ALEXANDRA

Dunstan Times, Issue 566, 21 February 1873, Page 2

ALEXANDRA

(FROM A CORRESPONDENT. A meeting of gentlemen interested in the building of a steam dredge, and the placing of the same on the Molyneux, was held here on Saturday evening last, Mr. M‘Queen, of the firm of Kincaid and M'Qnean, Ironfouhdors, Dunedin, who was present, laid on the table plans and draw" ing; of a machine, and entered into a full explanation ofjits capabilities. He said a dredge constructed on the prin iple of his drawings, and o:i the same lines, would, for tho day of twenty-four hours, with five men on a sKift of eight hours, that being equal to fifteen men, raise and wash fifty tons per hour, or one thousand tons per day, allowing four hours fer sir'ting the dredge, and that the total cost of the dredge alrealy moored in the Molyneux, with a guarantee to keep it in order for six months, would be about 4,0001. He then said, from estimates he had made, ho concluded the cost of raising and washing the dirt would not exceed 3d. per load. He concluded by saying that he had every faith in the undertaking, and as an earnest of such, his ilrrxjgwcre prepared toj take several hundred pounds worth of shares if the ■ capital was locally subscribed. He had great objections to what might he termed Dunedin companies. It locked to Dim as if there was more speculation than cert ainty, whereas, when the shares were held in the district, it assumes a more genuine appearance. Mr. J. 0. Chappie said whilst in Dunedin lately, he had obtained estimates of tbe cost of dredges suitable for the river ; the plans he was not provided with, but be thought be could give such a description as would bo inteTigiblo. Messrs. Sparrow and Thomas offer to construct an iron centre boat, with single ladder for 3,GDO/, and Mr. W. Wilson, offers to construct a wooden centre boat, with single ladder for 2,200/. A great deal of conversation among the gentlemen present followed, and it was ultimately settled that steps bo taken to form a company, with a capital of 5,000/.,' in 5/. shares, and Mr. J. C. Chappie was in-trueted to draw up a prospectus, have the same advertised, and printed for circulation. Mr. Warden Simpson on Tuesday last, visited Bald Hill Flat, in oonnection with an application to the Waste Lands Board, made by Mr. J. R. Kemp, to purchase four sections of land held by him under agricultural leases. The visit caused no little excitement, and a number of miners and farmers put in an appearance to watch tbe proceedings. Mr. Simpson having gone over the ground, took the evidence of some miners, who objected to tbe land being sold. This evidence was very contradictory, some averring that the laud would not pay with any system of mining, others, that it was highly auriferous. Mr. Simpson said he should recommend the grant ng of the h|plication for two sections, and tbit the other two be open for mining until tho expiration of tbe leases, which would expire in 187G, and that it they were not by then proved tube auriferous or taken up, that Mr. Kemp be allowed to purchase them. The applications of Robert Leslie anil John Crossan for leases under tho agricultural system, were thou considered, the former was granted conditionally, that water races may be cut through tho land without compensation, the latter refused on the ground or it not being wanted for agriculture, it being only’ required by tho applicant to secure an outlet from bis present holding to the hack country, and that it might possibly be auriferous. The objectors in im st of the cases were the Gorge Creek Water Race Company, wdio, though they did not openly express dissatisfaction at the at the result of the enquiry, appeared any thing but pleased. Ido not wish, Mr. Editor, to draw a hornet’s nest about my ears, not being prepared to resist tho attack, so will not comment on the objections, Another opportunity may present itself, when I may again trouble yon.

The crops on Spear-grass and Bald hill Flats may be consblered to bo goo', and they arc mostly cut down and housed. The only crop not up to the mark is potatoes. This is caused by the drought. Mining in this neighborhood may bo said to bo halcyon, there being but some four or five parti,s in all wielding the pick and shovel. When the long-looked for saviour of the district, the Gorge Creek Race, disgorges its two or three heads of the liquid element on to the highly auriferous spurs'(?) that skirt this home of the farmer, an increased population of two or three fossickers may cause a stir. Good times are coming, and all duo to the MTLenzio-cum-Forrcst-cum-Simmondsclan, the noble and patriotic. I shall vote that a monument bo erected to them.

The officials conneotedijwith tho in-door staff of the Cardiff Union (Wales) lately made an application (o the Board to he supplied with easy chairs, sofas, pictures, pier-glasses, and hip baths. The Guardians were mildly surprised, and the only conces siou the Board would mako was “ common arm-chairs with hair cushions.” The Court of Exchequer has decided tha‘

to call a sporting' man a “ welsher” is not slander in a legal souse. In tho course of tho argument in the case, the Judges indirectly signified their willingness to accept the authority of the “Slang Dictionary” for a definition of the obnoxious word for the use of which an action had b;en brought. At a meeting of ono of our West End metropolitan vestries during the week the vestry had in their agenda “Application for music licenses,” but there being none tho word “nil” was placed at the end of tho sentence. On coming to that portion of tho business, one intelligent vestryman jumped up in his place and demanded to bo informed what was the meaning of “ml "Tho defied bn of an ff.vrff’y iu’f 'ligent brother vestryman was, “Way a pint pot without any deer in it”