LAWRENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2273, 23 September 1897, Page 25

LAWRENCE.

September 20. — Two Lawrence lads were tirmte i here on Saturday on a charge of housebrefikiiiß and robbery. It is supposed that on Wednesday night they entered the premises of Mr J. C. Arbuckle and carried off several watches and other articles of jewellery. A board had been prized off one of the wiodows at the back of the shop, and by piling bags of coil on top of the other they had easily effected an entrance. Mr Arbuckle, who was in Duuedin at the tim*» of the robbery, was at once wired for, -and on leturning to Lawrence communicated with the police, with the result that two lads were captured on Saturday, Both the lads are very young, being considerably under 15 years of age.

On the Wing.— Mr Johu Laffey, late proprietor of the Railway Hotel, Lawrence, has concluded negotiations for the purchase of a large hotel in Wellington, situated in the principal thoroughfare of that city, and enters into possession at the close of the present month. During the period of his residence here Mr Laffey has been a conspicuous figure in every movement having for its object the industrial welfare of the town, and during the last few months he has been successful in contributing materially to the development of the dredging induitry in Tuap;ka and Taieri. The district at the present moment can ill afford to loae men of Mr Laffey's itainp, but in thiß case our loss is Wellington's gain. Obituary.— lt is with the deepest regret that I have to record the death of one of our oldest and most respected residents, in the person^ of Mr James Claque. who passed away in the Tuapeka Hospital on Sunday evening, a victim to the terrible disease of cancer in the throat. Deceased had been ailing for some time past, and had been to Dunedin several times to be operated on, but the operation foiled to give relief or even prolong life, and his death will come as a severe blow to his large circle of friends. A large concourae of people followed bis remains to the grave, theVen. Archdeacon Beaumont officiating.