BENDIGO.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 158, 19 November 1872, Page 6

BENDIGO.

(From our own Correspondent.) November 12, 1872. The weather for the past week has been excessively warm ; unusually so ; in fact, the Old Identities of the place aver that the climate has changed greatly of late years, having become much drier : and really in the present aspect there is some confirmation of the theory. The snow is rapidly disappear ing, and water is consequently still plentiful, but grave fears are entertained that we shall have a repetition of last year's drought. The crops are languishing for want of rain, and if the Pluvial god would only condescend to send a few hours' steady downpour, this community would ever pray, &c. The various sluicing parties in the district, with a view to a general washing up at Christmas, are as busy as bees, and 1 should not "be surprised to learn" that a considerable addition to the escort eventuated on that date in consequence. This Spring has been a very favourable season for sluicing operations,—the customary warm rains having kept off, allowing the snow to melt gradually, and keeping up a plentiful supply of the necessary element. How long this desirable state of things will last is doubtful, but I am afraid, unless a great change takes place in the weather,'along with the coming festive season will be ushered in the fact of dry races.

The water flowing down Bendigo Gully, from being so repeatedly used on its course to the Cromwell Co.'s battery, has become totally unfitted for boxes and tables. The Company have remedied the evil by bringing in clear water from Logan's race, which takes its rise at a very high level in Bendigo Cully. As it was a matter of little difficulty, the only wonder is that it was not done long ago. The mill is constantly at work, and is at present engaged on a parcel of stone from the Golden Link, in which claim all hands (2) are sinking the shaft deeper for the purpose of sloping the reef upwards, a considerable change having taken place in the adjacent rock, which has become extremely hard, —an unknown feature hitherto in this claim. I believe the tunnel in the Lueknow, late Colclough, claim lias been taken by two contractors for L,l per lineal foot. There is a deal of speculation on the part of non-suc-cessful tenderers as to whether the work will

pay at that price, but I imagine, if the men who have undertaken the job are satisiied, there remains no one else to please. It. is to be hoped the change of name may be an augury of success, and when the new level reaches the reef, the proprietors may be able to say truly, " We are in luck now." The Aurora tributers are busy raising stone in the main level. The reef is improving slightly in appearance : no additional hands have been employed, however. The mottc of the company is evidently " Creep afore y. gang," which is doubtless a pretty safe axiou to follow ; but I should think with quarz yielding 16dwts. per ton, they should be alie by this time to do a little more than "creep" Quartz miners may not always be availahe, as witness the Nugget and Cornish Compaiy, Shotover, who are continually advertisingfor j men, and seemingly cannot get practical Seef- : ers even at the advanced wage of £3 10s per j week.

A trial crushing took place last we.k at | the Lucknow mill from Heii'ernan and Co.'s claim. As usual, the yield has not trans- j pired, but I have a shrewd suspicion tiat, to use an old expression, " it would notset the ' Thames on fire." The prospects wen really j good, so that it .night have been exacted to ! turn out well : not having done so,it must! be set down on the already long lis of mis-1 calculations. Tiie crucial test at <he mill, I always supposing the manipulation>f the ore ! to be correct,, in variably proves tin fallacy of ' accepting "good prospects" from no or two ! pounds of stone, as a criterion of no average j yield.

A new leader has been openee by Mr W. ! Anderson, between the Oolclougl&nd Aurora lines, but as the hill is apparfttly full of leaders, 1 do not attach much importance to this discovery. Gold, howevei is visible in the stone, and it may lead to something better : yet. Parties sluicing in its immediate locality obtain magnificent speciiSns of golden quartz, the nature of which,differing from that (if any reef at presentppened in the neighbourhood, leads me to nagino that the reef from which they have drifted has not yet been discovered. Shorn anyone prove i lucky enough to make the rfficovery, he may fairly reckon he is on his 'pile." Shearing has commencd at Ardgour station. As 1 anticipated, tterc is a scarcity of labour. They have, corWdy, their complement of shearers, but tin* erratic but sometimes useful members ofthe industrial class, known as "rouse-about." are somewhat shy this season, not havingjjit in an appearance j with their usual rcgU'Vrity. This want of I punctuality on the pavof the "sundowners" : will probably cost M 1 M'Lean a few pounds 1 extra tins, year, as Ugh a* pay will doubtless bo required by the ivaiftble labourers of the district, who for the nmce may turn their! attention to the "rou9-about" business, —! whatever that may be wth su«h a title.