ALEXANDRA

Dunstan Times, Issue 517, 15 March 1872, Page 3

ALEXANDRA

—o—(from a correspondent.) The 'rain_has'come r at last, and “good use is being made of it, every available drop having been brought to bear on to bill, terrace, or hollow. A considerable accession tp the population has lately been made by the arrival of several* parlies of Chinamen, who, with but with few exceptions, have located Hhomselves on the Manor bum-flat ; this ground I have so repeatedly spoken of as being highly auriferous, that it has often fbeeu a source-of wonderment to’me that it has been at owed to remain idle so long—however, it is now occupied, and I can only express my regret t hat the European is not in possession instead of the children of the Sun. I don’t know whether it is that the White Skin hicks the energy, or that our yellow long tailed friends have more, but wherever one now goes, the one is to be seen walking the country, swag on shoulder, asking with his tongue for work, and praying with his whole body that be may not find it, while the heathen is quietly and steadily working out his own fortune. lam not singular in remarking this, and I would, in good faith, advise the white man to mend his ways ere he finds himself completely supplanted.

To revert to thefWanorhurn Flat. I can say it is being worked in a thoroughly systematic manner, and with very good results; and, to appearance, will profitably employ the present population, who number aboutjseventy, for a long time. ThcJ’Ovens Company, taking advantage of the lowness of the river, I am pleased to'note have again'set in to work in .their claim on the Manuherikia river, at Butler’s Point, and are working with a will to get the bottom off. Should success crown their efforts, I have no doubt hut that they will he very well repaid for the labor they have expended. The prospects obtained before they were flooded out about three months since lead to that assumption. In my next I hope to chronicle good news. There is nothing particular to say of any of the other mining companies located hereabouts, so I will content myself with re.portingtthat they are all in full swing, and so far as I can learn, well satisfied with the result Of. their labors. Some contradictory rumors bave of late been flying about, regarding Iversen’s reef. Conroy’s Gully, this is the true state of affairs. The Company are engaged sinking.a shaft in the foot of their tunnel, and are employing six men thereon. At a depth of 25 feet a heavy body’of water has been encountered. It is intended to put on another shift, and thereby so master the water as to be able tojsink to a greater depth. The reef is traced the whole of the way, but so far continues thin, vet containing good gold. Whilst testing ’the reef at thelower 'level, all other work ■is stopped, butiit is intended to procced'jftt ones raising stoue]from the other parts of Tthe reef. Mr. Chappie sold lately two one twentieth shares in the Butcher’s Gully Reef for fifty shillings each, and three shares in the Galatea dredge, realizing on the average 15/. 70s. each. ;..