ALEXANDRA.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 327, 4 February 1874, Page 3

ALEXANDRA.

(From our own Correspondent.) January 30th. The rush to the Oamaru harvest appears to have been overdone. Letters received from some of the men who went from this district describe the place to be crowded and work difficult to be obtained. The Oamaru settlers certainly displayed some of the wisdom of the serpent in the affair, and will be likely to get their crops gatuered at a reasonable rate tills year, but it is possible that for the future men will fight shy of that district, and remembering the old adage "That distant fields look green," will quietly pursue their ordinary avocations, instead of making a rush to a distant district on the mere prospect of temporarily obtaining a high rate of wages. Contracts have been let for over two miles of the road between the Molyneux and Butcher's Gully. The work was divided into five sections, Messrs. Paget, Noble, and Ballantyne, being the successful tenderers for four of the sg ctions. and Mr. E. Ayling for the other one. Messrs. Paget & Co. have put on a number of men and are pushing the work rapidly forward. The line of road laid off by the District Engineer is considerably to the eastward of the present road ; the course striking off from the old road shortly after leaving the ferry, in the direction of the Half Mile Gully, and following the course of the gully till near the telegraph line, with which it continues nearly parallel until the old road is struck near Kett's flume. By the new line of road the frightfully steep hill known as Butchers which has been the cause of a considerable amount of profane language on the part of teamsters and others will be entirely avoided. The Government have invited tenders from persons desirous of constructing a bridgo across the Molyneux at Alexandra, near the site of the present ferry. As the width of the river at that spot averages 300 feet, and to secure the bridge against floods, it would be necessary to have the bridge at least 450 feet long, I think calling for tenders from private individuals, will be like calling spirits from the vasty deep. A spirit rapper could not coax them to come; Alexandra is happy in the possession of " A Mother" — may her shadow never grow less — who has taken in hand tbe coreection of the shortcomings of her children. The old lady wields her strap very effectively, and if occasionally rather indiscriminale inits application, doubtless consoles herself with the reflection, that if her children did not deserve a castigation on that particular occasion, they are such a bad lot that a little correction at any time is not misplaced. " A Mother " complaina that there were only twelve persons present at the election of the school committee. Can she wonder at it. The infants receive an invita* tion from u au angry mother with uplifted strap _to " Come out here you little wretches and I will give it to you." Need she feel surprised that the little wretches, instead of coming out should dive under the bed and refuse to move except by compulsion. There is rather too much, of this carping at the conduct of men who interest themselves in public affairs, and the result is that people are getting tired of it, and are leaving' public affairs to manage themselves. If people would consider that it is little" more than eleven yean since this district was utterly unknown except by a few . gutters and the men employed on their ' -yjgoJJI » » n d observe what ha* already been • ™£ ■.ls ed br a handful of people scattered ore* a i*^ Strict, j think fchey would oon .

fess that we have not done bo bad, and that those who devote their time to public affairs for the advancement of the district are deserving of credit, instead of continuous censure. I do not know if the Alexandra school committee are in po3Bession of a seal of office ; if they are not I would suggest the following design. A committee man weeping over a copy of the Titapeka Times, with the motto, Oh thou hast been the cause of this anguiah my mother !