BENDIGO.

Cromwell Argus, Volume III, Issue 131, 14 May 1872, Page 6

BENDIGO.

(From our own Correspondent.) J] ay 8, IST2. I am compelled to admit the interesting fact that there is a complete dearth of local news this week ; in fact, like Canning's knifegrinder, " Story, God bless you, I have none to tell, sir." Winter this year has arrived with unusual regularity; unlike the San Francisco mail-beats, it was punctual to the very day appointed for the advent of "Jack Frost." Several falls of snow have taken place, and all the ranges in this neighbourhood are tolerably well draped in their snowy mantle. The days, however, are beautifully mild, and anyone desiring more seasonable weather would be hard to please indeed. If hard frost sets in, as is quite possible from present indications, the river will fall to a very low level this season, and perhaps give us a chance for subaqueous explorations in the bed of that modern " Pactolus," the Clutha. The Cromwell Company pursues the even tenor of its way. The mill is kept constantly at work, there being now a plentiful supply of water. I hear of no especial changes in their reef, which seems now to yield stone of an average quality throughout the entire workings. I cannot help thinking that reticence on the part of quarto companies in the matter of yields is a very short-sighted policy ; in the absence of correct information, the public are not likely, as in the case of a prisoner at the bar, to give them "the benefit of the doubt." The Colclough Company are also busy crushing. They had a washing-up last week ; and it appears to have been satisfactory, as additional hands have been employed, and a night-shift placed at work. The prospecting of the Aurora is progressing,—if by progression is meant the employment of two men. If its development is to be a work of time, the tributcrs have decidedly hit upon the correct plan for such an ' issue. I hope soon to see an infusion of more I vigour into this speculation; to use a very j vulgar colonial expression, it is "neither I fighting nor holding the candle." The Chinese are in great force here just now, and, in these times of opposition butchers, must fancy themselves in an earthly paradise. The ordinary Mongolian type of 'stolidity of countenance is fast disappearing, and changing to a universal " broad grin," due, 1 suspect, to the strain upon the cpidcr- ; mis caused by daily stuffing the food-rcceiv- ! ing feature of the " index of the mind " with 'Mr Mitchinson's cheap mutton. If this state !of thing:-, continues through the winter, J ■would recommend respirators as an addition |to the ordinary picturesque costume of the i Celestials, as cold blasts of air are unhealthy ■ adjuncts to a distended qngastrium, or as the " P. 11." puts it, the "bread-basket," It may be news to some of your readers to learn that notwithstanding the disastrous failure of the New Guinea expedition, another with the same object is being organised in Queensland. ! trust it may meet 'with better luck. As "distance lends enjchantment to the view," the aspirations of ! many of my acquaintances arc fixed upon j that terra incognita as the theatre of future gold-mining operations ; and certainly, if : gold exists in any quantity there, any one carrying with him his digging experiences of I the past few years, should have no difficulty in realising his most sanguine hopes. It is ! to be hoped that New Guinea may prove the true " land of promise" to the miner, as some I such refuge will be needed when the inevitable exodus takes place from New Zealand ' to make room for Dr Feathcrston's " .suitable | selections." It is a pity our Agent-General had not lived fn the Tower of Babel era ; he 'would have been saved a deal of travelling to and fro in search of a confusion of tongues. j He is looking very far ahead indeed when he ! expects to weld such an incongruous mass of I nationalities into one common people. If 1 had a desire to extend my existence beyond ; the common span, 1 might wish " to be there i to see."