ALEXANDRA.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 314, 20 December 1873, Page 3

ALEXANDRA.

(>From> a Correspondent $ The whole of fthe mining claims in this, disj trict are making ready to, wash-up before the holidays. The water races, as yet, ate well supplied; but I fear we will soon have to complain if we do.net get rain shortly. The principal topic of conversation jusfe now is " how," although we have not many horsey-men, in, o»r n»idst; nevertheless, almost everyone at fc'his time of the year ?wlL*parade ' what little he does knew, -about that Rpble animal. Our races take place on the- Ist, when I hope to be able to chronicle some good racing, although the stakes tyre small ; but 1 suppose atti&ll places ffcttet be- content with small things. Municipal matters ore -ftjgain going ob as merry as marriage bells, since the great caso. Alexandra Municipal Council v. Chappie, hap bee.n decided, in which ease our w.orthy Mayor figured so conspicuously, much to. his chagrin. On Friday last, Messrs; Bastings and Turnbull paid ub a, visit, when Meiers. Beresfowt,

waited on those gentlemen in the Library Hall, and explained some of the wants of the district. The Mayor (Mr. Beresford) stated that a blobk of land near the Earnscleugh Station was required for agricultural settlement. Mr. Bastings enquired the character of the land. The Mayor stated that he had been informed by a party that there was about 800 acres of good land near this said station, and from thence on to Blackman. Mr. Chapplo said he could not speak as to the quality of the land, having never been over it, but feared it must be limited in extent, but was certain it would be immediately taken up for settlement if it was as good as represented by the Mayor, and Open for selection. Mr. Samson was quite certain it would be taken up at once, if fit for agricultural purposes. Messrs. Bastings and Turnbull promised to see Mr. Eraser respecting the matter, and try to arrange for the throwing open of this piece of land. Mr. Samson then asked that sections 1, 2, 3, and 4, block XIV., be set aside as a site for a Town Hall, Mr. Bastings said it would be better to apply through our member, Mr. Hazlett, when no doubt our request would be granted, Mr. Samson then introduced the much talked of bridge over the Molyneux at Alexandra. The subject was well ventilated by Messrs. Bastings and Turnbull; every pro. and con. was minutely gone into, during which Mr. Bastings paid a high compliment to the Alexandra punt, also to the moderate charges made, which he felt not only by his own travelling, but also that of his beer waggons ; but at the same time he considered that a bridge was far preferable to any put, no matter how good a one it may bo, and promised on his return to Dunedin to call for offers to erect a bridge over the Molyneux at Alexandra, on the usual terms. Mr. Chappie then introduced the land question »t Blacks, when Mr. Basting promised to pay a personal visit to the Blacks district next month, when he hoped to meet Mr. Chappie there. A report- is current here that the inhabitants of Butchers and Conroy's gullies, Speargrass Flat — in fact the whole of the inhabitants of the west Bide, intend to subscribe a few hundred pounds and make a present of the same to any person who will undertake to erect a bridge at Alexandra ; so you will perceive the feeling in favor of a bridge is running high. On the other hand, we have one gentleman holding a high official position in our midst who is throwing cold water on the affair, and wants to know where the money is to come from. Echo answers, Certainly not out of your pocket. I had intended to have written you a long letter, but will take your hint and cut it short, and will make tho applications for bottle licenses by the whole of our storekeepers the subject of a future letter.