ALEXANDRA

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 263, 13 February 1873, Page 6

ALEXANDRA

(From our own Correspondent.) The weather still continues very dry, and almost every race in the district is short of water. The gully claims are also .suffering from the same cause, although not to the same extent as the big sluicing claims, There has been no washing-up since Christmas. The prospects of the Manuherikia Race Co., are in the ascendant, they having as you have previously noticed, struck some payable gold near Insley's. The Corporation has purchased the Ovens Race Co., the immediate effeat of which wise investment of the Municipal funds, was the flowing of a pellucid stream down both sides of Tarbertstreet. All the Alexandraites are delighted that they at last enjoy tha inestimable privilege of a supply of water. It will now be their own fault if they exist in clouds of dust whenever Boreas stirs up the covering of the li-it. What the Corporation intend doing with the surplus water I have not learnt, but I suppose they will let it out for mining purposes. There is some t-ilk of some of the old shareholders taking up some of it. If they do it, I am of opinion that they will do better than when they had the race in their own hands, as now they will work steadily on the banks of the Molyneux, instead of prospecting about as they lnive been doing for tbe last two years. Ti;e Alexandra School resumed operations on the 27th January, with a full supply of the raw material. The addition to the school buildings, are not yet completed. The masons have accomplished their part of the task, and the carpenters will conclude their labors in about three weeks. When completed, the additions will add greatly to the appearance of the building, and promote the comfort of teachers and taught, and the old structure being much to small for the demands made upon its accomodation. The inconvenience of both teachei's having to impart instruction under one roof, which has been severely felt, will also be obviated. While on this subject I feel somewhat inclined to again allude to the grievance which I have several times previously written upon, viz., price of schoolbooks, fees, &c. ; but on second thoughts I will refrain, especially aa, from the voice of public opinion, expressed in the election of committee for 1873, 1 think the people agree with me, and that the subject of complaint will not long continue. Only one of the old committee was re-elected, and he was 1 a bachelor. I don't approve of bachelors on school committees, as they " can only have either an indirect 'or a prospective interest in the education of children.