ALEXANDRA [OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1213, 8 April 1880, Page 2

ALEXANDRA [OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Business people here are generally complaining of the dullness of the times, there being little money stirring. Very few natives have been down lately. This is to be accounted for on account of the low prices ruling for their produce, and that Tawhiao has a large number employed making the road between Kawliia and Hikurangi available for drays etc. He himself is superintending the work, and will not allow a man to leave until he has brought his waggon through ; it is now nearly completed, and I had fresh fish for dinner on Saturday last that left Kawhia the same morning. Dull as the township is just now, the inhabitants Jire turning their attention to music to enliven us, and all the preliminaries are arranged that Alexandra shall have a Town band. Subscription lists are now going round, and being fairly supported, for the purchase of instruments, etc., and some 16 have already joined as members. Mr Hugh Kirkwood, the well known boniface, is also once more a resident amongst us, as mine host of the Exchange Hotel. He intends to give us a little sport and amusement in the shape of a pigeon shooting match, which will come off shortly, as he has already a number of birds on hand.

Death of an Old Settler. Ifclr George Mc^'arlane one of, if not the oldest settlera in Wailato, died this moraing at his residence, Faterangi. The deceased has been an invalid for many years, seldom leaving his farm. Mr MeFarlane was a man of superior abilities and great conversational powers, and is regretted by a great nnmber of friends, who were in the habit of visiting him, .deriving both knowledge and amusement from his exhaustless narrative of fa.cts, and anecdotes connected with an early residence among the natives of New Zealand. H^e leaves a wife and several grown up half-caste children to lament his loss. Deceased was a native of Scotland, and 75 years of age.