ALEXANDRA.

Dunstan Times, Issue 956, 13 August 1880, Page 3

ALEXANDRA.

♦ (FROM A CORRESPONDENT,) There has not been much doing in the Courts lately, and that little of no great public interest, except porkppa the everlasting Drummy v. Chapple and Chappie v. Drutamy suits can be called of public interest. ■ it is a very giwi pity people of so iitiii vasa turn of mind cannot find some other means tif settling their grievances than by wasting the time of the public servants. There is, however, another, phase to the question, that is they are good game for the lawyers ; so that out of this mass of evil there comes a small modi■cum of good. It is but very smaill, howover, as I noticed that one of the litigants ■was acting for himself, and, as was to be expected, got worsted. The police have ■commenced their raid on the unregistered dogs. Two poor, unfortunates have, been summoned and fined the usual forty shillings and costs, which, together with the registration fee, means paying rather dearly for the pleasure or benefit of keeping a«3<9g. As it is understood that the hunt up is to be a general one, no better advice can be given than Register! Register! Register! It should be home in mind that . no less a fine than forty shillings can be inflicted, let the presiding justices he ever so inclined to lessen it, or let the circumstances be ever so favourable as to why the registration fee was not paid. Our shootists here hail a very good day’s sport at Butcher’s Gully the other week, but which was not noticed by your usual correspondent. It was target shooting, the prize being a rifle. As the sport was so generally enjoyed, I hear it is on the tapis to ■have another day’s sport shortly, when, besides a rifle prize for target or dead shooting, there will be other prizes for pigeon or live ah loting. It has been suggested to bag a few rabbits for the occasion, and I hear it is to be acted upon. While on sporting matters I may mention that we are to have our customary Spring Meeting. There are a good few youngsters claiming rather aristocratic parentage in the district, and there is no reason why the meeting of 1880 should, not be equally as suceesdul and enjoyable as of previous years. There is nothing fresh in the mining wor'd. The dredge continues to pay well, and the shareholders have determined to build another. Shares in the Conroy’s Reef Company are not going off so fast as they might. I think in this matter the local residents are ataading much in their own light, as not only is the prospect of being well repaid for all outlay good, but see what an inducement it would be for othera-to prospect for either a continuance of the reef or for other reels. The push and energy that is so much wanting amongst the miners is also deficient Amongst the commercial and farming communities, or this undertaking would uot so long have hung ou hand. There is some small fault with the promoters, peihaps, i m had they come into the market and sought for such an amount ns would have enable.! them to fully prospect the mine and raise perhaps four or five hullsired tons of stone to the surface, instead of asking money for a battery, they' would have succeeded better. It is not too lato for this to be done now, and I would suggest that it be tried, as if af:er the expenditure of say a thousand pounds on the mine it is louml that there is enough quartz ou the surface and in sight to war-, rant the erection of a mill, it would be the easiest possible thing to raise *he money. In the face of so many failures it is hut little wonder the Dunedin capitalists are careful. With many others I have confidence that the Conroy,s reef, if properly managed, will pay. It therefore must not be assumed that I am in my suggestions throwing cold water on the undertaking. Messrs Drummy and Siraraonds, the bridge contractors, are making fair headway with the big work they have in hand, and a good job they arc making of it.