LAWRENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2087, 22 February 1894, Page 22

LAWRENCE.

February 15.— We were favoured on Tuesday with a flying vißit from the two recently appointed Railway Commissioners, their primary object, I presume, being to make themselves acquainted with the railway districts under their control, in addition to which they allowed themselves to be interviewed by deputations from the Borough Council, Jockey Club, and other bodies with reference to rates on metal for road maintenance, the insufficient approaches to goods sheds for waggons and other vehicles, free return of racehorses from race meetings, and other incidental matters, to all of which consideration was either promised or the request granted. The Hon. Mr Pyke introduced the deputations in his usual genial way. Harvesting operations have been much hindered by the very unsettled weather which has lately prevailed. In some cases heavy crops have been levelled to the ground, causing the growers heavy additional cost in cutting, as well as considerable loss by destruction.

Weather. — From extremely Bultry weather it has now changed to bitterly cold, being very trying to those who have had the misfortune to be suffering a recovery from influenza. Athen^um. — The annual meeting of subscribers to the Athenamm was held la&t woek. The attendance of subscribers was small, but the interest was keen. The retiring committee's report and balance sheet were adopted, they being of a favourable nature. Mr E. Herbert was reelected president for the current year, and a committee of nine, composed of six of the old members and three new ones, were elected. Licensing.— So far, very little interest is manifested in the election for the Licensing Committee, to take place at -an early date. The licensing district is a wide one, and candidates having to deposit a Bum of £10, to be forfeited if they are so unfortunate as not to obtain a certain number of votes, is certainly about as absurd an idea as one can well imagine. A man is supposed to- give his services to perform in a faithful manner the somewhat invidious duties of a member of the Licensing Committee without any remuneration, so why it should be saddled with such conditions I would like to know ? I feel rather curious to see the nominations.

School. — Our School Committee met on Wednesday evening and exercised their privilege of voting for three members out of seven names nominated. Last election the committee then in , office actually plumped for one candidate as if there was only one of the number nominated fit to be elected. On Wednesday evening, I understand, the voting resulted in favour of Messrs Cohen, MacGregor, and Fraer, although, singular to say, four members of the committee who were present out of seven solemnly affirm that they voted for Mr Fraser, whereas the record of the voting showed that seven votes were recorded for Cohen, five for MacGregor, and four for Fraer, and only three for Fraser ; so tbat either one of them tells a fairy tale (which a member of a school committee auroly would not be guilty of), or else there has been a mistake in the chairman in reading Fraser as Fraer on one of the voting papers. However, lam informed the names returned to the board are those first mentioned.

Mining.— There is nothing startling in mining at present, beyond the fact that a party have applied to the warden for permission to work the Wetherstones Flat by hydraulic sluicing. With a good supply of water ,it is expected the company will obtain good, payable results.

Dredging.— The high state of tho river lately has somewhat retarded dredging operations, but with the recent change in the weather work wilt be resumed without delay.— The Golden Treasure Company at Miller's Flat will soon be ready to start dredging, and are now calling for applications for a competent dredge master, and it is to be hoped the company will meet with the success their enterprise deserves.