, to be commenced forthwith. The new Presbyterian Church is starting; it will be a substantial edifice. Tenders are at last called for the postmaster's residence, besides several smaller buildings in the hands of tradesmen.