BANNOCKBURN.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 179, 15 April 1873, Page 5

BANNOCKBURN.

(From oar own Correspondent.) April 12, 1873. After the week or two of cold Weather we had lately, we have got a change to something much more pleasant; indeed, the weather at this seaso.i is more pleasant as a rule than at any other season of the year. If the water was only a little more plentiful with some of ih, we should be contented enough. Lately I have heard a good deal of talk about the "big race," and am glad to say that people generally seem to have much greater confidence in the scheme now than at iti initiation. The large number of shar.s which some of the promoters wished to appropriate no doubt did the company a good deal of harm at the beginning, and numbers here would have taken shares then but for that circumstance. However, seeing that the company have made such good progress with the race this summer, no one can doubt that it will come in ; and once in, that it will pay handsomely is certain. A remark one often hears is : " [f the Coal Creek water race was only in, we might have a chance of doing something worth while." So frequently is this sort of thing said, that for my part I am afraid that even when it d >es come in, its supply will not be half adequate to our wants. Yet, in spite of all this—in spite of the fact that we of the Bannojkburn will reap most benefit from its construction—l believe veiy few out here hold shares in the company. Tlunason cannot be lack of money, for a more prosperous district 1 feel sure there is not in the Province, f can only conclude it is and has been with this scheme as with most matters of moment among mining communities. Miners cry out their g i ivanccs, and complain loudly enough about this and that ; but when anything comes to be a'tompted towards a remedy, many of them at once begin to sing dumb. If a public meeting is called, for instance, yon will find verv few to att ml ; the majo-ity think there will be plenty there without them, and so too frequently the affair fails through. Cool Friday pasj.d a.vay much the same as any other day on this side of the Kawarau. ! noticed very few who were not at work, and really it can hardiy be wondered at. A holiday brings no phasnre with it; there is seldom anything in the way of amusement provided, while there is nowhere to go, and nothing to see. The S;andard machine is to start in a day or two upon som; stone from the Young Australim. _ C:uslungsfrom the Royal Standard, Caledonian, it.: , will billow-, so that we may expect to see tlio battery at work for some considerate iim \ 'This is a pleasing expectation, for our little township has ratlin- a woebegone a-mearance when the mill is not at work. The Young Australian parcel is sixtv tons. I have been informed that, this company have an immense face of stone before them. Two iron cm get more stone down than the o<hcr j wo can take awav. The stone is of a. very hj ose nature, so loose that it can almost be jml.ed down by the hands. I'-ov'cb-d KulhYc <t water could be obtained, it cjuld lie sluiced near y as well as crushed in a maci.i ir. A small crushing from a claim known as the Mavnuis of took pla e this nee.i, a.ul rcouhod in a return of some dwfa o.vr an oune> H V.v. ton. The proprietors have abandons! p., however, owing to the stone Uuo'iiig run out; but I hear a new part" have tak n it up, and intend prospecting it fi ther. A new party, 1 hear alao, hitsal the W.e cl A row.