LOCAL & DISTRICT NEWS.....Part 2 SIR W. LAWSON. – The London correspondent of the Manchester Guardian says SIR W. LAWSON has become the acknowledged wit of the House, and he very efficiently fills the vacant place of MR. B. OSBORNE, for, while his jokes and quips are fully as telling, they are less laboured than the highly elaborated strokes of humour in which the ex-representative of so many constituencies indulged when he still had a seat in the House. SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE CROPS IN WESTMORLAND. – It is reported that the late frost and the storm last week have had a most disastrous effect upon the crops in Westmorland. From Crossrigg to far beyond Morland, the havoc has been most serious, and the farmers, who are said to be always grumbling, have seldom experienced more disheartening reverses of fortune in the cultivation of the soil. The effect of the frost upon the potato crop has been most destructive, and the growth of grass and corn has been much impeded. On Tuesday the Helm wind blew in fitful gusts, uprooting trees, and doing considerable damage to tender plants. THE WEATHER. – Some refreshing showers of rain have fallen in this district during the week, and pastures and crops of all kinds look much invigorated by the long-desired moisture. On Thursday afternoon a storm of thunder and lightning, accompanied by a fall of hail and rain, prevailed in Penrith for a short time, and then rolled away in a north-easterly direction. Yesterday morning the atmosphere was close and oppressive, and between three and four o’clock in the afternoon, two or three loud thunder-claps were heard, followed by slight showers. The electric storm, however, did not last for more than a few minutes; and in about an hour afterwards, the sun burst out with great brilliancy. STEALING A BOTTLE OF WHISKEY. – A labourer, of the name of WM. MURRAY, employed at the works in the reconstruction of the gaol at Appleby, has been apprehended on a charge of stealing a bottle of whisky from the bar at the Coach and Horses Inn, at the Bridge End, kept by MR. RICHARD HEBSON. He was seen by a person in the house go into the bar and take a bottle from a shelf and leave the house. MRS. HEBSON, on being informed of what had occurred, followed him on to the bridge, and took the bottle from his pocket. MR. SUPERINTENDENT PARKS, who was near at hand, after a rough struggle, hauled him off to the police station, prisoner, the while, protesting his innocence. He will be brought up before the Bench to-day (Saturday). THEFT AT NEWBIGGIN. – A navvie of the name of THOS. LEGG, a native of Bristol, was taken into custody on Saturday evening last, on a charge of stealing several articles of fancy jewellery, consisting of brooches, earrings, a locket and seal, &c., from the shop of MISS RUTH ELLWOOD, at Newbiggin, Templesowerby, grocer and draper. Prisoner went into the shop and purchased a shirt and pair of stockings, for which he paid. MISS ELLWOOD had occasion to go into a room adjoining the shop, where she remained but a few seconds, and on her return found the prisoner with a brooch in his hand and in the act of putting it into his pocket. She snatched it from him, and he left the shop, and she immediately after missed several articles from a glass case which stood on the counter. She at once made an outcry, and MR. SANDERSON and several other neighbours took prisoner into custody, and secured his hands behind his back with a leather strap until he was handed over to P.C. PICKARD. Prisoner was brought up before the REV. T. BELLAS and CAPTAIN GANDY on Monday and remanded to Saturday.