ALEXANDRA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2649, 21 December 1904, Page 39

ALEXANDRA.

December 17.— At a. meeting of the Railway League, held on Thursday evening, it was unanimously resolved to endorse the action of the Otago_ Central Railway League in pressing on the Hon. the Minister for Public Works the necessity for the speedy preparation of plans for the construction of the railway bridge near'' Alexandra- It was also resolved "that a memorial, signed by the chairman 1 and the secretary of the league, be forwarded to the^Hon. the Minister ior Public Works drawing his attention to the urgency for the speedy erection of this bridge, and pointing out to him tne necessity of encouraging our population to remain in the district and settle on the land. One cannot see any valid reason why the_Hon. the Minister should not concede such a reasonable request as the Railway League advances. Indeed, by the time the Manuherikia bridge, No. 2, has been com- , pleted, the No. 3 bridge, the one near Alexi andra, should be well in hand, which cannot be looked for unless tenders for its erection be accepted within a reasonable time. Judging from the nature of the country between the No. 2 bridge and the No. 3 bridge, one may reasonably assume that, within the nest 12 months, the earth formation will be completed to Alexandra, for, between the two points named, there are no engineering difficulties of moment to be overcome. Races. — The Alexandra Jockey Club held its annual race meeting on Friday. There was a large gathering of the public present, and much interest was taken in the numerous events, which were keenly contested, there being several close finishes. From what I can learn the races, on -the whole, were very successful, and the patronage accorded them must be gratifying, as well as encouraging- to the club. Nowadays one reads nruch about the excessive Craving for sport evidenced in young colonials. Can one wonder at this? Indeed, it need excite no surprise in one who takes a mere cursory view of the attendance at a country race meeting. Here is the training ground for sport and gambling; and here, at hand, is the material on which the sporting and grambling cravings are grafted. On* expects to find' men and women on a country racecourse, but one does not expect to see a large proportion of the children of a town attending a race meeting and taking as keen an interest in tha races as the most inveterate sport. This does not apply ~ to Alexandra alone, as I have seen children j attending laoe meetings in maaiy country districts, and have heard of lads of 14 and 15 years of age going into half-crown sweeps without the slightest diffidence. The police should be instructed to prohibit lads and lasses under 16 years of age to appear on a racecourse. If the law will not allow of this, then the law should h<i amended to- permit of such prohibition being carried out. Picnic. — At the break-up of the local school for the usual midsumme^ holidays a very suc~rressful gathering was held of the school children and their parents 1 in the recreation ground. The School Committee had made ample provision for the large attendance, and everyone partook of the good things provided. Every child received a gift, so that none could possibly be dissatisfied. Children's sports, usual at such gatherings, were carried out satisfactorily, and many 'money prizes were given away. The dux medal, the gift of Mr R. Strong, was presented on the ground by the chairman of the School Committee to Mary Campbell. In presenting the medal, the chairman remarked that he waa gratified that the school, under Mr Closs and his staff, maintained a high standard of efficiency, the last examination being an excellent one in all respects. He further remarked that the dux medal was tha only prize awarded in the school, and waa won on the marks of the quarterly examinations. Much credit was due Mr Closs and his staff for their diligence and attention to their duties, and in training the children for their work in after 1 life. Mr Schaumann, the chairman of the School Committee, called for three cheers for Mr Cioss_and his staff, which were heartily responded to. The Brass Band very kindly put irian appearance at the gathering, playing several selections, which tended considerably towards the children's pleasure - Bazaar. — On Friday evening a bazaar in. ai of the Anglican parsonage building fund was held in the Town Hall, and the public patronage extended to it must have- been gratifying to the promoters. I hear that the proceeda of the sales amounted, to over £80.