ALEXANDRA.

Dunstan Times, Issue 276, 9 August 1867, Page 2

ALEXANDRA.

[FKOiI OCR owx ccmr.r.sroxDEXT.] Alexandra) Aug. G. Total abstinence from the use of intoxicating liquors is a virtue not generally existing on the goldfields of New Zealand. The miners of this district, however, are bent on leading a life of sobriety, and next week a Total Abstinence Fociety will be formed. The miners of Conroy's, and Butcher's Gullies, and those of Coal Creek, are the principal movers in the matter, and, no doubt, many converts will shortly be made. The election of Councillors has passed off in a mo it satisfactory manner. Messrs*. Theyers, Jack, liadcliife, and Beresford have been elected, and the town may ustly be proud of its Municipal Council. In mining matters the greatest activity exists, and localities of auriferous resources are being taken up which have been overlooked since the Manuherikia district has been known as a goldfield. Messrs. Cameron and Weed, in co - - nexion with others, have entered upon an enterprise of a most promising nature A short distance above Chappel's flume over the Manorburn there exists a very rich fiat, and an opening through a gorge, to drain the ground, is only necessary to bring lack " auld times again" to the Manorburn. Capital and energy are«at hand to execute the Avork, and to-morrow it will be commenced. Messrs. Scott and Miller, Brothers, are preparing to restore the Imperial flume over the Molyneux, at the mouth of Butcher's Creek. 'lhe reader- of the '•' Duustau Times," i o doubt, remember tint, some few months past, two men lost their lives by ibis fluniing giving way, sluicing operations being since interrupted However, Butcher's Point will shortly bo a bu-y scene, Mid work resumed as usual. At Butcher's Creek the ground sinkers arc performing wonders, and the magnitude of their work is astonishing. O'Jvane and party have a tail race nine hundred yards in length, and in some places t wentyeijlit feet deep, c >sting many months' of patient labor. The quantity of powder used in blasting the rock could not have been less than fifteen hundredweight. This enterprising party are now clear of all difficulties. They have ground opened before them that will take at least two years to work out, and will pay at least £lO per week per man. The next claim is owned by Jenkins, Stancombe, and party. Their tail race is seven hundred yards in length, and, like that of O'Kane's party, has cost much labor. Mining parties complain much of the acre claim s\stcm. They find that area utterly non-commensurable to the capital and labor necessary to construct tail races of any magnitude. Dunn and party have also a tail race in the same Creek. It has likewise cost a large amount of money. A 1 though ground may be good, an acre in a narrow creek is not enough, and the question should be considered by the Government, and some change at once brought about with a view of encouraging enterprising men in the construction of tail races. At the upper part of the creek, near the Old man Ranges, there are parties ;\L work, and doing well. Judging by the caifP ful way the bed of the creek is being worked by them the yield of gold must be good. Benr.ey, Luke, and Martin, Brothers, the proprietors of the Great Eastern Tunnel, at the foot of Conroy's Gully, arepeiforming wonder 9. Some of their branch tunnels are four hundred feet in length, and the whole water of Conroy's Creek meanders through the various tunnels, doing sluicing operations on a very extensive scale. Tiiese works are worthy of inspection, even by the experienced miner, but trebly so by those who have never witnessed underground operations. At Blackmail's Oulley, Beattie, Ham-

il ton and party have been at work on the Hat for nearly two years, and liavb given emplo) meut to a considerable number of men ; they are at present constructing a water race to work the terrace bordering the flat, the water will also be of service for working the low ground. The Chinese are &t present covering the banks of the Moly'neux, from Leslie's Ferry, at Alexandra to Butcher's Point. It is strange beyond measure that they succeed in getting gold in places that have been trod over and over again by Europeans during the last five years, nevertheless such is tme, " John" however is reaping a harvest, from what was previously declared a barren soil, and the district is beneGtting by hls--iaboui' At Mutton "Town Point, Phinn, Young aud party are employing a ' strong muster of hands, and with the pre- • sent abundant supp'y of water, a large 'amount of ground is being sluiced daily. Throughout the district of Manuherikia, progress in mining matters is everywhere visible, and the "Croakers" who say that the country is done, reed only come, and see the prosperity reigning here to have their opinion altered

A good story was told the " Northern •Argus" lately by a gentleman who has Lad many opportunities of judging of the present moral feeling which pervades the mercantile community of Queensland, and perhaps some other colonies He received a coramissio -. from an acquaintance to purchase iron for him to the value of £I4OO, to be paid within fourteen day?. On applying to the representative of an extensive dealer in this article, the first question put was, whether th« intending purchaser was " a good mark." "Excellent," was the reply, " besides the payment may be considered as cash." The name was then mentioned. l; A very good name, indeed," replied the seller, but I wou'd decline having any transactions witli that person. Are you aware that some time ago he made a settlement with his creditors f " Perfectly so, was the rep'y, lie paid them 20s. in the pound, besides 5 per cent, interest." That is ex nctly the reason why I refuse to deal with him, as it shows his perfect inaptitude for business. Had he settled with them by paying a composition (the smaller the bet ter,) I would have had faith in him, for then he would have had something left to begin the world with again ; but to pay in fall when he had thechance of getting off by making a composition, seems to me so irrational that I wou'd never trust the man in any matter of business ; so I decline to act on your ordei\ The man is evidently unfit to take care of himself." The Late ITead-Cextke Stephens. The Head Centre Stephens is still in Paris, but I hear, writes a Paris correspondent, that he lias fallen into sad disrequte for not taking a plunge in "inedias res." On the contrary, Stephens thinks he is much safer in France, and all he requires is a little more money, lie is quite convinced of the foolhardiness of the recent attempt in Ireland, and grieves over the fate that has overtaken his dupes. The amount of money which has stuck to Mr. Stephens's fingers will probably never be known, but I have heard it c itimated at £20,000, and that he will most pre•bably reside in the south of Prance. ■■ -- ■■■