ALEXANDRA.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 391, 16 September 1874, Page 3

ALEXANDRA.

(From our oion Correspondent.) Things in this district are in a state of «tagnatiou at present. The numbers who hare left the neighbourhood during the last twelve months has caused a general dullness in all kinds of business, and the inhabitants k are rather puzzled to find out in what direction they are to look for improvement, so like Mr. Micawbor they content themselves ■witH hoping something will turn up for their benefit. The Dunstan District Flour Mill Coy. has been negotiating with the Corporation for a supply of water from the Ovens Race at Chatto Creek. The council could not see their way clear to grant a supply at the place mentioned, as the quantity required for the mill would have so shortened the supply in the race as to render it useless for mining purposes. Tho Council, however, offered a supply of water at Brennan's Gully for a term of years at a nominal rental, as there is a drop to the race of eighty feet at this place and the water after being used at the mill would be again available for mining. Ido not think the offer likely to be accepted as the site is too remote from any of the land from whence .the supply of -wheat would be derived. Our local sportsmen are busily engaged training their nags for the spring meeting, the Spear Grass men in particular seem determined to spare no effort to carry off the prizes. The entries for the handicaps did not 'fill so well as was anticipated ; two nominations sent by Mr. Hazlett by an unfortunate blunder did not arrive in time and the stewards had no option but to refuse lo accept them, this is to be regretted as Mr. Hazlett is a popular sportsman, and the fact of his horses running would have added coneiderably to the interest of tbe meeting.

A Great Laughter. — Prescott, the historian, when at his college, was subject to uncontrollable fits of laughter, which amounted almost to disease. He once went to the study of the Professor of Rhetoric to receive a private lesson in elocution, no one else being present. Prescott took his attitude as orator, and began the speech he had committed, but after proceeding through a sentence or two something ludicrous suddenly came across him, and it was all over with him at once. The Professor —no laughing man — i looked grave and tried to check him, in a tone of severe reprimand. This only seemed to aggravate Prescott's paroxysm, and he tried in vain to beg the -professor's pardon, but he could not utter an intelligible word. At last the ludicrousness of the situation seized the professor himself, his features relaxed, and he began to laugh. The more they looked at each other the more they laughed, each holding his sides, with tears rolling down his cheeks. Of course there was an end of , reprimand, and equally an end of declamation.