ALEXANDRA

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 410, 21 November 1874, Page 2

ALEXANDRA

(From a Correspondent!) In mining matters I have but little to chronicle. Most of the large sluicing claims will not wash up until Christmas. Water at all sources is plentiful, so that the supply will be no excuse for short returns this season. Mr. Kitt, at Golden Gully, has succeeded at labt in getting through with his tunnel, and I hope he will meet with the reward he so richly deserves. Miners now-a-days are few and far between who, single-handed, will spend £1000 in constructing a tunnel or tail race to -wort a. claim, more particularly when the £1000 lias to be expended in hard cash, for labor, powder, fuse, &c. Noble and party, at Poverty Beach, have succeeded in getting payable gold high up on the terrace, -which, lias necessitated their making application to shift the present road, which cannot be done withoutencroachingonagrasß paddock belongingto Mr. Eoberts, of Como Villa. In the first outset I thought there would be any amount of law over it; however, I am pleased to chronicle that the jerkies Lave come loan arrangement; but from what I can learn, at some future time the new road to be now constructed will again have to be shifted, and the ground sluiced away. The present owner became so by purchase, and should the whole property be required for mining, he (the owner) can claim no compensation, having no title to th© land further than the consent of the runholder. One-half of the Gorge Creek water ! race changed hands last weak, Mr. M'Kersey selling toMr.Bohning. lamcredibly informed that £100 was the price paid, which would entail a loss of something like £600 on the constructor ; but I am of opinion that this sale does nol represent tho value of the race. The race owners, some twelve months since, entered into a written agreement to do certain things, which wore next to impossible to bo done — or, to say the least of it, they did not comply with the terms of their agreement, so M'luH'Sey, to avoid law, sold out at a sacrifice. What is one man's loss is another man's gain. I would recommend parties entering into transactions they do not thoroughly understand to consult a solicitor. Sometimes theexpenditure of a guinea may save hundreds. On Monday, the 9th instant, the AlexandrvM| Library Committee tendered tbeir resignation^^ to the subscribers, then- term of office having expired. The President read an elaborate report, of which I ani sorry I have not a copy to send jon ; bub I will endeavor to give you. the gist of it. During their term of office 13 meetings were held for dispatch of business. The attendance was good. The moneys collected from all sources amounted to £85 ; expended, £55, leaving a balance to the credit of the institution of £30. 269 volumes of new books have been added to stock during the twelve months, and Government still owed £6, value of books. The report recommended their successors to put themselves iv communication with some large publisher in the home country, and get a consignment of books direct, tho reason for this recommendation being that the Committee caunot get any. of the new works through the Education Board. The report also stated that repeated applications had been made to the Government for the sum of £180, which was a debt owing on the' building, it being pointed out that only £50 had been received towards the building, although it cost fully £-100 stg., the balance being raised by voluntary subscriptions. The Committee recommended their successors to keep knocking at the door until it was opened. They had effected an insurance on the building in the National Office for £300. Thet'ommitteero eivedahigh encomium from the subscribers for their services during the last twelve mouths. The following gentlemen were tliesi elected for the ensuing twelve mouths : — Messrs. Kateiiffe, Chappie, Robertson, Samson, Fraser, M' Donald, and Rivers. At tho Committee meeting held later in tho evening, Messrs. Chappie and Samson were re-elected t o the offices of President and Treasuer, respectively. * - There is a report that one of our energetic townsmen intends drawing up a petition to bo presented, to some one, there being no parallel case to be giudeJ by, there are doubts as to whom is the jn'oper person to present it. The object of the petition is to do away with the Municipality, or the individual members of the Municipality, as incapables. Some of tho reasons are that they refused to exert themselves in sotting a road constructed to tho Waikaia Bush, so that we may get building material at something like a reasonable price. I am informed it is practical, and would bring this bush within about 20 miles of Alexandra, instead of about 50 or 60 miles. Again, some condemn the action of the Council in putting themselves so much out of the way about improving tho Ferry road, so as to compel everyone (heavy traffic included) to go round Theyers' corner, as to traverse the whole length of Tarbert-street. Those who condemn the action are of opinion that the Council should not lose sight of the fact that sooner or later abridgewill span the Molyneux at Alexandra, and that the Government are only throwing diut iv their eyes by giving them £150 to improve the Ferry road ; whereas, if they did honestly- earn thereputa-, tion of having " bridge on ' the braSh," ifc would be a pardonable appellation to go to bed with, as they wonld then be trying to confer a benefit on the travelling public, and and more particularly on teamsters.- Everyone will understand how it will benefit .the travelling public and themselves ; - but, perhaps, will fail to see how it will benefit the Government and our friends at Clyde. Should tho bridge bo erected at Alexandra, the natural high way, tho whole of tho Government money spent on this road diversion from Butchers to Clyde, will be a dead loss. Gentlemen, I admire your ingenuity in the way in which you. get in the thin elge of the wadge ; but it is rather costly, — Eh ! Had to be tipped with gold from the Municipal chest. Deep trick ; but 'twont work !