ALEXANDRA.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 363, 10 June 1874, Page 2

ALEXANDRA.

(From our own Conrespondent^ The cruise of the dredge Galatea came to a sudden .termination, the dredge havm^aprung a' leak.^Which caused her to sick aa the night of the Ist instant, she has been'hauled into the shallow water an\ stepped bf,her\working geati.hut itif not^jl^J^tjh^illbe worked again.*. ' r^ On the\> 27th ult., the Court Pride of Alexandra A.0.F., celebrated their annivorsary by a WUn the Public Library. The Clyde Brass Band gave their valuable services on the occasion and contributed greatly to the success of- tb» meeting.? .-Th«re>-wa» -a .^eotlly« number of visitors, and dancing was kept up with spiritltijl an/early hour.ia'the-m^rmng." The land fever has broken out in this district* applications .having been. made fo;, nearly, ialli the vacant sections. . on Bald Hill Flat, and a memorial has been._f orwarded to^ the G-overnment praying that another block may be thrown open for settlement lietfweea the present block -**& the ■ Gorge Creek.' Much of the land" applied for is only fit for grazing purposes, but the settlers find €hat to carry on farming successfully it is necessary to 'combine stock breeding with agriculture, and a fear that the price of land might be increased has probably induced them to endeavor to increase the Bize of their farms at the present time. One of our oldest business residents, Mr. Peter CaJder, being about to leave the district, for the purpose' of carrying on business in Dunedin, a number of his friends met ou Thursday evening, at the Criterion Hotel for the purpose of bidding' him good bye. Mr. W. Beresford oecupi«d the chair , supported by Mr.. Finlay as rice, After the usual loyal toasts the chairman proposed the' health of Mr. Calder,. and paid a high tribute to th&t gentleman, assuring him that' while his friends could not but regret Bis y, departure from amongst them yet they wished him every success in his new, venture. Mr. .Calder responded in an ' appropriate speech, and said that he had spent many happy days in Alexandra, and would always feel an interest in.its welfare. The proceedings were enlivened'hy some excellent singing on the parb of Messrs. Beattie, Finlaj, Samson and others, and the company separatedaftersinging *' Auld Lang Syne" with the usual accompaniments. ,The miners have read Mr. M'Lean' s speech on the sale of auriferous land and their bOsoms are torn with remorse; Six "million acres of land rendered desolate by the miners! What an appalling idea ; they never previously realised what a'bad investment they 'have been to the Province, and the discovery is preying upon their vitals. The stalwart Scroggins relates the sad story to his mates and bis voice becomes broken with emotion. He sobsout, " I always use! to 'think the diggers some p-puuikins but six m>n>ulionr acres," and completely overcome by thfe thought of such depravity he sinks down blubbering beside his sluice- fork. His mates' look on in silent agony, while a flood of tears flow down their long handled shovels, and proves too much for the pump ta drain out of the paddock. The sounds of grief penetrate through the wet and slimy sides of the water/wheel, and sprinkling a few tears around the paddock it creaks out a deep sigh, ceases to revolve, and slobbers in sympathy with " the- angui9h of those friends in gum boots. The solitary hatter on the ranges mournfully gazes 'on Ws claim and ' w.rings hia hands with grief as he thinks ,of the yellow tussocks, once, as bucculfehfc"3Babrickbat^but now gone — alas! ior eAer. The very sheep — type of purity and innocence — «eem to cast reproachful glances- at him aa they wander in quest "of their precarious tuc/fier, and as they wander" 1 vray ■ to 'some sheltered -nook: plaintively bleat a mournful protest against the ruthless destroyer of the^ sod. But there is balm in Gdead ; there are patriotic individuals - ready ta sacrifice, them-, selves- on. the altar of their country and with thrilling eloquence they beseech, our rulers to Bell the Goldfields and save last remnant of the Province froni desolation. They are ;, burning with high hope, for by one of those wonderful dispensations which " no fellah can I understand," whenever the Government wish to- sell a large block of land there is always a Clarke who wishes to purchase a blodbexactly I that size, and cence in their hands they regard the land. as a sacred trust to be guarded irom the sacrilegious hands of diggers br'aiiy other ' nian. Would any of- the- (Mdfieldp members earn the lasting. gratitude- of the diggers by moving for returns of the number of acres of land leased for* pastoral- purposes .within the area of 6,ooo,oooa(|rps,,',',set aside for gold seeking," also the number of acres leased or ' sold for agriculturaTpurposes within the same a«a.r: IE hii dan (only slightly reduce £he •pumaer.. of. acres rendered (desolate by- the mirfers — say three* ciphers— h£ will relieve our overcharged boSonis -from 7 the- remorse that thrjsijtenß.fc^ destroy- .us. Bu£ should the original figures' ' turn "6ut 'correct, - v and th& miners prove- lib 4fe' like a swarm ofloeusts, blighting the fair .earth and lea.vii)g desolation 'in .their track," th'en "" Farewells long farewell to all our greatness " we wfllieaye our^hoTel* to rust against the walls ; no more shall th« ..hu|s| re-echo ..wjjai,. fcha^ljvely. rattle, of th& . cradle; no more, shall .'the soothmg''ftuirmux ' of the sluice box fallotf the ear of the* gentle - shepherd, aa he play* upon- his cutty pipe ; -we wjll mourn, pur sins in sackcloth .and ashes, and the sounds of woe 'will be healrd through* outtheteoldfieldsU' - -'.",.