ALEXANDRA.

Dunstan Times, Issue 423, 27 May 1870, Page 3

ALEXANDRA.

(PKOM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT) May 25. In this portion of the district there has been of late very little news to chronicle, seeing that the weather has so interfered with mining pursuits as to have visible effect upon our mining productions, reducing our Escort returns to the lowest ebb as gold field producers ; looking back to former seasons at this time of the year, it is naturally expected to see the Molyueux at its winter level, and those holding large claims on its banks, employing largo number of bauds in extracting wealth from its low terraces or deeper gorges, once forming portions of its old river bed. Eor the most part our claimholders had made a commencement, the first start made for winter operations was by the Hit or Miss Company, who have held their clann some six years, they this season have added to their plant various improvements, instead of as formerly passing the whole of their auriferous dirt from the paddock to the boxes with barrows, a tram road has been laid down and trucks introduced worked by horsepower, effecting a saving, estimate 1 at from £2OO to £3OO in their winter operations. On Friday last, a large wheel built for the Company by Messrs Eatc’iffe and Aitken at a cost of £l2O was removed to the claim, with the assistance of over ferty miners, who lent a willing hand to place it in position, this will work when a start is again ma 'e a large Californian fclnp, ninety foot in length, which is expected to drain the Compauys’ ground, the claimholders, the whole of whom are composed of working miners, deserve great credit f r the p ucky manner in making improve - ments upon the old plan adopted, and succss trust will amply repay them for t heir time and outlay. lam sorry to say, th“ last rise of th i river has thrown at 1 :ast sixty hands out of employment caussomo distress and much depression, not only to miners, but the commercial interests of the town are likewise effected, but It is to be hope 1 that this depression will ha but temporary, seeing that the weather is again looking more settled, and in the course of another weak most claims will r esuine work. Our town has had an accession to her business men, by the advent of a new butchery establishment erected on premises adjunct to the Criterion Hotel, and now occupied by Messrs Judge and Jenkins, and from the quality of the meat displayed, and the low prices they have pledged them selves to maintain wi 1 prove a boon to the inhabitants and miners who have hitherto suffered from the exorbitant price of meat. There is also a talk of a new bakery, un loss the present price of bread is reduced to mie sinking the four pound loaf as at Clyde, and elsewhere. We are still suffering from want of postal communication with Dunedin, owing I suppose to the floods down country. On Thursday the Foresters have a Ball and Supper at the Royal Mail Hotel, and a large muster of the Brotherhood is expected to attend. Our Library is still closed until such time the committee of management wake up to open the doors to its grumbling subscribers, who have patiently awaite I some six weeks, the reason alleged for its closing, was to regain possession of all its bonks, some few' days being considered Sufficient for the purpose ; the Committee are greatly blamed for the time being so prolonged.