ALEXANDRA.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 289, 14 August 1873, Page 6

ALEXANDRA.

(From, a Correspondent.) August Bth, The weather has been very changeable. In the beginning of the week we had some showery weather, which caused the Molyneux to rise a few feet, but fortunately not sufficient to do much damage, Since then we have had a succession of hard frosts, causing the river to fall rapidly, and the claims on the banks are in full work again. Siedeborg's dredge has stopped work, the owner having succumbed to the long run of adverse fortune that has pursued him. Dredging on a small 1 scale will soon bo a thing of the past — the constant increase of tailings requiring some greater motive power to work the bed of the river than any hitherto used. A public meeting is to be held tomorrow night for the purpose of petitioning the Waste Lands Board to hold an inquiry as to the auriferous nature of Bald Hill Flat, with the view to ; reserve any auriferous land from sale. The cause of the movement at the present time is that a number of agricultural leases have been held for the term of three years, and the lessees having complied with the conditions of the lease are desirous to purchase the land. This is objected to by the miners, as they allege the ground in many instances would pay for working. The farmers on the other hand object to continue paying rent, except as part payment of the purchase money. Some of them have applied for an exchange of their leases for a lease under the Waste Lands Act, 1872 ; but the same objection applies to this course as the former. Immediately on receiving his lease he could tender the balance of the purchase money and demand a crown grant, thus effectually locking the land up from the miners. The case is one that demands inquiry. The regulations for the granting of agricultural leases provide that a report should be made by the surveyor as to the probably auriferous nature of the land applied for, and that auriferous land should be exempted from occupation. The practice has been to grant every application without inquiry, unless miners lodged objections against them, and the present muddle is the natural result. Things generally are very quiet, our population being of a rather torpid nature, but possessing a tremendous stock of repressed energy, which only requires rousing to astonish even the possessor of it. An incident occurred last Saturday night which illustrated this, as well as our respect for the majesty of the law, in a marked degree. Two residents in tbe district having a difference of opinion while in the township, proceeded to argue the point according to Heenan and Sayers' system of logic. There was a general rush of peaceable people to the spot, as such a sign of lively trade had not been seen in the township for years. Presently one peace-maker accused one of the disputants of using unfair arguments ; another peace-maker immediately took up the cudgels on behalf of the other disputant. In an instant the long pent up feelings of our peaceable inhabitants found vent ; a scene of great excitement ensued — criesof "hold my hat," <( where's the man that tried to strike me," "come on, I am your Moses," <fee, were bandied about ia all directions. Suddenly there occurred one of those pauses which precede the crash of elements when nature is at war ; in another instant rivers of blood would have flowed down the corporation gutters, when there arose a cry of terror, " the policeman 's coming." In the twinkling of an eye all was changed — coat tails fluttered horizontally as the owners disappeared round corners ; one individual rushed to examine the stock of coals in his hole, another recollected an important engagement down in the cellar ; doors were slammed, lights put out, and silence reigned supreme, except the sound of the military tread of the guardian of our peace as he strode down the street in his wrath, wanting to know who had dared to disturb the quiet of his district, and intimating that he would just like to catch him at it — rather ! Lest any impertinent critics should enquire where was your correspondent all this time, I will satisfy their curiosity by informing them that at the commencement of the warfare I took up a strong position in the bottom of an empty water barrel, the open bung hole affording me a splendid opportunity to take notes of the proceedings.

A story ia fcold of two travellers who were assigned to the same bedroom in a crowded hotel. Before retiring one of them knelt down to pray, and confessed a long catalogue of sins* On rising from his knees he saw his fellow traveller, valise in hand, going out of the door, and exclaimed : " What's the matter ? What's up 1 " " Oh, nothing," was the reply ; " only I'm not going to risk myself with such a scamp as you confess yourself to, be."

Dumas the elder was very proud of the large sums paid him for his writings. One evening in the salon of a rich financier the conversation turned on the remuneration of men of letters. "I," said Dumas, '* am certainly "the best paid, I receive 30 sous a line." " Tndeed, mosieur," said a bystander. " I have never worked for less than a million a line. What do you think of that ?" " You are joking." « Not at all." " What are you, then ?" " Constructor of railways." Tbe author lauerhed, but was a, little vexed, nevertheless.