ALEXANDRA.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 298, 16 October 1873, Page 8

ALEXANDRA.

(From' our own Corresppndent.) October 10th, 1873. Mining affairs are going ahead much as usual. — Two or three parties are engaged taking up tail races in the upper part of Coal Creek. I believe they have got a satisfactory prospect that the ground will pay for sluicing after the preliminary work is completed. Hessan and party, after considerable delay caused by the opposition to their application for a tail race at Skippers Gullyj have commenced operations, and are sanguine of the success of their undertaking. The Government have promised us the sum of £30 as a grant in aid of the building fund of our Public Library, ' and as this sum will be largely supplemented by local contributions, there is a prospect of the building being enlarged sufficiently to supply the long felt want of a suitable hall in which to hold public meetings, or entertainments in aid of our local institutions. The letter signed " Fair Play " that appeared in your last issue hasoccasioned some curiosity as to who is the councillor alluded to in the letter. We certainly are a queer people. When a Municipal election is about to take place deputations wait on our leading townsmen imploring them to allow themselves to be nominated as candidates ; appeals are made to their public spirit and the necessity for men coming forward who possess a large interest in the township. In vain the unfortunates plead that it will interfere with their business, the deputation will take no denial, and at last the victims .consent to stand and as a rule are returned without 'opposition, and too late discover that they have been stuck on a pedestal as a target for tbeir fellow citizens to shy stones at. On calm re-flection-1 don't think I would like to be a member of the Alexandra Municipal Council j it may be " sweet to die for our country;" not having much experience in that line I am not in a position to contradict the assertion, but speaking as an irresponsible individual, I am, decidedly of opinion that when our own countrymen are the executioners, the operation must have, some drawbacks.