ALEXANDRA

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 417, 16 December 1874, Page 2

ALEXANDRA

(.From our own Correspondent.)^ Noble and Co., at Golden Beach, have opened up some, very fair ground on the upper terrace, it is about four feet in depth with a little gold through it-. Michael Ketfc is engaged cutting dowp the rock between the face of his paddock; and the tunnel, and. ■will soon be in a -position to commence sluicing. I am informed that Wilkinson and Co, at Obelisk Creek, have got some very good prospects, they have been for along time working the ground, and it is gratifying to hear that there is a likelihood of them being rewarded for their perseverance. The tender of Mr. G. Ratcliffe has been accepted for the removal of the Manse from the Dunstan fiat to Alexandra. The amount of the tender was £IGI. The plans and specifications have been drawn up for tlie alteration of the ferry road, and teuders*%ill be called forthwith. Some improvements have been lately effected on the road between Alexandra and Clyde on a part of the flat were the road runs through a very sandy formation, which being cut up by the traffic, the loose sand had drifted about by the wind until the track was nearly obliterated. A quantity of gravel has been carfed on to the road so as to raise it above the level of the flat, and by its surface being exposed to the action of thf& wind it *is expected that the road will be- kept clear of sand, but I think the roadway is hardly raised sufficiently above the level of the flat to effect the object in view ; but I understand that there was not sufficient i funds available to meet the expense of raising the roadway to a higher level. Many enquiries have been made as to when the block of land at Bald Hill Flat is going to be thrown open for settlement. Several parties are anxious to take up land on the block, but although it is several months since the land was promised to be thrown open, not a atep has yet been taken to have it surveyed. I hear that tho settlers 'have several horses in training on the Flat for the forthcoming races, aud judging from the class of horses produced there, they will prove dangerous antagonists. Kathleen, the winner of the late St. Andrew's Handicap, was bred there by ftfr. T. Wilkins. ,She is by Roebuck," out of Polly, a mare that in her day ran well in many hack races. . " - On the 10th inst. Val Vose gave a performance in the Library Hall to a" pretty numerous audience, who appeared to thoroughly enjoy the entertainment. It may with truth be said of Mr. Vose that he fully realises the expectations which have been formed of him ; he appears to exercise his peculiar power without ' 'any effort,' and the illusion is so perfect that one could easily forget the presence of the clever ventriloquist, and almost imagine that the puppets were actually engaged in a conversation for the amusement of the audience. The transit of Venus created a considerable amount of excitement ainongsit our population. Diiring the day the sky was very cloudy , until about 2pm., when the, sun shone and euabled observers Jo see that small round spot on its face which has caused so much commotion in the scientilic world. The sky remained clear for about two hours, and during this time amateuv astronomers were to l>e seen m all directions taking important observations through pieces of gU^s smoked to various degrees of blackness. The "only remarkable phenomenon connected with the transit, was that the planet in the course of its passage across the sun's disc appeared to leave a track of soot on the noses of s6me o£ the astronomers. I don't know if the fact possesses any scientific interest, but it is the only discovery we have made iv Alexandra.