ALEXANDRA.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 381, 12 August 1874, Page 3

ALEXANDRA.

(From'bur own Correspondent.)

The weather is getting a good deal milder, and should the present fine weather continue long enough to dry the roads it will prove a great boon to travellers. The road between Tuapeka and the Teviot is reported to be in a frightful state this winter, and with one excepion the up-country waggoners have abandoned it for the route via Palmerston. It is^a wonder that more accidents have not occured to the coach compelled to travel through such a quagmire, and it is bat justice to give the driver, Mr. H. Craig, great praise for the skilful manner in which he has piloted the coach throiitjh its diffculites during one of the most trying winters we have had. The election of municipal councillors resulted in. Messrs. Finlay and They era being returned forClutha Ward, and Mr. W. Beresford for the Mannherika Ward. Very little interest was taken in the affair, the ratepayers having apparently exhausted their energies over the election of the Mayor, and will naturally require a period of repose to recruit.

On the sth inst'Mr. J. C. Chappel disposed by auction of the property of Mr. T. Oliver. This was one of the largest sales that has taken place in the district, and attracted a large number of buyers from other districts, including .Blacks, Drybread, Teviofc, Clyde &c. Mr. Oliver has been a resident in the district for a number of years, and the property included a wonderfully miscellaneous assortment of articles gathered together during his long residence here, ail of which realised good prices. Como Villa, with the ground attached, fell to the bid of Mr. R. Ayling, of Coal Creek for £150 The Conroy's races were purchased by Messrs. Paget, Noble and Co. for £120, and the share in the Manuherikia Cos. race was knocked down to Mr. D. Robertson for £46. Altogether the sale was considered a most satisfactory one:

An amateur concert, for which all our local talent is engaged, will take place on the 26th in aid of the funds of the Clyde Brass Band. The members of the band have always been liberal in giving their services in aid of any of our balls or concerts, many of which might have gone off ratlta*fcamely but for their valuable assistance, and as the band have secured the reputation of being a lot of jolly good fellows, I expect to see a bumper house on the occasion, While on this subject I may mention that some time since steps were taken to organize a brass band at Alexandra ; subscriptions to a considerable amount were promised, inquires made as to the price of instruments, &c, and it was even stated (but for this I cannot vouch) that negotiations had been entered into with the Government in order to secure one of the shelter sheds on the Old Man Range for the purpose of practising in ; but just then when everything seemed to be going on swimmingly — like many other movements in Alexandra — the affair was suffered co collapse. They manage these things better at Clyde. • , A small comet has been visible in the south-west for about a week past, it sets about 8.30 p.m. P. is very indistinct and has altered its position considerably since first observed.

I would recommend some of our legislators to read the following passage f rom the report of Mr Warden Stratford dated July Ist, and if they will take the trouble to understand the full meaning of the statement it may fperhap3 prevent them for the future from talking a lot of arrant nonsense about the millions of acres rendered desolate by the miners. Mr. Stratford says :— " There has been a mile square ,of ground worked at Naseby, ■which has given employment to 450 persons for nine years past, the average earnings having been about 45s a week." Now, taking the average earnings at only £2 per week, this would amout to the sum of £421,200 for the nine years, and this amount, unlike the profits derived from squatting, is diffused throughout the province by various channels of trade. As to the direct benefit of the State, a |&m considerably exceeding £1,3000 has been paid on the above amount in the shape of gold duty, and a flourishing township has been established which must have added a considerable amount to the exchequer from the proceeds of land sales ; while if we consiclbr the indirect benefits derived by the Province from customs duties on the goods consumed by the miners, the number of carriers employed, conveying supplies to the goldfield, and the market thus provided for the oats and other produce of the aettlera, I think it will be conceded that in making that 640 acres of land desolate the miners have at least paid well for the privilege. And this land prior to the advent of the miners, was only occupied by a few sheep, varied by an occasional visit from a^>arty of pig hunters. I have

omitted the cost of the administration of the goldfield from my icrculation ; at one time it was common to cast this in the teeth of the miners when they complained of the amount of taxation to which they were subjected ;' but since the statistical returns have been calculated amongst the Mining Associations shewing that the revenue derived from Miners Rights, Fees &c, on the Otago Goldfields, amounts to more than double the cost of the administration, that piece of bunkum has been exploded."