ALEXANDRA.

Dunstan Times, Issue 513, 16 February 1872, Page 2

ALEXANDRA.

(FROM OtTR CORRESPONDENT.) I have not written you for some few weeks past, for the one simple reason that I had no good news to chronicle, and to harp on the string that everyone is attempting to scratch that doleful tune “Hard times” out of, 1 did not feel myself equal to, so I sheathed my (sword) pen for the while, awaiting something to turn up, but, thinking you might suspect other reasons for my silence than the one I assign ; and in spite of my lack of intelligence, 1 set to work, and will endeavor to give you a faithful account of what is doing. Quartz being in, 1 will give them precedence. At Conroy’s Gully the Company are still pushing ahead with their works :the shaft at the end of their main tunnel is now sunk some fifty feet, and carrying good stone, to all appearances this will continue as the stone is pretty uniform in thickness and appearance, The result of the last cleaning up was not quite up to the usual average ; hut this din not surprise the shareholders, they being aware that a lot of very poor stuff was being put through the battery. Shares are not quite so high as they were, but nothing but long prices are looked for. The Butcher’s Gully reef 1 am afraid ii not going to set the district ablaze, the men engaged in raising a trial crushing speak hopefully however, and prognosticate a very handsome yield. The stone is hut thin, and the back country being very hard the yield will, of a necessity, have to be extremely good to cover expenses, the pumping gear in use for draining the claim works very smoothly and effectually does ifs work. Bennett and party in Conroy’s Gully have suspended their operations for a time and I am given to understand are at present in Dunedin, trying to raise capital to enable them'to prosecute their researches. On or about the claim every indication exists of a good payable reef, and it will be a thing to ho much deplored if money sufficient cannot be raised to thoroughly test the locality. Local enterprise in the district is indeed dormant, when funds for pros-

pecting has to be sought in the Capital, not that I say for one moment Duneilin should not be called upon to assist in developing the resources of the district, on the contrary, but it ought to be supplementary to the districts quota, rather than take a leading position ; to my mind the “top shows a weakness, and' it would surprise me hut little to see our friends return most terribly snubbed. Of the other reefs that have claimed attention, none are at present active, the shareholders however, after a short spell intend to further test their capabilities. The one at the head of Butcher’s Gully is spoken very favorably of, and I anticipate the pleasure at no distant date, of conveying to your readers some good news of it. The Gorge Creek Water Eacc is slowly making its tortuous way along its zig-zag course. That it will eventually reach its intended haven I have no doubt ; hut whether it will he in two or twenty years, the prophets alone can tell. Work in Butcher’s, Conroy’s, and Bjackman’t Gullies is at a stand still, the supply of water’,being insufficient for ground sluicing, the system used in these localities. Kelt’s party, MTlroy, and others, in Golden Dead Bullock, and numerous other gullies, are doing a little ; hut really, until the water supply is augmented, their united efforts will have but little effect in the escort returns.

On the eastern bank of the renowned Motyneux, the few parties at work are p*irsuing the even tenor of their way, peacefully and unostentatiously, and, as far as I can learn, about making both ends meet. The Manuherikia Company have now got the whole of their water engaged on the terraces of the Manuherikia. The steady persistent way they have of working is almost conclusive evidence of their welldoing. The Manorburn Flat, of which you have spoken so often and so strongly-re-commended as a field of profitable labor, is passing entirely into the hands of the Chinese. There are five or six different parties, each-holding a large area under the extended leases Regulations, and a four-acre clailh was last week applied for. The Manuherikia Coal-pit, the only one open in the district, is doing a thriving and profitable trade, and raising some firstclass coal. Mr. M‘Donald is doing his best to supply the demand, and richly deserves the stroke of luck which has fallen to his share.

Harvesting has been pretty general throughout the district, and is now well over. The work has been impeded considerably by the scarcity of labor. The 1 wage paid was 50s. per week, and found.