THE BENDIGO REEFS.

Cromwell Argus, Issue I, 8 June 1870, Page 5

THE BENDIGO REEFS.

■ —*o — CFroin our own Correspondent.) Juno 6, 1870. The Cromwell Quartz Crushing Company aro busily engaged in the construction of their second battery of five stamp heads. I am glad to leam that the recent injury to this company’s machinery is likely to bo soon remedied. The bad state of the roads and the recent floods have prevented the arrival of thpir new castings from Dunedin. The men employed on the reef are bringing stone to grass, and a largo quantity will be ready for crushing when the ten stamp heads are set to work. The crushing of 140 tons of stone from the Golden Link claim has given 900ozs. of amalgam, or almost 3ozs. of retorted gold to the ton. Yet this result is not so favorable as the former crushings from the famous Golden Link. No. 3 east on Logan’s line, which had been abandoned for some time, has been taken up by Thompson and Bains, who are sinking a fresh shaft. It is to be hoped that their venture will be successful, 'f'he other claims on the east up to No. 13 have suspended operations. The contract for deepening the shaft in the Morning Star claim—No 1. west—has been completed. The shaft is down to a depth of 9G feet, at which depth a reef of from two to three feet in thickness has been struck. Prospecting in this and the adjacent claim is being proceeded with. The shareholders have shewn a great deal of perseverance. The public crushing at the Aurora is nearly completed. The company has reduced the number of hands for the winter months, as a large quantity of stone was raised during the period the battery was crushing for the public; and this, with the stone which will be raised by the working shareholders, is considered sufficient to keep the mill at work till the frost sets in, when water is likely to be scarce, and quicksilver will not so readily amalgamate without steam or warm water. The trial crashing of 20 tons of stone from No. 4 west (Messrs Dunn & Fendison) had not been completed when I wrote this, but is likely to yield a most satisfactory result. 10 tons from No. 2 west (Sharily and Co.) was just going throngh the mill. I wid endeavour to send you the result in time for next issue. The shareholders in Broadfoot and Kelly’s claim have again commenced operations, being quite satisfied with the result of their trial crushing. Colclough and party are pushing their tunnel forward. They have advertised in the Dunedin papers for new machinery with steam power, and expect to have five head of stampers in motion early in the spring. The Alto Company have completed their dray-road at great expense, and are sending stone to the Aurora battery for *>• trial crushing. The sluicing claims recently taken up in Bendigo Gully are in full swing. The late heavy rains have considerably injured some of the clams. The gully is occupied for a distance of eight miles, stretching from Messrs Smith and O’Donnell’s hotel up to the Rise and Shine claim at the head of the gully. The shareholders in this claim are reported te be making from £8 to £lO per week per man.