BENDIGO.

Cromwell Argus, Volume III, Issue 136, 18 June 1872, Page 6

BENDIGO.

(From pur own Correspondent. J June 12, IST 2. The frost has set in in good earnest ; the past throe nights have been unusually severe. If it continues, the water supply will be entirely suspended,— is it is, the falling-off is rather alarming. There are, however, indications of a change, and it is to he hoped for the better, or matters during the winter on Bendigo are likely to be dismal enough. The Colclough battery has been crushing for the past fortnight, but unless the change above alluded to occur, will, I am afraid, be brought to a standstill. I believe tei dms have been called for driving the much-w.n ed tunnel on this reef. When this desideratum is acquired, I hope to chronicle better times for this Company.

Tlie Cromwell Co. have only jnst ennu«h water for the ten stampers; but the low situation of the mill may, even should the fro: t hold, enable them to prosecute crushing opj rations for some time to come.

The Aurora tributers washed up a crushing of between sixty and seventy tons ; the yield was seventeen ounces. This is not so gjod as was expected, but is sufficiently encouraging to induce them to keep on. I imagine a good deal of gold must have been lost, as the copper plates are exposed to the weather during the frost, and have been rather severely treated with acids, rendering them praetkally useless for gold-saving purposes. When these faults are remedied, the Company may expect the yield to be increased at least onethird. There is plenty of stone, so that a little patience is all that is needed : for the return, low as it is, pays all expense.*, and will in all probability improve. " For games that are low, and tricks that are mean,*' as "Bret Harte" remarks, we must give the palm to the "Heathen Chinee." A tail-race robbery has occurred since my hut communication, and as no European miners except the owners are in the locality, the Celestials may with truth be blamed. The Rise and Shine Co., in washing up their lower ditch, were surprised at the smallness of the yield ; and an investigation revealed the fact that it had been tampered with. The gold missed is variously estimated at from three' to five pounds weight. This party having worked the ground so long, know to a few ounces what to expect on washing up ; this, added to the fact that some peculiar and heavy gold was noticed in the race, and not found in the cleaning up, proves that an extensive robbery has taken place. The dis-1 covery, however, came too late for redress ; the only hope is in catching the thieves in another attempt, and paying oif both scores ;

:it the. same time. In consequence of ft i-ascaUy transaction a general feeling of i nst ourity prevails throughout the district amoi sluicers ; increased and troublesome waW fulness is rendered necessary; and if "Join should happen to he caught, he is likely, get a short shrift. Mill-owners will have | look to their tables. It is said that the Q\ nese, in their own country, display as gr 6 ambition, on first commencing housekeeping for the possession of a handsome camph tt wood cofKn, as we might for a piano, or the like. It is to be hoped tb among their imported notions of picking at stealing, they have included the above idg as it may be found, one day, to be a usef adjunct, and a saving to an impoverish; Government of a pauper " meat safe," if a: further robberies take place.