ALEXANDRA.

Dunstan Times, Issue 351, 15 January 1869, Page 3

ALEXANDRA.

(COMMUMCATED.)

Mining affairs, that is to say the old-established claims that have been in work for the last two or three years, and which to all appear-ances will continue for as many more, are steadily yielding tin average quantities of the precious metal, and giving satisfaction to the shareholders Of all the various paits of this large and scattered district I really think I shall only be doing honor where honor is due in saying that there appears to be greater individual prosperity just about here than in any other part. The fact that there ia a scarcity of labor is sufficient evidence—from tho

croaking which is to bo heard on every side—that we are a truly English community, and that we are only indulginginthe prerogative handed down to us. I have often heard it said—l think with truth—that growlers are at bottom the best workers ; but, let that be as it may', it is my opinion that we are prosperous, and therefore can afford to please ourselves by either growling or singing as beat suits us.

The season, so far, has been very favora* le to the owners of water-races, the supply of the liquid element being most plentiful, and of which every advantage is taken The Manuherikia Mining Company, better known as Drummy and Party, are working away with a will, and are making great havoc along the line of their claim. The Ovens party are likewise making the most of their time, and are washing away the bank of the Molyneux at a rate truly surprising. The system adopted by this Company is perfect, or next kin to it, and for their indomitable perseverance and pluck in battling against the difficulties that beset them from the outset of their career they richly deserve the reward they are now reaping. Upon going over their claims the other day, ostensibly with no object in view oilier than to while away an hour or two, but really for the purpose of taking a few notes, 1 was surprised at the extent of and expensive character of the plant employed in saving the gold In answer to a question, one of the shareholders—a sharp shrewd sort of a fellow, and, from a certain nasal twang, added to a trifle of the “ guess and calculate,” I presume to be an American citizen—told me that the number of boxes in use by the company in the two claims was “ close along” seventy, each box being fourteen feet long, and lined with ripple bottoms, some of cast iron, others of spring steel, and the remainder of bar iron, and that each box, when new, cost on an average somewhere about 9/. The Rose, Thistle, and Shamrock Company have the whole of their water let, and, to all appearances, M‘Donald and party, who are the lessees, are doing very well in disintricating the gold from the aluvial of the old Red Hill. It is to be hoped that the law, in the pending dispute between the owners of the race and Messrs. Blackwell and party for filling up the head dam in the Manuherikia, will be favorable to the race-owners, as, since the purchase, a large sum of money has been expended on the race, and without the dam it is valuless. This party, since the injunction calling upon them to stop the woi’king of their claim, which was fil'ing up the dam of the Rose, Thistle, and Shamrock Company, have discovered some highly payable sluicing ground about six miles above Mr. Low’s

Galloway Station, on the Manuherikia. The depth of the ground is abont twenty feet, thirteen leet of which are payable, yielding from cwo grains to half a pennyweight to the dish. There is plenty of fall to the ground, and water is to be obtained,for mining purposes, at a very low rate, from the Manuheri ia Water-race. There is not a question but. that the whole of the distance from Mr. Low’s station to Black’s is not only auriferous but highly payable, and would support a population of several hundreds were they but once located.

The river has been very high of late, consequently the dredges are all lying idle, A perfect fleet is being constructed between here and the feviot. May they one and all lie fortunate enough to anchor on a golden bar is the sincere wish of your correspondent.