LAWRENCE.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 268, 17 November 1874, Page 6

LAWRENCE.

[from our own correspondent.] November 11, 1874. , ensles has been and.still continues very ,valentin this district, almost every family ring it in their midst, and several adult 'sons being also laid up with the commit. The Committee of the Lawrence rarnmar School have deemed it advisable to ose the school for a week or two during the |)i(lemic. At Balclutha, seventy children md two of the teachers have been down with tlie measles. . It appears to be making steady vrogreßS through the up-country districts, so Oomwellites inay consider themselves lucky if they fire spared the infliction. r £hv Pvi.iicd of Wales' birthday was closely

observed in Lawrence, the banks and all the business places being closed. It was the finest day, as far as weather was concerned, that we have experienced this season, Several private picnics were held during the day, and in the evening the St. Lawrence Lodge, 1.0. G.T., celebrated their first anniversary by a soiree, concert, and' ball, in the Athenaeum. The prices of admission were reasonable, being ss. for single and 7s. 6d. for double tickets. There was a large gathering, in fact, the largest that has been in Lawrence, and it is expected that about £6O will be realised by the affair. The soiree was well attended, and there was a full supply of comestibles, and the tea was specially good. The tables were presided over by the beauty and fashion of the Lawrence district, who were all smiles, and desirous of seeing that all the visitors received every attention. After tea the concert commenced, and the programme was successfully carried out, not a hitch occurring. About 11 o'clock dancing commenced to the strains of the Waitaliuna Quadrille Band, which was everything that those who-delight in the terpischorean art could wish. There were over one hundred couples present, and as many as thirty couples being on the floor at one time. Dancing was kept up till five o'clock, when they all dispersed, evidently well satisfied with the successful anniversary celebration of the Lawrence Good Templars. Court Star of Tuapeka, A.0.F., intend celebrating their anniversary by a soiree and ball, to be held in the Athenaeum Hall aboat the end of December. As the Forresters muster pretty strong, there will no doubt be a pleasant meeting. The: Tapanui Jockey Club intend to hold their annual race meeting on the 30th and 31st January. Stakes to the amount of £355 are to be run for. The racecourse has been put in excellent order. A grand stand is also to be erected. The Club anticipate a verv good meeting The Roxburgh Club intend to devote £3OO in prizes, and to have their races during the Christmas holidays. The following account of the inquest lately held at Roxburgh extracted from the Tablet, may be of some interest to your readers : —" An inquest was held at Roxburgh on Wednesday, the 28th of October, before W. L. Simpson, Esq., coroner, on the body of the unfortunate man Edward Morrison, Town Clerk, Roxburgh, who, it transpired, had on the previous night (?) committed suicide by hanging himself to a rafter in the upper room of Mr H. M'Dowal's house. From the evidence adduced there could be no doubt as to the fact of the man being in an unsound state of mind at the time, and a verdict of "temporary insanity" was returned accord-, higly. The jury, prior to arriving decision, wished the Court to be cleared, but, contrary to the usual and proper custom, the coroner remained, also did' another individual, afe/the coroner's request, but who was in no way connected with the case. The jury after deliberation, arrived at their verdict, and added a rider to the effect, " That they much regretted the long and unnecessary delay, (Sunday to Wednesday) which had occurred in having an inquest held." The coroner, in rather a warm manner, appeared anything but pleased with the rider, and positively declined to accept of it, adding he was a coroner all over New Zealand, and wotdd arrange for holding inquests when he liked. Some of the jury suggested that any of the resident local J.P.'s could have conducted the inquiry ; but the coroner declared that no J.P. should hold an inquest, except with his permission. So in this case, where there was no evidence of a suspicious character adduced, the public had to submit to the painful infliction of having the body of a suicide remaining in a private family's house for four days, one witness detained three days awaiting the inquest, and the incurring of cost of travelling by coroner from Clyde, a distance of thirty-five miles, all of which annoyance could have been easily avoided. The funeral, which was largely attended by the residents in the neighbourhood, took place immediately after the inquest, at 7 o'clock p.m., under the charge of the Oddfellows' Society, whose service was read at the grave."