ALEXANDRA.

Dunstan Times, Issue 344, 27 November 1868, Page 3

ALEXANDRA.

OF MESSRS. DULEY MACXERSY’S NEW IRON PUNT. Monday last was quite a gala day at Alexandra, and the christening of the new iron self-acting punt, with which Messrs. Duley and Maekersey have replaced their old one, was made a scene of fes'ivity and rejoicing, the like of which has not been experienced since Sir George Grey honored the Manuherikia with his presence. The weather was all that could he desired, the wind which had blown pretty hard during the fore part of the day, became almost calm by three o’clock, the time at which the ceremony took place. Old Boreas had quite ceased to be rude, and what with the warm sun and the fresh breeze off the river, it was quite enjoyable. A goodly company of ladies and gentlemen were or. board; the fair sex rather of the two predominated, and to many old residents it seemed a matter of surprise where such a body of well dressed females came from, that they were residents in the district and not the off-spring of the “water gods” was a fact borne out by the mutual recognitions which took place. The punt was .a ready attached to the iron wire cable w hich stretches across the river, and was dnl}’- moored at the township landing-place. The Mayor. RobertFiolay, Esq., J.P. opened the proceedings by referring to the progres made by the district of Alexandra and the great benefit which must arise by the opening up of communication with the seaboard by way of the west bank of the Molyneux. He highly eulogised the enterprise and public spiritedness of Messrs. Duley and Mackersy, the owners of the punt and at whose special invitat on the present goodly company were assem- ! bled. Everything being now in readi- | ness for the most interesting part of the ceremony, Mr. Finlay introduced ! his little daughter Jennie, upon whom the choice of spouson to the floating ' bridge had fallen; handing to the fairy like little creature the authodox bottle j of champagne, duly suspended bv satin ( ribands and handsomely bedecked with i rosettes for the sacrifice. She let go j at the proper moment. The bottle j swung quickly to the appointed mark, j and the sparkling wine whetted the ! bows of the ‘‘Alexandra,” amidst I the continued cheers of the company on board and the numerous company who lined the river bank. The mooring ropes were then let go, and the large machine glided smoothly and gracefully into the river. A rapid onslaught of the good things on board quick y ensu d, and success to (he A'evaudra and her enterprising owners was drunk by all. The punt, having made the passage across, was brought back again to the original startingplace, and made fast, when the speech! lying at once commenced. The Mayor opened the proceedings with a few appropriate remarks upon the success of the trip across the river. Loud calls were then made for the proprietors of the punt, when Mr M‘Kersey stepped forward and thanked the Company for their pro scnco ; said that, no one wished more than themselves that success would attend their undertaking ; the opening of the new road to the Teviot would largely benefit the district, and he, believed likewise the proprietors of the punt ; they had as hitherto met 1 with considerable succe s themselves, but they were still mindful of others, they had always done their best to promote tbe welfare of the district, 1 he trusted that the punt would have a long run and bo mutually benefici al to all parties. Mr. Warden Pyke, who was verv cordially received, said that, no greater evidence of the prosperity of the district of Alexandra was wanting than what they saw before them to 4 lay ;he had long been a resident in lie Australian Colonies, and a moi-e energetic and enterprising people were no where, else in the world to be fumd. It was only a few years since that we were living here in a bleak an I dreary wilderness, but through the untiring industry of the people, what was desolation then, is now covered with green fields and bio raing gardens, and the face of the country had been made to blossom like a rose. The resources of Otago were without doubt very great, the climate was magnificent,, wo could prow plenty of corn, raise Cuttle, !x>sides produce almost everything that wo required pwe possessed great and magnificent rivers, not only useful in Rssiating the commerce of the country glut their banks and terraces contain-' i ej gold in abundance, and their 1

I waters rolled over golden sands on their passage to the sea. After a flattering eulogy on the enterprising proprietors of the punt, Mr.. Pyke alluded to the fact that, when he first visited the Manuherikia some six years ago, only the most primitive appliances were in use for crossing the Molyneux, and what is now the prosperous Town of Alexandra consisted then of a few straggling calico tents; it was only solely due to the enterprise of its people that it occupied its present proud position ; he, Mr. Pyke trusted that the Punt would prove a successful speculation to her owners, and that they would reap that reward which such a noble undertaking deserved. Mr. Pyke concluded amidst uproarious cheers. Mr. Wi liam Theyers, who came forward at the earnest request of the company said, that, he believed him self to he one of the oldest inhabitants in Manuherikia, and he was highly gratified with the progress the place had made; at one time, the crossing of the Molyneux was no easy matter, the only means available, was, a sort of trumpery packing case, made of deal, and only capable of carrying two passengers, besides the man in charge at one time, and now they possessed one of the most approved self acting punt- in New Zealand. Alexandra had always kept pace with the times, and it would always continue to do so. The present undertaking of'' r essrs Dulcy ami M’Kerscy, he hoped would be equally as beneficial to those gentlemen, as it must undoubtedly be to the people of the Dnnstan District. Loud cheers followed M . Theyers’ speech. Mr Dunn spoke on behalf of the miners, and Mr. Benjamin Knight on behalf of the dredging interest. Other persons representing various interests made speeches, and God save the Queen by the company, concluded the festivities. A number of the leading personages resident in the district, by invitation adjourned to the private residence of his Worship, the Mayor, and were handsomely entertained. The punt of Messrs Duley and M‘Kersey is on the self acting principle, built upon twin iron boats, and on the most approved principle : its total cost is rather more than 800/. The builder is Mr. Robert * parrow of the Dunedin Iron Works, who has turned out one of the most complete works ever executed for the goldfields, for mechanical skill and constinotion, Mr. Sparrow must henceforward stand prominent as a worker in iron. The dimensions are as follows—Each boat, length over all, 3G feet; breadth of beam, 10 feet; depth of hold, 3 feet 9 inches ; Tonnage, builders measurement, D 5 Tons; weight, 4 Tons: length of bridge on platform, 36 feet; breadth, 13 feet. Total weight of timber and iron used in construction of punt, including boats, 15 Tons. Total carrying capacity, 30 Tons.