ALEXANDRA.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 204, 7 October 1873, Page 6

ALEXANDRA.

(from our own correspondent.) October 4, 1873. Since my last, nothing new has transpired in connection with mining matters, and consequently I have little to chronicle, except that every claim is in full work, with plenty of water. In fact, mining matters never looked healthier than at present. The Rockside claim is to be started again this week, after haying been idle some nine months, the squabbling element having disposed of their interest in this claim to Mr William Blackwell, who, I hope, will reap a rich harvest. It will be worked with water from the old Ida Valley race, which cost so much money a few years since, and which is at present owned by a few Dunedin gentlemen. Blackwell and party have agreed to pay £6 a week for the use of the water (about three heads), I suppose we may conclude that horse-rac-ing is all over in this neighbourhood for a time. I don’t think we ever had so much of that kind of sport in one year before. Manx Boy was certainly very lucky at Alexandra and Clyde, but he appears to have had the wind taken completely oat of his sails with you. Some of the Alexandraitea are pulling rather long faces at the result, probably because it touched their pockets; but this could not have been the case to any very great extent, for we have very few racing men in our midst. Even the owner of Cressidore was satisfied to go quietly back to h ; s business after having suffered one defeat; and perhaps he is better at his business than at horse-racing. I see by advertisement that the “Alexandra Folly”is to be sold bypublic auctionon the 6th inst. The auctioneer will assuredly have to exert himself to the utmost to realise a tithe of the first expense. It may be that some of your readers will wonder what the “ Alexandra Folly” consists of. Well, I will inform them. It consists of four 400-gallon malt tanks. The spirited firm of Messrs Theyers and Beck, breweis, of this place, persuaded the Alexandra Council that these tanks were admirably suited for holding water. The Council took the bait, bought them, had two erected in each ward, fitted with brass taps, and had painted on them these words ; To BE USED IN CASE OF FIRE ONLY. For which purpose, however, I am pleased to say they were never required ; but even if they had been, the blank face of the first man who arrived to draw a bucket of water may be imagined when he found the tap declined to work, or (as was the case in some instances) no water in the tank. I believe the “ Folly” cost the ratepayers something over “a century.” There is a rumour afloat here that the Town Council intend to deprive those who have gardens of the use of water from the Corporation race. Should such be the case, the green spots about here, of which there are certainly not too many as it is, will very soon become like the rest of the flat, —a sandy desert. However, I can say no more on this subject until better informed.