BENDIGO.

Cromwell Argus, Volume III, Issue 156, 5 November 1872, Page 6

BENDIGO.

(From our own Correspondent.) October 30, 1872. I have very little to report this week : most matters bearing upon the future of this place are still in the transition state ; but as they appear to me to be progressing in the right direction, strong hopes may be entertained that the worst is past. Of course, as your readers may know, motion is not always progress,—as in the case of a crab's locomotion, for instance ; and with us, sceptical people may say that the upheaving force is so slight as to escape the observation of anyone but a newspaper correspondent. However, if it is not actually apparent to the bodily vision, I have a sort of prescience that the change is going on, and if anyone is desirous of erecting chataaux en Espagne, he may take my statement for a foundation : further than this, I can at present give no guarantee. Some of your readers may think the above is "high falutin," or perhaps "rot," but let me assure them that even " rot" is better than " nothing in the papers."

We have had the full benefit of the vernal equinox for the past fortnight; gales of wind have been blowing from all quarters, ending with rain varied by falls of snow on the ranges. The atmospheric changes have been sufficient to try the hardest constitutions : but in this matter the New Zealand climate will ever excel.

The new proprietary of the Colclough reef are seemingly prepared to go in con spirito, and have, ] believe, decided to commence the much-talked-of tunnel. When this work is completed, there is little doubt that the N.P. will find that they have made a good speculation in their purchase. The Aurora tributers finished their trial crushing of forty tons from the new leader last week. The yield has not transpired, but as they have not suspended operations, and are about to conclude their contract with the company, and carry on work for a term of years, it may safely be assumed to have been satisfactory, [f reticence as to returns, on the part of all companies, is to become the rule here, I scarcely see the use of any lucubrations from "yourown," as I imagine that a report from a reefing district without anything about quartz in it, would be extremely like the play of Hamlet with the royal character left out. If sucji matters are left too much to the imagination, error is apt to creep in, and as I may casually remark, reporters are but human.

Trial crushings frrm two other claims will shortly take place. These have lately been tiken up on Uolclough's supposed line, and until the crucial test is afforded, I shall refrain from passing aiy opinion, assuring the owners that " the best test of the pudding is the eating thereof." Cattle are being laily driven off to the pound. Mr M'Leati seems determined to make it a caution to graziers on his run. 1 learn that the fencei are being continually broken down to allov free passage to cattle and horses, so that tlere is little wonder that the scpiatter should get "riled"; and as to those parties who jersist in making short cuts at his expense, tie only verdict is "serve 'em right," if their qmdrupeda are impounded. Such conduct is onh calculated to disinter the hatchet betweer the squatter and the miner, and revive tluse bitter and mistaken feelings which all wlo have the permanent good of the country at heart had hoped to see laid at rest for e\er. So it behoves this community to aid tin runholder in exposing and condemning the delinquents, if they do not wish to see every hoof removed, which will surely happen if the depredations are continued.

I saw a nice little mgget weighing 16dwts. which was obtained ly a sluicer the other day in the terrace (verlooking Wakefield. The fact of such hear gold existing in that locality ought to indue prospecting for the deep leads which mostpractical miners affirm to exist in the high-Hug flats between the Dunstan range and he Clutha. This is a question which migfc be taken up by the Government in vie* of finding or making work for the new arivals.