BENDIGO.

Cromwell Argus, Volume 2, Issue 86, 4 July 1871, Page 6

BENDIGO.

(From our own Correspondent.)

We have extraordinary weather. The "oldest inhabitant" avers that he has never experienced such severe frosts. I firmly believe if Mark Twain's thermometer were here it would perform once more the astounding feat mentioned by him, of coming down off the nail to register the degree of cold. A small one in my possession got down to zero, and gave up business. As a natural consequence, the water supply has almost entirely ceased, and sluicing, quartz-crushing, an<J all other methods of auriferous disintegration have come to a standstill ; so everythinjtpartakes of the hue cerulean, producing a very depressed state of affairs, the more to be deplored as this is the month in which merchants' "little bills" fall due, and miners must find the cash for storekeepers, &c. By-the-bye, how is it that this Old-World instistitution, which, like many other foreign plants and annuals, is totally unsuited to the circumstances of the country and seasons, is persisted in at the Antipodes 1 Would it not be preferable to alter the date of six-months' bills to a time when everyone is in full work and money is plentiful, instead of, as now, collecting the needful at a time of universal depression, from circumstances over which men have no control ? If purveyors for the gold-fields think anything of this idea they are welcome to it. A imblic meeting was held on Wednesday evening, the 21st June, in the Provincial Hotel, Logantown, but as sufficient notice had not been given to enable those at a distance to attend, it was adjourned until the Saturday night following. The business was, to consider Mr M'Lean's application for 040 acres of presumed auriferous land at Ardgour Station, and the best means of effectually opposing the grant. The inconveniences likely to arise to the miners if the land were alienated do not at present present a very formidable appearance ; but to those who look further ahead, such an alienation, at least without stringent restrictions as to right of entry, &c, it seems to have in it the germs of an intolerable nuisance to the future mining of Bendigo. The discovery of a quartz-reef, lately reported, by the Pise and Shine Company, is likely to prove the greatest discovery, so far, in the annals of quartz-reefing in Otago. Having visited the reef, 1 am in a position to speak of its merits. The Company are sinking a shaft on the reef, which is apparently about eight feet wide, but there is an additional width of twenty feet of ferruginous slate and quartz leaders carrying good gold so that the actual width of payable stone may be set down at from twenty-five to thirty feet in the present face. The reef appears to crop to the surface towards the end of the claim, which is 1200 feet long, and as the range rises rapidly, a depth of 300 feet perpendicular would be reached at the boundary by driving a level from the present workings. The direction of the reef is north and south, thus crossing all the lines of reef hitherto opened in the district. From the position of the alluvial deposits in the gully, it is more than probable that other lodes will be found, running parallel with this one. I understand that machinery will be immediately erected, the company already possessing a never-failing water supply for motive power ; and when once at work, I should judge, from the prospects I have seen, that the far-famed Caledonian will have found a rival. The Aurora Company having been compelled to discontinue the extension of ohoir race owing to the heavy frosts, have turned their attention to the mine, and are now sinking a shaft in the tunnel, with a view to test the reef at a lower depth than has yet been reached.—Tim Colclough Company are busy getting oiit stone from the reef, which is, I am glad to report, improving in width and quality.—The Alta Company are taking advantage of the winter to prospect their ground thoroughly.— The Cromwell Company are pushing on vigorously, and are about to erect whims to raise the stone, the depth now being too great for manual labour ; their mill, as are all the others, is idle for want of water. The deep lead is progressing favourably. Geer and party, next to the prospectors, have bottomed on gold ; prospect, from personal observation, -Adwt to 1 klwt to the dish ; gutter, 30 feet wide. The" next party, Anderson and Co., arc down 90ft., and are waiting Mi timber, the ground being wet and of a dfTOy nature. If once this lead was thoroughly opened, there would be employment for hundreds of an additional population : may it prosper. I have heard of a fog so thick that it might bo cut with a knife : I think we have ono just now of the required density. I intend trying the experiment, and will report as to u'Uccoes in my next. ' *