ALEXANDRA.

Dunstan Times, Issue 459, 3 February 1871, Page 3

ALEXANDRA.

(from OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) We are not so intensely excited over the elections as to forget the races, and consequently despite the unsettled nature of the weather, a goodly number of our residents have gone to swell the Crowd on the Dunstall racecourse.

Politics have, however, had their fair share of attraction, and we have had two ca ndidatea for legislative honors before us. Mr. Shepherd and Mr Fraser. The former held a meeting onThursday night last, MrTheyers presiding, and explained his views after stating that the. squatters had conspired to keep him out of the House of Representatives, and were using every effort to do so. At the conclu sion of his address a vote of confidence in him Was passed. Mr. Fraser addressed us on Wednesday evening Mr. Theyers in the chair. He made a short speech, and answered a number of questions satisfactorily, after which a vote of thanks was accorded to him.

The Galatea dredge keeps on rich ground. One hundred and fifty eight ounces of the precious metal, was the result of last week’s work, and this week two days yielded ninety eight ounces. The Alabama has not been so fortunate! It has met with several accidents but in a day or two will be again hard at it. The Kearsage has been moved up to its claim next to that of the Galatea, and the shareholders in it confidently anticipate, as the richest ground worked by that dredge was oh their boundary to drop in for a good thing. Beattie and Go’s dredge has been shifted from Poverty Beach up the river, The river is lower now than it has been for years at this season, in fact it is at a low winter level, and is falling yet. Should a severe winter set in as expected the Molyueux may bo compelled to disgorge much of the precious metal hidden under its rapid stream. ■ I have nothing from Butcher’s or Conroy's to report.

0 R 0 M \Y ELL

(from our own correspondent ) Our quiet little town liifct been quite convulsed during'' the last few days through the excitement caused by the elections. But this is as it should be—it is better to see popular feelings run to almost any height than to see people careless of their rights, and living in a state of apathy. With four candidates fighting for the seat in the House of Representatives it will be hard indeed if we cannot get one to represent us properly.

Mr. Fraser was the first to open the campaign here. On Saturday he delivered a very good address in 'Mr. Barry’s Auction Mart, to a large number of voters. He .expressed himselfin favor otullowingthc Provinces to borrowunderguaranteefromthe Assembly Thegoldduty ought to be abolished. There-was no use in the Government “encouraging immigration. It the prosent colonists got on well they would soon induce their friends and relatives to come but. He was in favor of deferred payments for land; and that land revenue should be expended in the districts where it was raised. The Hundreds system was in his opinion the best, and he did not think free selection was feasible. . It would be better to tax unimproved land than to limit the amount to be held by any person. Money spent in-putting an end to the war in the Noith would improve the value of the land there, and consequently ought to be paid by the Northern colonists. The question to be decided by the electors was “Am lan honest man or not.” If he was an honest man then he must act up to his pledges. - In answer to Mr. Barry he said that he would do his best tv> get a commonage for the district, and to opou the Hawea Block. He was against putting a poll tax on the Chinese, as it would be contrary to our treaty with China. It was moved by Mr. Ba-ry, and carried nem con —“ That Mr. Frasey was a fit and proper person to represent the district in the House of Representatives. On Monday Mr. Shepherd addressed —if anything—a larger meeting than Mr. Fraser. He entered at length into his conduct in the Provincial Council, and took credit, to himself for having brought forward nearly all the good schemes that have comehito existence since he was first returned, and urged the miners not to return a squatter, as it was impossible to believe that a squatter Would act contrary to his own ■ interest, and the squatting and mining. interests are essentially antagonists. A motion by Mr. Brown— “ That Mr. Shepherd Was a lit and proper person to represent them,” was carried unanimously.

l am sorry to say that the mining affairs at the Garrick Ranges are in a bad way, owing to the water disputes. Ihe Royal Standard Machine cannot get on at all at present for want of water, but I hope that in a few days some arrangement will have been come to that will suit all parties.