ALEXANDRA.

Cromwell Argus, Volume III, Issue 131, 14 May 1872, Page 6

ALEXANDRA.

(From an occasional Correspondent.) May 11. I am pleased to be able to report that, on the whole, mining matters in this district are progressing favourably ; and this seems to be the case in most districts, according to the evidence of the last escort, which appears to me to be an extraordinarily large one, considering the fact that so many mining parties have been idle for the last four months for want of water. There can be little doubt that we have a prosperous future before us. Blackwell and party, about eight miles up the Manuherikia river, are busily engaged in cleauing up the large paddock they stripped before Christmas, since which time, until quite recently, they had no water for mining purposes. The Ovens Company are now stripping another paddock, including a portion of the Manuherikia river, endeavouring to strike the lead worked by Bedford & Butler some five years since. Up to the present time, they have been working ground further to the east, which proved to be a deep gutter containing very good gold, but, from the heavy nature of the workings, it has yielded only a little more than wages. Should they strike the lead in the paddock they are now sinking, 1 believe their heavy outlay for the last six months will be repaid. The Manuherikia Company are in full work near the Brewery, and on the terraces near Ainslie's; and are doing very well. I believe that it is intended to bring the Golden Gate Co.'s and several other races into the Wai Keri Keri valley, the ground in that vicinity being con- j sidered first-class sluicing ground ; but it is to be feared that the purchased ground, and that held under agricultural leases, will very much interfere with sluicing operations. The 'Golden Gate race takes its rise from Chatto I Creek, and terminates at Blacks No. 1 at present. The Suspension race, which also rises from Chatto Creek and terminates at Blacks No. 1, is to be taken into Tinkers and j Drybread. Which two changes do not speak I vow highly for the auriferous nature of Blacks. The fltiming of these two races over the Manuherikia river must have cost a good deal of money, and now the 1! nines arc to be j rendered useless. The Hit-or-Miss Co. at Frenchman's Point, and Kitt and party at the Half-mile Beach, ! have again started work for the winter, and should the river keep at a low level, no doubt both claims will pay handsomely. M'llroy, and party are progressing favourably with their monster tail-race, and expect to be '■ through the rock in about a month ; this race commences immediately below the ferry over j the Molyneux, and is constructed parallel j with the Teviot road for a distance of quarter | of a mile. It is intended to work the whole of the ground in the vicinity of Golden Gully, which is believed to be favourable for sluicing ; and J hope it will prove so. The claims further up the river are all in full work, and doing well ; and the same may be said of those in Butchers and Conroy's gullies. The Butcher's reef is in full work, and some very good stone is being got out. 1 was in hopes of being able to report the result of their first crushing, but they could not obtain sufficient water to drive the wheel for the purpose of keeping the shaft dry ; for, although they have had no water on the surface, they are troubled with an extra supply below, —a drawback that will materially interfere with quartz-mining in Otago. The Conroy's reef is still idle, and 1 believe the quantity of water in the shaft is the cause. It is a great loss to the district to have so efficient a crushing-battery idle. The Chinese are still doing very well at the Manorburn. One of their number has opened a butcher's shop some little distance in the rear of the Balmoral Hotel, which will doubtless materially interfere with the trade of our town butchers. But I believe they can afford to lose a few customers, as they are charging from 100 to 150 per cent, on the prime cost of their beef, —which surely is rather overdoing the thing. The Chinamen arc certainly a fortunate race, (at least, those residing in the vicinity of Alexandra seem favoured). Our good-natured and obliging storekeepers not only supply them with cheap groceries, &c, but actually drive them to their homes in spring-carts : in fact, to such an extent is this the case, that on some Saturday afternoons a stranger would think the different carts were plying for hire. The simpler Europeans have to walk ; "John" makes it a case of " You won't,—another will." Our Municipal Council are bestirring themselves in the matter of supplying i"\:o town with water ; and, if they succeed, will deserve the thanks of at least everyone residing in the Municipality. But these tilings arc not to be done without money, and the ratepayers should not object at having to "fork out" for so desirable an object. Our library is in a flourishing condition, second to none on the Gold.fields ; and I hear the Committee have ordered a quantity of new books, which will prove acceptable.

On the 24th, the Foresters intend to celebrate their anniversary by a ball, which is to \ hike place in the Library Hall, when I believe erne of the largest assemblages ever seen on a similar occasion in Alexandra will meet to foot it on the "light fantastic." I hear the Foresters intend giving the proceeds to the Library funds ; they could not do better. On Tuesday evening, a few gentlemen met at Ryan's Bendigo Hotel for the purpose of having a "parting glass" with Mr J. W. M. Purdie, a gentleman who has acted as clerk in the Bank here for the last two years, and has earned the respect and good-will of all who know him. The Mayor occupied the chair, and, on behalf of Mr Purdie's many friends, presented him with a very handsome gold chain and appendages, and also a gold pencil-case, as a testimonial of their esteem. Mr Purdie feelingly thanked his friends, through the Mayor, for their handsome present ; and a very pleasant evening was spent in " speechifying," toast-proposing, and the other usual accompaniments of theseconvivial meetings.