ALEXANDRA.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 172, 25 May 1871, Page 5

ALEXANDRA.

(From an Occasional Correspondent.)

Since my last there has been very little news in mining matters. The rise in the river had the effect of putting a stop to dredging and the working of bank claims, but the late heavy frost is reducing the river very considerably, and all the claims are expect'ng to be again in full work before this appears in nrint. At Conroys and Butchers Gullies all the claims are in full work, with plenty of water, but the water races taking their rise from those gullies are not running half full. The Manuherikia water race is running full of water, and the party are in full work in their new quarts midway between Alexandra and Clyde, and if current accounts can be relied on. this said company will regret the day they abandoned their old quarters in and around Alexandra, but I trust that T may be a false prophet in this instance. The Ovens Co.'s race is also full of water and all their claims are in f nil work, and Tarn informed that they have made application at the Warden J 8 office for an ext?nded claim, embracing some of the ground abandoned by the Manuherikia Co., and are in great hopes of its turning out well . The timber to be used in erecting the quartz crushing machinery for the Conroys Quartz -Reefing Co. is already on the ground, and the machinery is expectfd every day. I paid this reef a visit lately and found +ha<" a roadway was already constructed to get

the machinery on the ground, and a tramway in course of construction to convey the quartz from the workings to the machine ; also the creek has been deepened some ten feet to allow the debris to run off. T also personally inspected several portions of the reef laid bare since my last visit, and from my knowledge of reefing I believe it will be the best paying reef in the Province of Otago. On Monday last the streets of Alexandra presented a very lively appearance, being crowded by men, women, and children, to witness and enjoy the freaks of a Jerusalem pony — in other words- -an ass Everyone had been looking forward to Monday the Bth with curiosity and pleasure, caused by an advertisement that our auctioneer would sell two donkeys on that day, the property of Mr. R. Lancaster. Immediately the said donkey crossed the punt (for only one donkey arrived, the other being sold at the Teviot) he was taken possession of by a resident, who rode him triumphantly through the streets of Alexandra, anu tethered him in front of the Bendigo Ho'el. Immediately our worthy Dick had completed crossing his cattle, the fun began. Two, three, and four boys on Neddy's back at a time, and often they were landed on mother earth ; in fact, I do not believe that young and old ever enjoyed themselves better in all their lives. There was a good sprinkling of our Clyde friends in town to enjoy the fun, some of whom made up their minds that Neddy must be the property of Clyde, and our auctioneer was as fully determined that it should, be bought for the children of Alexandra, and he succeeded in comp^et'ng the purchase ; but it appears Lancaster, after having sold poor Neddy, resold him to a Mr Cox, of the Port Philip Hotel, Hyde, who fully made up his mind that the said donkey must go to Clyde that same night, in which he was disappointed. However, Mr. Lancaster was served with a summons for the sum of LSO fur the non-delivery of fh° said donkey. Mr L. immediately got frightened, and took forcible possession of the donkey in the a^seiic? of the purchaser, and delivered the same to Mr Cox. It is reported that Mr L. is to get a writ for a much larger amount from th? other side. It is a current report that, the said donkey was particularly coveted by one of the leiral profession resident at Clyde. From the long account I have itiven you about this donkey, no doubt some of your readers will arrive at the conclusion that we must be short of donkeys in this part of the world. I can assure them that such is not the case, as I believe Cromwell, Clyde, and Alexandra, c;m supply as many donkeys as any threa villages this side of the Line, and, as a matter of course, your own correspondent included, I am sorry to chronicle that the said donkey has been playing up, in fact, one boy (Gsorg^ C imeron) wa3 thrown, and fractured his pkull, but lam pleased to say he is out of danger and doing well. Two boys at Clyde have also suffered from falls off the donkey, but as yet nothing serious has happened, and T trust I shall have no more accidents to chronicle about the donkey.

On Friday last a man in the employ of Mr O' Regan, butcher, was thrown from his horse near Niepier's Butcher's Hotel. From information rec *ived, he was riding fast with loose girths and was thrown over his horse's head against a post in front of Niepier's Hotel. He lived for some 24 hours after the accident, and strange to say, no medical man was called in to see him. I will not comment on this subject, further, but the accident happening in such a religious place as Alexandra, it does look strange that no one had the Christian spirit to call in a doctor.