ALEXANDRA.

Dunstan Times, Issue 932, 27 February 1880, Page 3

ALEXANDRA.

In response to an invitation from the proprietors of the new current-wheel dredge to witness and co'cbrate the launching, a large number of the residents of Alexandra and its vicinity, including mos t of the leading citizens, assembled on the evening of Thursday the 19th instant, at the scene of operations, about a mile from the town of Alexan Ira, on the East bank of the Mo■yncux. On arrival it was found that the srdrite I proprietors had provided ample refreshments, which having heenlpartakon of, and the preparations for launching comp'eted, the boat slid into the river, the launching being under the superintendence of Messrs W. Robertson and Campl ell., without any hitch or delay. A gangway having been laid, the visitors assembled on board, and ths orthodox bottle of champagne having been adjusted. Mrs William Fiaser (the wife of one of the enterprising shareholders) was led forward by the Mayor, and the lady comp’cted the ceremonv. and name I the dredge the “ Duke of Sutherland ” amid the cheers of the spectators. TheMiyoi congratulated the Company on the enterprise they had displayed, ami their pluck in reviving dred *- ing operations at Alexandra, and expressed his belief that the speculation was a good one, and would amply remunerate them, and induce otheia to follow in their wake, believing that the floods hail caused fresh auriferous deposits, and scoured out a quantity of silt along the bed of the river, which would make it more easily wmkod, and more profitably dredged than heretofore He then propose 1 the healths of the shaieholders, which was heartily drank, amid the cheers of those assembled. Mr M ‘Kenzie the managing partner, then proposed the health of the contractors (Messrs Linn and Co ) which was briefly acknowledged by Mr Linn. Mr R. Finny next

■ addressed the assemblage, and said that hi was greatly pleased that the ' employer should be able and willing to complimeu i the workmen for the excellent job they bai . made, and that the paying them the com pliment reflected credit on all concerned Mr Theyers and others having a Idiesai the company, the assemblage broke up am i wended their way homeward, high!; pleased with the little excursion. Th dredge is over 60ft. in length, being sonn I Oft. longer than its predecessor, and ii now being fitted up with the machinery the buckets being on a new principle, am a vast improvement on any tuat hithertr have been used in this district. The (Join pany have most of the machinery on |oln ground, and expect to have everything it working order before the winter sots in. The dredge is on the ladder ami buckcl principle, the motive power being a cm rei i wheel—the buckets are entirely diffre n to any that have been employed before ii dredging the Molyneux, and it is anticipated they will do more, and much cleanei work than the old style. The whole o: the machinery has been executed by Messrs K'ncaid and M'Quecn, Dunedin, it car therefore be assumed it is of the best eba racier. It is expected that the machine! j will be all placed in position in about five or six weeks, when the work of gold-gett-ing will be commenced. On Monday afternoon last just prior tithe departure of Mr James Samson from his old haunts, for Dunedin, a number of that gentleman’s fellow townsmen met in Ryan’s Bendigo hotel, to wish him Godspeed, and good luck. Mr W. Tin-yen occupied the Chair. Mr Robert Fmlay, Vice-chair. The usual loyal and royal toasts having been drank, Mr Theyers, hi a few well chosen and eulogistic words, proposed the toast of the meeting -in doing so, he said Mr Samson was one of the very oldest residents of Alexandra, and he w.a sure that all present would agree with him in saying that by the departure of Mr Samson the town and district was suffering a great loss. In everything pertaining to the welfare and advancement of the town, he had been at all times prominent ami as chief citizen (Mayo- ) for two years in succession ha had been most successful He the speaker had been in the Borough Council since its inauguration but he could safely say that during the reign of Mr Sam-on as Mayor more real work had been done than either before or since ; as instance the Town Hall, Post Office, Manuherikia Bridge, and obtaining the land -endowment. Mr Samson replied thanking those present for the high compliment paid him and saying that if he had succeeded, it had t > be re membered that he had been assisted by the Council, not the least active being the proposed of his health. The customary local toartsbeing drunk the company separat'd Mr Samson going to Blacks en route f r Dunedin. A question that is to some little | extent agitating the public mind hen- is the future postal name of the place, The I’osr. Office authorities in their wisdom, say th it as there is another Alexandra somewhe e in tne North Island and as there is consequent confusion, that we are to lose our name ami to be again known as Manuherikia, net that 1 can sec there is any particular significance in a name but really fan to see the sense ol the proposed change, as in fact the change will make confusion worse confounded from the fact of the existence of another surveyed township about IS miles distance of that iudentical name. I should have thought had the word si nub been added to our and north to that, ot . ur northern brothers name, the difficulty would have been got over ami the aauiuiilies for once in a while would have showed that they had discovered the way how o doit. The farmers are all buisy now .cling in their crops, soma of the small patches along the banks of the Manuherikia gr -wn on the beds of deposit by the last big tln-.d are something wonderful, none of tin patches are of great extent but in yiell tii-y will make up, right up the river as lar as Blacks the same thing exists, I heir if wheat that will yield 91), barley 70, oils 60 bushels to the acre with straw i.i ra my places u feet high, at Bald Hill Flat no such returns as these will bo obtained tint overflowing granaries are expected. \\ hile speaking about harvesting brings *a> m.uJ the two vagabond harvesters who were arrested for sticking up Newton at Ball Hill Flat The Police deserve every praise foi their action in the matter, ami it is to >e hoped the short shrift allowed those gentry will be a warning to others, who, may think of following in their footst p.-. The fruit crop about here is most bounteous and proportionately cheap and wi-.h all of first rate quality, the only thing waui.e" being is a ready means of getting it to the seaboard. In all my experience 1 never saw finer peaches, apricots ami other stone fruit that are grown in the Conroys gardens by Mr Dawson and Mr Iverson