LAWRENCE.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 264, 1 December 1874, Page 6

LAWRENCE.

—■* — [from our own correspondent.] , November 25, 1871 Hospital affairs have at last assumed a 'air working aspect. New rules have been approved of by the subscribers at a meeting bald last week, the report of which I extract from the Tuapeka Times:—" A special meeting of the subscribers of the Tuapeka Hospital vas held last evening in the Assembly Roons, for the purpose of adopting the remaindei of the new rules. M, Fraer, Esq., was caled to the chair. The rules were adopted with but very slight alterations, although several amendments were proposed. The desire of the meeting appeared to be to get the blsiness through as quickly as possible. fIET. Carew, Esq., proposed a motion that the financial year of the institution should terminate on the 31st December in each ytar, which was carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to the chair closed the proceedings" As showing the value of mining share! at the Blue Spur, Mr John Ponsonby purchased from Mr French one-sixteenth share in the North of Ireland Co.'s claim for the sun of £6OO. The Presbyterians at the Blue Spur bid

their annual soiree on the lfth instant, and I a .pleasant reunion was the result The Revs. Cameron, Menzips, and'Chisholm, and Messrs M'Liellandy Matthews, Stenhous6, Ralsion, and Herriot were the speakers: The choir sang some appropriate hymns, and were ably assisted by Mr Dalziel,'teacher, on the harmonium, ■ The mail contract to Switzers for 1876 has been secured by. the present holder, Mr Alexander Matheson. As showing that the Tuapekaites have their little episodes, T enclose you the following* paragraph, mentioning the fact that we have now a standing joke,—" Is your wife fond of mushrooms for breakfast?":"-"A party of, gentlemen were recently amusing themselves in manipulating the "Devil's Prayer Book," at a place of public resort not a hundred miles from Lawrence, when towards daylight the wife of one of the gentlemen, missing him from the usual placS at her side, became anxious, and at once went to the Police Camp, and gave information of his absence to the Sergeant in charge. He having a very shrewd opinion as to where the missing husband was located, at once went to said place of resort. After knocking at the door, a great scuffling was heard within, and a window sash was raised hurriedly, and before admission could be obtained, the bird had flown. Nothing daunted, the Sergeant made a detour of the premises, and ran the truani husband down an adjacent gully. On the Sergeant accosting him as to what he was doing there so early in the morning, the truant merely replied that he was out seeking mushrooms for his wife's breakfast, she being very fond of them. The Sergeant consequently left the fond husband with the request that he would immediately return to his anxious spouse and relieve her anxiety, which he accordingly did. We have not heard what reception he met with." Good Templarism is progressing .at the Blue Spur. Eight new members were instistuted at last meeting. The lodge has now about forty adherents. Measles is still prevalent amongst us, attacking both young and old, but I think it is on the wane. The Grammar School, which has been closed for two or three weeks, will be re-opened next Monday. The Foresters have decided to hold their anniversary celebration on New Year's Eve, instead of Boxing night, as originally intended. The house of Mr John Pearson, farmer, Lawrence, was totally destroyed by fire last week. The fire occured about one o'clock in the morning. Nothing was saved, Mrs Pearson and the children only escaping in their nightclothes. Mr Pearson was awav from home at the time. The property and furniture were insured in the Victoria and Norwich for £SOO. There was nearly being another serious conflagration, only for the. zeal displayed by one of your late citizens, who succeeded in staying the blaze. I forward you the particulars from our local paper :—" There was a naiTow escape from a fire in Colonsay-street yesterday at mid-day. Mr Fraer, who lives in the street mentioned, being at home, observed a volume of smoke issuing from the lean-to of Mr Robert Fowler's house, and speedily made his way to it, when he found the kitchen in flames. By adopting a display of _ energy worthy a member of the Eire Brigade, he succeeded in extinguishing the flames, but not before all the avilable water supply had been exhausted. The origin of the fire is not known, but it is supposed it had been caused by the children. The kitchen is very small, and a couch stuffed with flax or some other inflammable material was near the chimney, and is supposed to have first caught fire, when the flames would soon be communicated to the walls and ceilTo Mr Praer's prompt action must be attributed the salvation of the building. A few minutes delay, and the house would doubtless have been a heap of ashes, such as was instanced in the case of Mr Pearson's house a few days ago."