ALEXANDRA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2685, 30 August 1905, Page 35

ALEXANDRA.

A-ugnst 26. — Th« weather continues remark»bly fine, and as a consequence the roads- are becoming thick with. dust. There is but little snow on the ranges, and what there is lies well toward the tops. Dredging. — The river keeps fairly low for dredging operations, and, bar breakages, the stoppages should be but few, consequently steady returns may be looked for from dredges <or several weeks to come. Brass Band. — With the object of taking jpart in the band contest -shortly to le he^d at Winton, the Alexandra Brass Band is going in for some steady practice. Every Sunday sees the bandsmen out practising inarching evolutions and playing the march piece. A measured distance has been laid off, and the time is noted in doing the distance, as well as the number of steps counted. Clearly the bandsmen are deteiniined to win" lionours at the nest contest., and fxoni their present state of efficiency their chances of doing so ai'-e favourable. I learn that the band instruments and uniforms have been vested by de^d of agreement in favour of the Borough Ccuincil, this being necessary, owing to the fact that the had but scant legal hold on the' instruments, and a bandsman, if he had chosen, could have put the trustees to considerable expense and annoyance. Concert. — The Town Hall was crowded to the doors on. Wednesday evening, when a successful concert took place in aid of the TJniform Fund for tho Fire Brigade. Previous to the concert taking place, the menit>M9 of the Fire Brigade held a torch-light procession, headed by the band and the volunteers in uniform. The night being a dark l6ne, the gleam of the torches and the flare *rf the coloured! lights 1 were moat effective; and, as usual, th procession attracted a large ferowd of people, who evidently enjoyed the wrrusual spectacle. An attractive feature of fthe entertainment was a performance, entitled "The Fairy of the Glen," given l>y the Tflyde Dramatic Company, of which the members acquitted themselves most creditably.

Bailway Construction. — Very satisfactory progress continues to be made ia the fornia-

tiqn of the line between Chatto Creek and Alexandra. There are also several miles of the eaith formation finished between Clyde and Alexandra. Most of the culverts on Tucker Hill are about finished, and the remainder are well in hand. I hear that Mr Fraser, the contractor for the bridge at No. 3 crossing, purposes making a start shortly to build the bridge pillars. The river now being at its low winter level, and likely to remain so for another month or six weeks, the risks of danger from flood are i educed to a minimum.