ALEXANDRA.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2085, 17 November 1885, Page 2

ALEXANDRA.

TilF natives' contract having broken down for the conveyance of the plant, &c, required for the consti notion of tho tunnel on the main linr, Mr OBrien ban just huixhed building a couple of punt? to be used by him in tho Tpper Waipa. Whether they will answer as well as canoes remains to bo proved, but Mr OBrien is sanguino they will answer the purjKise. Both punts [ fftnrted to-day with about five tons of material on board, with four Europeans in each to work them. Tho nun in charge has a quantity of dynamite to clear *<mi(! of the logs lying in tho river, and which obstruct tho nay igation. The Kinking Club closed tho season hero on Fiiday evening last with a ball. Sibloy's band was in attendance, and all en joyed themselves most thoroughly. The race committee held a nieeting on Saturday evening. Somo subscriptions are already received, and it was determined to send round the list in the neighbourhood. The gentleman who took 'Wahanui's likeness some time ago has just finished another in oil of the chief's vvifo, Te Kapn, at a cost of £4.5. Not a bad price for a native to shell out for the purpose. Something will hive to be done to f aetht ite tho construction of our extenxion of the trunk railway. Mr Ballance has come and gone and arranged nothing, but jiorsuaded old Hopa To Kangmuini not to hand over his lands to Tavvlnao, a thing he had done a few days previously. Tho natives aro now getting more extortionate th.in over in their demands for timber, etc., required by the contractors. Prices to be demanded are tho constant theme of discussion, once it was 3s a hundred feet royalty tlioy demanded, and T.tonnt sold a rimu at this rate for £5 to the sawyers engaged for the contractor of tho cottages. Now the natives aro indignant with tho old fellow for Helling so cheaply, and at their last committee they have como to the conclusion that Is (id per foot as a royalty shall bo paidlfor all timber cut. What can bo more absurd than thi>? It \h very evident that the Government's attempt to upset Taw lnao's authority amongst the. nitives by favoui ing and petting other chiefs has ho far failed. By attempting to fell that tree a whole host of suckers are aboady spnnging up.— (Own Correspondent, No Tcinbor 11th.)

GnrvrFu.MVTiiK Prick, of CrusmiiK Cn ki "iM. — There w as the largest quantity of cheese on offer at the market on Wednesday, August l!)th, experienced foi the pnst forty years, there being a pitch of quite 120 tons. It was obvious that the cheese on sa'e was seriously in excess of the requirements of trade, and puces nt once came down nt an al.uming rate. Factors expressed their resolution to buy at American prices or not at all. The liner qualities of Cheshire cheese have always been independent of tho influence of the Amctican marki t, but jestenlay theie was a drop on fine cheese of quite 20s'por cvvt. Many dailies of biipeiior Che«hiic changed hands at 30s or 40s per cwt, against 50s to 00s at the last fair, while commoner soits sold for as little as 203 and 2,5s per cwt. Several tons were unsaleable, and had to be taken home. Mr John Knox will sell at the Hamilton Auction M_rt on Saturday, 30 choice pi^i in lots to suit pun hisers. Mr \V. SkeutCN, photographer, next the Uniom Hank, Hamilton, notifies th.it hr is prepared to tivke portraits, views pf residences, &c , Bir, lcrras, cash.