BENDIGO.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 173, 4 March 1873, Page 5

BENDIGO.

oi ( From our oim Oorrfixpomfant.) Febrnarv 2"». 1573 Despite hopes, fears, and predictions, no ram has yet fallen. The unprecedented! weather of this season has completely set at < naught the experiences of the oldest residents Were it not for the surrounding peculiar to ' CHago, one might fancy himself in Victoria without any very great stretch of the imagination. When shall we have rain ?is asked I on all sides ; but as my data furnishes me I with no clue to an answer, T am reluctantly compelled to refer the querists to more in- j spired prophets ; and lo ' one of these has ■ arisen. He informs us that ere ten davsi expire a heavv downfall of rain accompanied ! by floods will take place. He draws this! deduction apparently from a very sample i natural phenomenon, and—tell it not in ! Gath !—he says, "his sugar has become ! moist" ! I am aware that saccharine and: saline matters generally do assume humidity ! on the approach of rain ; but, in common | with most housekeepers, having a small! quantity of that useful condiment, salt, on I hand, and noticing no perceptible increase of ! dampness therein, I am inclined to doubt the j accuracy of the simple barometer alluded to. I However, I sincerely hope " sugar" will wim j as a much longer continuance of the drought j will be a very serious matter for the whole Province. The loss to the revenue entailed \ by the past two dry seasons ought surely to j open the eyes of Government to'the necessity | of a permanent water supply to gold-fields. ! But this subject, as persistently ventilated by j me, is, paradoxical as it may seem, probably ! becoming a dry one with your readers. I! will therefore let it rest for a time, hoping j that our legislators, if shortsighted, are not : yet entirely blind to our necessities and their ' influence on the public weal. " j

Tiie Aurora tributers arc engaged prospecting, raising stone, and renovating the plant. They have 80 tons of quartz in the paddock awaiting the pleasure of Jupiter Pluvius. They sunk a shaft in the hill across a blind gully which intersects the reef, and struck excellent stone at a depth of eight feet. From the splendid specimens found immediately below in the alluvial workings, and other indications, 1 am inclined to°believe that they have at last got on to the true line, and one which may yet maks a stir in the reefing world.

Anderson and Co. are still grassing stone, but unless " sugar" proves a true prophet, allowing the mills to get under weigh, it will be long ere the value of this discovery is proved. The stone prospects well, but 'it is narrow and traverses pretty hard "country." The Lncknow tunnel is in 133 f ee t, the ground being still very hard. There is yet a long distance to be got over to complete the 400 feet, and unless the rock changes materially I am under the that the contractors will not realise an enormous " pile" out of the job. When this work is finished the shaft will rerjuire to be sunk about GO feet to permit the tunnel to be made available, and this might be proceeded with during the present dry weather, the water having of necessity decreased in the workings. It is just possible that when the level reaches its limit, it may not drain the upper ground. Such instances are not rare in quartz mining.

• Engineers aro like doctors,' and when they get hold of a good case, such as a delapidated mill for instance, the cure is quite likely to be a work of time ; so seven or eight weeks must yet elapse ere the Cromwell Company's crusher will become convalescent. The ''fearful and wonderful" enters largely into this branch of mejhanics, so I suppose tyros must make no comment. There will bo plenty of work for the stampers when ready, an immense quantity of stone having been lately transferred to the upper air. I am informed that a company will shortly bo projected to construct a water race from the Lindls river, to command all the terraces and flats ly'ng under and adjacent to the Dunstan ranges. As these are all more or less payable, no doubt can exist to its proving a paying speculation, if the money can be found to bring it in. A survey will be made, and an estimate of the cost prepared. Ther? will be then something tangible to lay before the public. In the meantime I wish the projectors success. Mustering for weaning the flocks has commenced on Ardgour station, and during this dry, hot weather, and the total absence of water on the ranges, both men and dogs, to speak graphically, must be getting fits. I wonder if it is an absolute necessity that shepherds should b3 compelled to work on Sundays. The grass is fired in al! directions, and this reminds me to ask, if it is possible that so much fire and smoke in such elevated localities has any effect in prolonging the drought! If so, the practice is reprehensible: and in instances might be less indulged in,—notably on the Mount Pisa station, where there appears to be some lunatic who wishes to realize the idea of eternal tire, for I have rarely seen the range free from smoke and flame during my residence hero. There can be no necessity for the continual conflagration, unless it is that the shepherd has a regard for his "poor feet," and does it to keep the sheep on the low ground.