CORRESPONDENCE.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 38, 3 August 1870, Page 5

CORRESPONDENCE.

[We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents.] MINING AT BANNOCKBURN. (To the Editor of the Cromwku. Argos.) Sib, —I think your Bannockburn “ occasional correspondent” must be in the'habit of giving an overwrought description of the state of places ; or else he is: of a very credulous nature, and so is liable to receive as Gospel all • the superflous “ gas” of some heedless informant. In your last week's issue ho speaks of three miners obtaining eighty ounces of gold for one ■week’s work in Pipeclay Gully, I think reports of this kind should be taken cum gram sails, more especially when it is considered that no part of the Gully has ever given a weekly yield of anything approaching to that amount. Mining matters here are in rather a depressed state, instead of being in a “ highly satisfactory condition,” for although there may not be any cases of actual poverty, there are more miners in straightened circumstances this winter than has -dver been the case before. Although rather inopportune, I agree with your cbrrespondent’s remarks touching the projected Coal Creek race and the advantage it would be to the district; tbut.l am under the impression that it would bo useless at this season of the year, as the head of it would be frozen up. My reason for writing is to say that I deem it un-wise in a correspondent to represent a place as flourishing and prosperous when.it is evidently in an adverse condition ; for such like reports are,apt to lure diggers from a distance, who on not meeting with a realisation of their hopes on arriving at the place indicated, are either o impelled to return disheartened to the locality from whence they came, or mayhap go on the “wallaby,” heartily cursing the cause of their distressing peregrinations. Last week several miners arriv ed here, doubtless attracted by the alluring description of the place, but after seeking for a verification of the statement by personal observation, they found, themselves necessitated,. after a brief stay, to decamp to other scenes. I am aware of the difficulties experienced by a casual correspondent iu acquiring correct information as to the doings of diggers generally, for -whereas some may bo desirous of concealing or lessening the amount of their weekly earnings, others, on the contrary, will magnify their earnings sevenfold, so that unless a correspondent possesses great powers of discernment, ho can fonn but a vague idea of a place’s welfare by an occasional visit.—l am, &c., A Sluicer. Pipeclay Gully, Ist August, 1870,