LAWRENCE

Otago Witness, Issue 2436, 21 November 1900, Page 34

LAWRENCE

ifovember 19. — From Friday evening till Sunday it rained almost without intermission, causing quite a flood in all the creeks and rivers round about, although I have not Heard of any very seriouy injury so far in this' quarter. The Mounted Rifles were to have gone into camp for a- week yesterday afternoon, but the downpour of rain was so incessant that it was wisely decided to prepare the camp, get the tents pitched, and the men were all to be in attendance at 5 o'clock this morning. On Sunday afternoon a large number visited the ground, which is situated about half way between Lawrence and Wetherstones, and watched the volunteers getting the tents up, trenches cut, and preparing other necessary work. The church parade in the morning was small, owing to the severity of the weather. v The Waitahuna River was much swollen by the raiDS, and the workmen employed completing the pontoons for the Waitahuna Gully Company were so unfortunate as to have their toolhouse, containing their, tools, washed away, besides a quantity of timber all in readiness to complete the work, which would have been finished in a few days with good weather. The greater part of the timber will, I understand, be recovered, but I am afraid" most of their toois have gone beyond recall. In spite of the inclement weather the country is looking well, grass being very abundant, and the crops seem to be coming on satisfactorily. The heavy railway traffic still continues, and in ,spite of the large number of waggons on the road, and the number of hands employed unloading railway trucks, I counted one day last week 35 loaded trucks on the various sidings, and that is nothing unusual. It we had not a most energetic stationmaster, in the person of Mr Paton, I feel" sure there would at times be a deadlock, through the want of sufficient accommodation. (