BENDIGO.

Cromwell Argus, Volume III, Issue 134, 4 June 1872, Page 5

BENDIGO.

(From our (nim Corre-y)oH(lifif. ) May 28, 1872. The principal change noticeable here since rny last connnun .cation has been in the weather, which has been stormy and boisterous of late-. Snow has fallen in considerable quantities, and we may fairly assume that Winter has sot in in earnest. On Tuesday week, the heaviest shower of rain fell I have experienced for some years ; it was fortunately of short duration, or a flood would have resulted. Some d image was done to water-races, but repairs have since been effected, and the supply is abundant. The Golclongh Company are raising a quantity of stone, bilt the mill is idle for some reason. The reef still keeps up its improved appoaran ce, which is that of a permanent and deep reef, having changed into the blue and white qiiartz whicln as I have before intimated, is a certain indication of that character. It is a great pity the manager is not permitted to have his own vtay in putting in a tunnel at once, as the method of raising the ore which he is at present compelled to pursue is admirably calculated to retard the acquisition of dividends. The ground is very wet, and as the shaft deepens the flow of water increases greatly ; a tunnel would obviate this, and the labour Wasted in raisiim water could be brought to bear on the reek and the mill kept constantly at work. I inspected the Aurora workings, and am really' surprised that such an apparently good speculation should have been so hastily and inconsiderately abandoned, and left so long idle. Although only two men have been at work for about three weeks in the mine, they have placed about sixty tons of stone in the paddock, and have commenced crushing. The estimated yield is 8 to 10 dwt.s. per ton, and as the reef is four or live feet wide, this Ought to leave a good margin for profit. The main level is in nearly 7fJ feet, and to all appearance the stone is improving ; in fact, 1 cannot see the slightest reason why operations should ever have been suspended-. About 210 feet in, the cap of a blue and white reef crops in the floor of the tunnel ; it is similar t > the Colclough stone, and may lie found to be a continuation of that lode. The tribntors will turn their attention to this after the pres lit crushing is finished. I may here state t uit I am confident that those who have vein Fired on the spe aflat on will be amply repaid fir their cut uprise,—-a consummation which will go far to revive tiie drooping fortunes of Bendigo. It is needless to make anv lengthy statement ; b >ut the Cromwell Company, who are as usual n sing large quantities of shine and crushing it ; a id, 1 presume, pocketing dividends wi:h the .sung Jro'ul of successfully established qrartz miners. The.e are a great number of Chiilese Working in Bend go Gully at the present time. They are taking the place in a face-, and washing all before them ; and, judging from the continual gabble and laughter prevailing, have visions of A Subsequent <>Hum cumdiiinif ttr in the Flowery Land as a result of their l ireseut until ing industry. The old European identities of the gully view this state of things with ahvm, fear ng justly that shortly, like Othello's, their “ occupation will bo gone.” Unfortunately for them, as Mr Michie remarked in a lecture years ago, gold cannot bo reproduced like cereal crops ; when once the g Aden harvest is gathered in, there is an end o: it ; so I am afraid the aforesaid old identities will have to leave the familiar spot in search of “ fresh fields and pastures new,” when the celestial locusts have devoured ail before tiiem in the shape of fossicking ground. .lust as we were congratulating ourselves on the possibility of cheap living as a panacea for the coming hard times of Winter, Mr M'Lean gives notice to all and sundry in the cheap mutton line, that on and after the Ist dune sheep will bo s >ld at the station at I Os. each, instead of (is. as heretofore. Tuis is a nse witu a vengeance ! and one which even tlie unprecedented price of wool fails to warrant. It is to be hoped the matter will be reconsidered and modified ; or if persisted in, let il s have opposition in the wholesale as well as the retail trade. The imposition (it cm be called by no other name) is ridiculous at this season, when the sheep, never of the best, are likely to become Lvmg anatomical | specimens during the inclemency of winter. ; I have not at any time participated in the Id ggers “anti-squatter” cry ; but if such ex- | fraordinary and uncalled-for vagaries are peij pitrated, T shall reluctantly be"compelled to join the tanks of the Opposition.