LAWRENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1866, 26 August 1887, Page 17

LAWRENCE.

August 22.— The depreciation in the value of property so general throughout New Zealand has been strikingly exemplified in recent sales in Tuapeka, and the cry for retrenchment is being taken up by people who hitherto have given no more than a passing thought to politics. Town sites have not fallen to any great extent, but agricultural areas have suffered enormeusly. Candidates for Parliamentary honours scarcely realise the situation. Judging from their published speeches, retrenchment seems in too many cases forced on them by outside pressure, and the response does not come with the heartiness of sincerity. A well-known farm adjacent to Lawrence was disposed of laat week at a figure which shows a rapid decline in value. Only a few years ago it was sold for £10 per acre, the purchaser making further improvements to the value of 30s per acre. At his death it was again sold for £8 10s. Last week it was bought for £b per acre. The purchaser is a local brickmaker, comparatively a new arrival here, but one who has evidently had no renson to complain of hard times. A section in Ross place, on which Mr D. Johnson's blacksmith shop is situated, was also disposed of, realising £5 per foot.

Mixing Reserves.— Another raid is being made on the mining reierves. Miners will soon be deprived of their valuable privilege of keeping a cow or a horse for every available acre is being fenced in. Wardens ocoasionnlly make a vigorous protest against this kind of thing, but it still goes on. However, those who will themselves be the sufferers are the most to blame. When the Blue Spur and Tailings Company become the property of the London syndicate, and are in working order, there is not a doubt that the whole of Tuapeka Flat will be submitted to the hydraulic system. Its gravelly deposit for miles down the creek will all pay for working under the new method, and provide much-needed employment.

Signs opi he Times.— The winter has been a bad one for working men. There is literally nothing doing, except among the rabbiters, and their season has drawn to a close The county council allowed their lash meeting to lapse. No funds, therefore no business to do. Europeans are fossicking in places deserted by the Chinese. Business people complain bitterly ot the impossibility of getting their money in. and to w rite truthfully, Lawrence is in a sad plight. Nevertheless we are a happy people. We have not. abandoned our pleasures. Mr and Mrs Jarley'a w ixworka drew a large audience to the Church of England schoolroom last Friday evening, and we have clamorously and successfully demanded a repetition tor next Pridav evening. The Evans 1 Flat people are getting up an entertainment which will assii'Pillv he well attended, for the benefit of an old con- le whit, after "pulling hard against the stream " t->r sometime, find themselves in hopelessly low water. In Lawrence a similar kindness will be temleied shortly to jiii old identity who, through sickness and trade lossps, has also come to grief. Be assured we will attend them all. We are a benevolent people when we are amused, and are one and all looking up hopefully for the " silver lining."