BENDIGO.

Cromwell Argus, Volume 2, Issue 88, 18 July 1871, Page 3

BENDIGO.

—o— our own Correspondent.) July 12, 1871. A heavy fall of snow took place last Saturday, and the hearts of all concerned in water races were greatly rejoiced thereat. This welcome supply has come at a very opportune time, as the whole district was almost in a state of collapse from the continued heavy frosts having completely resisted the flow of our great auxiliary. Matters now wear a more cheerful aspect, and in a few days we may expect to see quartz crushers, sluicers, et id hcec genu*, resume their natura l avocations. Snow has fallen since occasionally on the hill-tops, deceiving many who imagined the winter was about to pas 3 without investing the mountains with their fleecy mantle.

It has been shadowed forth from time to time, in a foggy kind of way, that a great change for the better was to take place in the fortunes of Bendigo ; and, if I mistake not, last spring was the time given for the realisation of the prophecy, but, unfortunately for our local " Daniel," a decadence eventuated (as the Yankee says) instead. However, I trust the good time has yet to come, and adding my predictions to those gone before, I will venture to say that if the place does not greatly increase in material prosperity during the coming vernal season, then it never will. Nature has done much for us: art must now come to its assistance; and, with a little more unanimity among the inhabitants, we may fairly hope to see the district in time rival its Victorian namesake.

The Cromwell Company have one battery at work; the other mills are still idle. In regard to reefing matte rs generally, the remarks in my last communication apply still—that is, they are in statu quo. The Rise and Shine Company are still prospecting their valuable discovery. The reef shows no diminution, either in width or prospect. The snow, which is two feet deep in their elevated region, will probably retard operations for a few days. The reef in Thompson's Creek (about four miles from the above) is still being worked. The prospectors are down forty-five feet, and the stone looks remarkably well, and is about four feet in width. The shareholders are anxiously awaiting the advent of some plucky capitalist to erect machinery. Such a speculator would find the investment a sure one. The road to the reef partakes somewhat of the difficult, but does not present an insuperable obstacle.

The statement made by one of your correspondents about a fortnight ago, that the river was lower than it has been since 1802, does not seem to be borne out by the welcome fact. A good many from here left on reading the paragraph to try its Pactolean sands, one a friend of mine, an old acquatic digger, who knew of a " bit of ground" paid the said bit a visit last Monday and found the Clutha to be at least three feet higher than it was four years ago at this date. He returned, a wiser and an angrier man, and not at all disposed to bestow his benison on the cause of his fourteen miles perambulation. Speaking of the river, how is it that the miners invariably mention it in the feminine gender, and say, " she is going down," "she will never be low again," &c. ? Now, on the other side of the world, the masculine is generally applied, as, for instance, Father Thames, or the mighty father of rivers the Mississipi. It is rather a curious fact, but due, I suppose, to the topsy-turviness of all matters popularly supposed to exist at the Antipodes.

A word or two about cats : a strange digression, I allow ; but really they are becoming sucli a pest that they deserve a passing notice. The number of domestic " tabbies" that run wild, and their descendants, is assuming alarming proportions. All game, such a3 quail, snipe, plover, and even the smaller birds which originally frequented the Clutha Valley have almost if not entirely disappeared, owing to the predatory habits of these vicious beasts. Miners in isolated localities suffer heavily, frequently losing their week's stock of meat in one night; it is almost impossible to place victuals out of reach of their burglarious propensities : close every aperture, and they will make their ingress and egress by the chimney, no matter of what dimensions, and their activity and cunning renders it difficult to effect a capture. At night they ean be hoard fighting over their booty, "making night hideous" with the most diabolical cater-wauling out of Pandemonium. What the nuisance will become when they increase in numbers, strength, and ferocity, it is easy to guess. I suppose when they turn their attention to the lambs, as wild cats do in the old country, the squatter will bestir himself to abata it, and I may remark, the sooner tho better. If I have deS>arted from the usual course in giving the oregoing chapter in Natural History, pray ?».T?utft m«, for I speak fcolLngty.