ALEXANDRA.

Dunstan Times, Issue 685, 4 June 1875, Page 3

ALEXANDRA.

(Communicated.) Mr Joseph Knowles, who died in the Dims tan District Hospital, on Saturday last, and was bur’od at the Clyde Cemetery on the following Wednesday afternoon, was almost one of the earliest residents in the Dunstan District. Ho arrived on the Molyneux in September, 1862, and in company with Mr John Young of Sandy Point, cut the first water race out of the Praser River. Afterwards he joined the late and well-known Mr David Jones, when, with that gentleman, he const) noted a large race to the celebrated Frenchman’s Point, as well as other races terminating on the Molyneux between the Fraser River and Conroy’s Beach. Messrs Jones and Knowles used to bo distinguished as the chief water squatters of Alexandra. After Mr Jones’ death, Mr' Thomas Oliver, now of Dunedin, became the possessor of these properties, which gradually, owing to the ground they were constructed to operate upon becoming worked out, dee re used in value, when Mr Oliver parted with them, and the water races were divided amongst various owners. Mr Knowles, by some means, managed to get rid of the little money he had accumulated, and was compelled to undertake the charge of the water race of Mr Michael Kett, which duty he fulfilled until within a few days of his death. The deceased was a native of Holyhead, North Wales, and was 63 years of age. He was buried, according to his dying request, alongside of an old townsman—one David Evans—who, being in indigent circumstances, Mr Knowles, at his own private expense, caused to bo very respectably interred, erecting afterwards a memorial stone over his grave. Mr Knowles was very well respected, and his funeral was attended by a considerable number of persons from Clyde, Alexandra, and surrounding places. The service was verj’ feelingly performed by the Rev. Mt Dewe. The first of the series of winter evening entertainments, consisting of readings, recitations, and instrumental and vocal music, took place on Monday evening last in the Library Hal], and, despite the fact that considerable confusion in the date, the original understanding being that the inaugural night was to he Wednesday, and the advertised date Monday, I may, in all fairness state, was a glorious success in every sonso of the word, the operators being plenty and well up to their work, whilst those operated on gave full evidence of their pleasure by repeated hursts of applause. I will not attempt to particularize, as the auctioneer says, but I fain must give credit to Mrs McDonald, and Messrs Austin and Thomson for their songs ; to Messrs R. Finlay, Samson, and Rice for their readings ; and to the latter gentleman and Mr Buckley for recitations. The iee being now fairly broken it is to be hoped, on Wednesday next, the day fixed upon for the second entertainment, there will be an increased attendance.