LAWRENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2545, 24 December 1902, Page 31

LAWRENCE.

December 15. — Very heavy rain fell during v the night, but became lighter towards morning. - To-day has been showery, although warm, and * - to-night the rain continues, and -we feel" inclined to cry, "Hold, enough! " Exhibits have commenced to come forward' for our agricultural show on Wednesday, and I as the entries iherefor are numerous it is "to •' . be hoped the -weather will clear up in. time, as "the committee have gone to considerable - trouble and expense to make it a success, antl,- • with railway faxes at cheap excursion rates, it *> ■ is expected that a large number of visitors from Dunedin and intermediate places will take an outing. ' ' The local Caledonian Society hold their annual gathering on Boxing Day and the Waitahuna Agricultural Society have their • > show on the 30th, so that there is co lack iil entertainments of one kind and another. * Our District High School breaks up on . Friday n*xt. - Usually on these occasion's ', the building is packed to • its holding' \ capacity^ by the parents of the chfl- -"- dren (but more especially the mothers) ■. ancl \ the clergy and others interested in education! I think this" gathering, to the mothers of J>h&: '■ children, is the most enjoyable of the year; and; -C I am sure it. is- to the school children and.-, teachers. . ' - . •-. We have got over the milS excitement t>£ "tlii - " elections. The results of either of the polls' - not being very close, there -was no talk of a re-count Tior a petition to upset anything. The projected meeting of publicans and. ' sinners did not come off — "the devil, when 7 sick, the devil a monk would be; the devil, ; when w-ell, the devil a monk was he" being,--, supposed to apply in this case. . ' v Local mining matters are progressing '~ steadily, generally with fair results. Thet'_' sluicing claims are kept well supplied with." water *of -late, and their returns have in most cases been satisfactory. Agricultural. — Turnip-sowing is much ie- , tarded by the wet weather, and from the. snm» cause shearing is delayed. There is very~ little 1 produce remaining in the hands of growers, , and prices are expected to be unusually higbi ; before the new crops are ready, which one can- $ safely predict will be a very late season. "" V. On every side one hears prognostications of "": a very quiet Christmas time and a scarcity of cash ; but when the time comes tEings -wilt ~ probably brighten ut> a bit, and tho croaker« v - hide their diminished heads. At all events w*; ,' will hope so.