ALEXANDRA.

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 102, 22 January 1870, Page 5

ALEXANDRA.

(From our Own Correspondent.)

The farmers at the Wai Keri Keri Valley are all busy cutting their crops. The weather this last week having been very favourable for ripening. I am of opinion that oats will command a good price this year, as the oat crop on the whole is not an average one, and our consumption is increasing every year. Potatoes generally are looking well ; but thpre is not the same breath under crop this year as in former years, consequently prices will be higher. On Monday, the 10th inst. a public meeting was held in the Schoolroom to receive the resignation of the old School Committee and elect a new one in their stead, as provided for by the Education Ordinance. Only three of the old committee put in an appearance. There was no report or balance sheet submitted to the meeting, further than the schoolmaster making a few remarks to the effect +hat the committee had worked very harmoniously, and that there was a balance in hand of 3s. This handsome balance proved a prevention against any of the old committee getting re-elected. The new committee consists of — Messrs. Finlay, Chappie, Ryan, Gordon, Theyers, Stanbrook, and Field. On Wednesday evening last they held their first meeting for the election of office-bearers, when Mr. Chappie was elected chairman, Mr. Theyers, treasurer, and Mr. Field, secretary. There is great anxiety on the part of the ladies as to what this committee will do as regards procuring the assistance of a schoolmistress to instruct the girls. It is generally admitted that it is time that something was done in this direction. There are at present 78 children on the roll, with an average attendance for the last twelve months of over 60. I have no doabt the committee will do their best in the cause of education, and am quite sure of one thing — they will work well together. Most of them are tried hands, and as yet never found wanting in their duties when placed on committees in mining matters. The reefers at Butchers Gully are working away with a will, some of the contracts are completed, and new ones entered into. lam of opinion that it will take from two to three months yet to thoroughly test this line of reef. The Welcome Company have struck a goodlooking reef about three feet thick ; it carries gold and improves as they go down, which they are doing with the underlay of the reef. It is asserted by a great many that the stone they are getting at present will yield over ten ounces to the ton. Two ptvrtiea on this line of reef have applied for special sites for the erection of machinery. The party that applied for a lease on this line of reef, viz., J. D. Ferand and party, will be objected to by nearly all the miners in the district. The principal ground of objection being that no less than twelve shafts are beinsf sunk on the line of reef. Whilst this ground (lease) is protected, until such time as a is granted, which may not be for years the applicants can wait until such time as the claim adjoining theirs strikes the reef and prospects the ground for them, they being in the meantime compelled to work or give up their claims. The other reefs are sinking away ; I will give you an account of them in my next. The repairs to the water races necessitated by the late floods are completed, and are again in full working order ; in fact the Manuherikia Ground Sluicing Company have cleaned their race from end to And, which has given them an extra head of water. This will be a great boon to them, as they work with very little fail.