ALEXANDRA.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 303, 12 November 1873, Page 3

ALEXANDRA.

(From our own Correspondent, November 7th. i The only item of mining news is the discover/ of a nugget, weighing about twelve ounces, by a party of Chinamen working in a dry gully near Conroys. The same party are also reported to have taken out about two pounds weight of smaller gold. On Monday evening, a meeting, eenveiiad by Mr. J. C. Chappie, was held in the Public Library, for the ptirpbse of taking into consideration tire cdnduct of the Mayor on the water question. Tlht© was a very small attendanoe. M*. Q-. Evans was called to the chair, who, after reading the advertisement convening the meeting, galled upon Mr. Chappie to propose the first resolution. Mr.. Chappie said, the meeting was doubtless aware that he had been summoned by 'the Council for breaking up the road for the purpose of getting asvipply of waterito Ma garden. Previous tofhepiirohasD of flic Ovens race by the Corporation, he had no difficulty in getting a supply of water ; but when the road was formed in front of Ms place, the race was

diverted; He constructed a water course across the. road to his garden, but it was filled up again. On the 6th October, he applied to the Council by letter for permission to construct a channel across the road, but received no reply* On the 13th, he again wrote to the Council, requesting an answer. He received a reply stating that the Council could not grant him permission. This letter was dated on the 18th, but hd did not receive it till the 20th, and on the Bame day a criminal information was kid against him for breaking up the road. He considered that this proceeding was very harsh towards one of the oldest residents. He was paying £50 per annum for an auctioneer's license, in addition to his ordinary rates, which all went to help to pay for the water, and he thought the 1 Council should hare shown some consideration, particularly as other persons, including the Town Clerk and Messrs. Rivera and Jones, had done the same as he had, and no notice had been taken of it. He believed that there was some agreement with the party renting the race, by which the ratepayers were debarred from using the water for irrigating their gardens ; but he did not see why the water should bo allowed to run waste. The ratepayers have to pay for the race, and they should have the rigbt to use it. As the case had not yet been decided by the Court, he would not say as much as he should otherwise have done, but should move the following resolution ; — " That this meeting doea not approve of tho action taken by the Mayor in instructing the Town Clerk to lay an information against Mr. Chappie, charging him with removing tho surface of tho carriage road in Tarbert-street." Seconded by Mr. L. Cameron and carried. Mr. Chappie said he had another resolution to propose, viz :—": — " That this meeting having passed a resolution condemning the conduct of the Mayor, Mr. Beresford, now call on that gentleman to resign his position as Mayor, he having forfeited the confidence hitherto reposed in him, and that the Chairman be requested to send the Mayor a copy of this resolution." Mr. W. Theyers thought that the resolution was too harsh. Mr. Chappie has broken the law by cutting through the road without permission. The Council sacrifice their time for the benefit of their fellow citizens on many occasions when they were required to their own business, and he thought they should bo supported. He considered that all the ratepayers should have the use of the water; but to pass such a censure ou the Mayor would be out of place. Mr. W. 11. Hastedt seconded the resolution. He said that Mr. Chappie had applied to tho Council, anl no notice was taken of lm letters until the day the criminal information was laid, and the only course open to Mr. Chappie was to appeal to the public. Mr, Rivers said that Mr. Chappie had led the meeting astray. The information was not laid for taking the water, but for cutting tlirough the road. He took the water to his own back yard by means of a covered drain, and Mr. Jones did the same ; and if Mr. Chappie had pursued the same course, no j notice would have been taken. The road in front of Mr. Chappie's place was a perfect j bog, and the Council had expendod £20 in repairs to it ; and if an open race was allowed to come across it, it would be as bad as ever. As to Mr. Chappie's letter*, they wore directed to individual members of the Council instead of to the Town Clerk, when thej - would have been considered at the ordinary meeting of the I Council. A somewhat irregular disoussion ensued, i and the motion on being put to the meeting I was negatived. Tho usual vote of thanks to tho chair terminated the proceedings. Ou the sth inst., an amateur concert for the boneflt of Mr. J. Sinimonds took place i in the Public Library, and proved most successful, the hall being crowded to tho door. Want of space prevents me from giving the details of the concert ; but of tho vocal portion of the entertainment I may mention that the singing of Mrs. Yause and Mi3ses Speed, Finlay, Bruutoii, aud M'Millan was much admired by the audience, who testified their approval by repeated encores. The same may be said of Messrs. Austin, Fhilay, TattersSeld, and the other-.gentlemen who volunteered their services. Of the instrumental part, the trios of Messrs. Harvey, Campbell, and Wydo, on the pianoforte, violin, and cornet, are deserving of praise. A solo on the concertina by Mr. G. Smith and Mr* Campbell's violin solo, "The Harp that once through Tara's Hall," elicited bursts of applause. Altogether, tlie performance i££forclecl a- lxiueii-til tre&t s\xcli aa the inhabitants of Alexandra have few opportunities*x)f enjoying. At the conclusion of the concert, the room was cleared, and dancing commenced to the strains of the really excellent brass band, and tho company did not separate until daylight. I understand that the proceeds of the concert amounted to about £25.