ALEXANDRA.

Dunstan Times, Issue 318, 29 May 1868, Page 2

ALEXANDRA.

(fkom a correspondent.) May 27. \ The continued wet weather of late has had the eii'ect of causing a most unprecedented dulness iu both mining and commercial circles in this district! and were it not for the Chinese, who number pretty strongly, there is no question but that many of our storekeepers and hotelkeepers would have to follow up the diggers, as in the days of old, and leave the uncertain and fick'e Molyneux till a more favjfc able season. Great indignation was expressed when your journal advocated the introduction of poor John to this country some two years ago by all sections of the mining community, but I doubt not, if one and all were to speak sincerely, blessings instead of curses would be awarded him. John quietly and unostentatiously is pursu ing hisvocation,and,in most instances is reaping a rich reward for his pei-so veranee and labor. There are already two Chinese stores here, and I am given to understand that others are about to be started. To a greater or less degree every man is a consumer, and it matters not if he be Mongolian or European, so loDg &i we have him he must, of necessity he an acquisition. Therefore ;;11 must join issue with me j under existing circumstances, seeing

thattheEuropean population is getting smaller and beautifully less, in emphatically saying that John Chinaman is the mainstay ( tf this district. The miners w" ao are engaged sluicing away the banks of the Molyneux have not been doing so well as formerly, owing ' a the high level the river has mai; itained for some time past. In fact, only the Ovens and Drummy's pari ies have been able to work at all, v hilo the whole of the parties on Fr jnchman's Point have been lying com paratively idle The want oi ' land for settlement is a great drawb; ick to the prosperity of the district, ai id persons must either actually en. jagi'd in mining or leave for e'sewhere A public meeting on this subject \ ras held here on Saturdap night las' ;, and the result was a petition to tl' .e Superintendent, praying that suit: ( ble blocks of land might be"laid open for occupation. Never was a create- ; mistahe made than returning Mr. Frascv to the Council, and to this cause must be attributed there being no lan din this district available for occupati' in, that gentleman having so well p' otc cted Ins own run being cut up, that is may with truth be said—verily, we 1 iave fall' n into the lions, mouth. T' le requirements of this district will .in time demand the entire of Mr. Fraser's run to be at the disposal of the people ;it is the most eligible pie :e of country in the Dunstan district for agricultural and grazing purpo ies, and lam sure that it would be r luch better for the Province that it were occupied by man, than in its presen ; unproductive state of a sheep wall :.

pit: jlic meeting.

THE LAND QUESTION. A pubi ic meeting of the inhabitants of A lexandra and surrounding district w: s held in the long i-oom of Mr. L. R; 'an's Bendigo Ha-el, Alexandra, on Saturday evening last, the 23rd inst., to take into consideration the Land question ; about one hun dredpersi ns were present. Mr. P. Fiulay, tl e Mayor, who was voted to the Chair entered at some length on the quest! )n pointing out the great injustice 1 hat was being done the dis trict by r 5t opening up the land to those who were willing to settle, and make the; lselves permanent homes ; the speak ir, in conclusion suggested that, as t 1 le Provincial Council was in Session, t le time was most opportune to appeal to that body by petition, praying ' hat steps might be taken whereby he land should bo thrown open for ' loua-fide settlement. Messrs. Iversen, T'.ieyers, Webb, Watson, Jack, and , others addressed the meet- j ing, after which the following tions wi re carried with acclama-; tiou : Propo; td by Mr. Theyers, seconded I by Mr. tversen, That this meet ing j desires to express surprise and regret tit the re peated delays on the part of j the Gov jrnment in opening up the lands in ;h:s district for settlement, Propo- ed by Mr. J Sandison and seconded by Mr. E. Jones, That a Comniiti ee be formed to draw up a petition to the Provincial Cou cil, praying ;hat the land in the district of Ale> andra be thrown open for settleme: it Propo jeil by Mr. Webb, seconded by Mr. . ; I. Watson, That the requirements of 'the district demand that the lands sh >uld be immediately thrown open to the pressing wants of the residents, a: id to prevent them leaving the disti ict as heretofore. Propc Bed by Mr. A. Jack, seconded by Mr. Webb, That fifteen chains back, m jre or less, along tho banks of the Mol pneux, be reserved for mining purpose; i. Propi sed by Mr. Steward, seconded by Mr '\ buyers, That the chairman be authori; ed to sign the petition to the Provincial Council on behalf of the raeetinp ; The 1 61 lowing gentlemen were elected the Committee to draw up the petition : —Messrs. Finlay, Sandison, Jack, I heyers, and Webb. A vc be of thanks to the chair terminate! I the proceedings.