DUNSTAN.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 359, 27 May 1874, Page 2

DUNSTAN.

CFfrom our' own Correspondent.^ On Thursday last a cricket match was played between the schoolboys of Clyde and Alexandra, on the grounds of the latter. About ten o'clock the Clyde team started off in a flag-decorated coach drawn by foupgreys, accompanied by Mr. .Stevens, schoolmaster, and some others. I have not heard the particulars of the scoring, but- it is said the match was a gift to the Alexandra boys, who | hare the advantage over their opponents 'both as regards, years, and experience* Th& day was fine, and was pleasantly spent, and our youngsters returned by nightfall highly pleased with their day's enjoyment. Dredging speculations now-a-days seem tQ, be closely attended by ill luck. The- Pneumatic Gold Mining Company's dredge, which has been at work for the past three weeks, is again laid up. The 'paddle wheels used for pumping the air, though they answer very well in a current, arc useless, in- the eddies and still places of \b& river, -where the gold is supposed to be- lodged. Mr. Coventry, the former owner- and projector of the company, has proceeded to town to get an engine for the dredge- again. It is hoped he will be suecesafnl, &p that the rive* ftbo.t& Clyde will get a fair ferial. A boat and timber to enlarge the punt arrived daring the week. The punt i« to be hjtuled i^ immedUtelyn ftMthe. enlargement

is to be completed in a fortnight. The Town Council resolved to send men to repair the approach on the -we&t'siJe, which i" nVv_; imgassable, aud the bur^t-Offtie'rha.t.c.i.iu • ;..,. ders fcr the work. If the resulfcdoes not prov M an illustration of the saying that " between two stools," &c., we will'soon have .the means of crossing any traffic, which has long been wanted here. \Thfc pumping gear for*H^ Clyde coalpit also arrived ;with, -the boat, rfnd the accompanying waybSls-rather disagreeably surprised the receivers — £16 per ton bjpg the carriage on the boat and timber, and dSo per, ton was charged for the pump pipes for the pit. They both demurred to pay such high rates, but there was no getting out of it ; but" it is certainly annoying, fo**had they been forwarded when expected, they would have been delivered for little over half the cost.

The contractors of the Cromwell ro<td^ a section nearest Clyde are pushing on their work rapidly, and apparently making a good job of it. The other two sections,, the one at the Cromwell end and the other by Felton's, are both finished, and a considerable improvement will be made on this road this season. The late coach accident, which the " Dunstan Times" lays to the charge of the Town Council, and very justly too, will perhaps turn the attention of that body to the portion of the main road which comes under their charge to complete; but they seem to be averse to spending either, the Government money or their own, for since the time, now nearly twelve months .past, when the one member of the Public Works' Committee purchased stones from his brother member and the Council would not pay for them, they have not attempted any public work since, if we exclude the periodical cleaning of the water channels on the side of the street, which I think comes about every quarterOld James collecting the debris in small heaps the one day, and with the Irish locomotive removing them the next. Our Warden and District Land Officer, who during a long period of service has received a small share of public criticism or censure, seems all at once to be attacked on all sides. The Roxburgh Committee, the Horseshoe Bend petition, and lastly a " Wages Man " from Carricktown feels aggrieved at the por> tion of tbo report relating to that district. Some of the charges look grave in the meantime, but there are alway two sides to a question ; and after all it may end as did the great Chinese petition, which happily has ended Well.