ALEXANDRA.

Dunstan Times, Issue 270, 28 June 1867, Page 2

ALEXANDRA.

The wonderful activity on tlie 1 auks of tho Molyneux between here at.J the Ti'viot Junction is inconceivable, except;. to those who have witnessed it. Scores of men may be seen up to their hip-bones in the river, erecting wing-dams, with the view of sinking paddocks, and countless others may be seen washing the auriferous dirt taken from under the stones now left dry through the low state of the river. The latter are all doing well, and the former in another week or so, should the river continue to decrease in volumn as it has done during the la t three or four weeks, will reap the benefit of their labor. At Butcher's Point, all the claims are in full work, and the shareholders are most, anxious to engage wages men to any numI her, but there are none procurable in tho Duustan District. As it is within the reach of possibility that the Molyneux may not again be seen so low as it now is for many years to come. The holders of claims are acting a most commendable part in engaging all the labor they can at (lie present favorable time, and have as much of the treasures of such claims extracted as possible, before the river rises again. On tho western side of the river, j about forty yards from the mouth of ! Butcher's Creek, Scott, Miller, and party, | have sunk a paddock and dropped on a ] veritable "jeweller's shop." They Jcaleulato upon 'dividing at least £liO per man for the current week's labor; and as of er paddocks are in course of being sunk in the same locality, it is anticipated a large quantity of gold will be extracted from the ground iu question. Tho Chinese are in their glory, and much to the credit of tho Europeans, they are allowed to work in perfect peace, even in ground of a very auriferous class. I noticed yesterday several parties of Celestials working alternate claims with Englishmen, and no jealousy wiiateverM.-jr.-Hi t" exist towards the foreigners.

The Manuherikia is so low that an active man may jump over it in some places, and Mr Leslie, the owner of the punt at Alexandra, has determined to leave his punt in the middle ef the river, and let the miners jump on board of it from either side. "It is an ill wind that blows no one good" is a hoary aphorism, but still itberrs within it much originaality under countless circumstances ; at present it is very applicable to the miners of this district. The frost has nearly put a stop to all mining operations in mo>t of the districts surrounding this place, and the miners will be soon compelled to try their luck on the banks of the Molyneux. The dredges on the Molyneux are worked both night and day, and the owners are acting wisely in making the best of the present state of river, like the miners on its banks. The dredges at Sandy Point are making piles, and although the work is hard, the wages' men are well satisfied with their earnings, and prefer a steady income to even the alluring prospects of making a speedy " rise" by working for themselves on the banks. In municipal matters, the inhabitants of the town have taken a very promising step as a beginning of business. A numereusly signed requisition has been presented to Mr Finlay to alow himself to be nominated for tbe high office of Mayor to the Municipality. Mr Finlay at first refused to meet the wishes of the requisitionists, but even'ually consented, and a more qualified person for the post does not reside in the district. We have men of business lucre who will make councillors ■calculated to promote the interest of the district ill every possible sense, a- d when the Council will have been formed, it is most certain that it will boar a favorable comparison, in ability and pel-severance, with any in the Trovince of Otago.