BENDIGO

Cromwell Argus, Volume VII, Issue 316, 1 December 1875, Page 6

BENDIGO

(from our'own correspondent.) November 29, 1875. The first half-yearly meeting of the members of the Bendigo Miners' Accident Relief Fund association was held at the Logantown Hotel on Saturday evening, 27th instant. There was a very fair attendance of subscribers ; Mr W. Cameron occupied the position of chairman. Mr David Watkins, secretary, read the half-yearly report, which showed the association to be in a very flourishing condition, considering its infancy. The number of subscribers on the books number forty-five, in finance up to date. The income for the term amounted to £37 Is 6d ; and no call had as yet been made on the funds, which is a matter of deep congratulation. The adoption of the report was carried on a motion by Mr T. Moore, seconded by Mr D. Grierson. Mr Goodlad wished the operations of the fund to be extended throughout the whole of the Cromwell disrtict, and not limited to Bendigo. After some discussion, Mr Goodlad retired, and Mr Roland Morris took up the suggestion, putting it as a motion to the meeting. Mr Watkins moved as an amendment that the operations of the association be not extended beyond Bendigo. Upon being put to the meeting, the motion was negatived, and the amendment carried on the voices. A desultory discussion then ensued as to the advisability of reducing the subscriptions per month, but it was deemed by a majority to be injudicious at present. It was suggested during the course of the evening that the Carrick might very well take the initiative from Bendigo, and form a similar fund, so that persons leaving our mines for the Carrick could by arrangement enter the Carrick fund by clearance card from here, as well as vice versa. The Committee then resigned their trust, and, with the exception of Mr J. Pearce, offered themselves for re-election. The committee for the next six months is thus constituted : Messrs W. Cameron, T. Rooney, R. Morris, J. Williams, T. Stephens, and D. Watkins, secretary. A vote of thanks was tendered to the retiring committee, and one also to the indefatigable secretary, for his exertions to further the cause. With the usual compliment to the chairman, the meeting separated. I have to report the death of a young man named Stewart, by drowning. The accident occurred while he was trying to cross one of the streams on Morven Hills station by means of a wire-fence. The body, I hoar, has not yet been recovered, although part of deceased's clothing has been picked up. We have had a little excitement here of late through a party having pegged off a part of the creek below the Cromwell Co.'s machine, where a great proportion of the company's tailings are lying. When it is taken into consideration that there are hundreds of tons of tailings in the ground pegged off, and that on a rough estimate they are worth about 20s per ton, it is not to be supposed that the Cromwell Co. will yield the ground tamely. The Aurora is working better now, after its several break-downs, and about 100 tons has been crushed for the Hit or Miss. I could not venture an opinion as to the probable yield, but the plates are showing up for a good return. The Deep Level tunnel is still progressing favorably, but no lode has yet been intersected. Tn the Eureka, the whole of the men are employed on the tramway, no work being done in the mine. The work of formation for the first grade will soon be completed. It is intended to connect it with the second, or battery grade, by means of a shoot, or quartz-pass. The Bendigo Prospecting Association is to be the name of the claim previously known as the Coromandel. This is a company, the principal shareholders of which are in Dunedin. The mine and legal managers are respectively, Mr H. C. Daniels and Mr W. Oram Ball. A systematic start was made last week, and very fair stone is being daily won from the mine ; and with the splendid facilities the mine possesses, it should prove highly remunerative to its shareholders.