BENDIGO GULLY.

Dunstan Times, Issue 235, 26 October 1866, Page 2

BENDIGO GULLY.

CROMWELIt DISTRICT. FROM OUR OWN* CORRESPONDENT. The labours of the miners in the earlydays of this gully were wholly confined to the table ground on either sido of the creek which runs through this locality, and for more than two years no attempts were made to bring water to the auriferous terraces existing in the district. Eventually, the ' Bise and shine' waterrace company undertook the work of constructing a race, at a very high elevation, out of Tipper.iry Gully, or better known at the present time as Thompson's Creek. The old aphorism " out of small things great ones spring," was peculiarly verified in the case of this company, when they decided upon starting the race at tho very high altitude they did. A shepherd belonging to the sheep run of the district, informed them that he could depasture his sheep on the very summit of tho ranges at any season of the year, and that snow never remained on the ground more than a few hours after its descent. Trusting to the correctness of this statement, they constructed their race during the summer season, and entertained no apprehension whetever that the winter months would interfere with the free course of the water. Unfortunately, when the winter weather did set in, the snow was found to choke the race completely, and their labour for many months was consequently proved to be utterly thrown away. Having rockfirm faith in thrir prospects, they commenced constructing a second race out of the same source, but at a touch lower altitude, and some few weeks ago it was successfully completed to the ground taken up by them ; one washing-up has taken place much to the satisfaction of the company. It was found necessary to construct a lenghty tail-raco to work -the ground effectively, and during tho past month, 6 detachment of the company, were at worlr

constructing one. On Thursday last, the flood rushing down the gully destroyed not only what had been formed of the tailrace, but teo altered the ground as to demand a large amount of lal our 1 efore the company can again fcsnsfnien':e r sluicing operati ns. 'I hey are, however, at work again, not only pz-osecuting the work commenced, but also in constructing an Extension of their water-course towards the banks of the Lindfe, a distance of four or five miles from the ground now in process of being worked by them. V hen this extension will, have become finished the "company will be in a position not only to jvork iresh ground themselves, but also to hire water to others to'work the terraces skirting the I.indis, which-are payable in countless localities. At a distance of a mile-and-half above Bendigo Gully proper, stands Shepherd's Creek, and a party styling the*nselves the ' Koh-i-fibor,' "have had the locality to themselves during the past I eighteen months, no other party having [ had water to work with. Box-sluicing has been the mode of working adopted by them up to the present time, ;nd the wages realised by that'mode, have been very satisfactory. The party are now con structing a large dam to husband the night water, and th6y are, for the future, to carry on operations by ground-sluicing, as a much larger amount of stuff ean thus be sluiced in the same tinfe, than by the box process. Ground-sluicing, I find, is now beginning to be adopted at every spot where it is in any "Way-practicable, 1 and the Lindis district for many miles above Bendigo Gully, is sufficiently auriferous to maintain a considerable number'of miners at ground-sluicing for years to come. At the lower part of the old workings of Bendigo Gully, is a rock-bound gorge, the bed of which being high, prevents the 'claims situated above it being properly worked, owing to their not being sufficient drainage. Some four months past, a party undertook this gorge, and after much weary labour for three months, an effective passage was completed, and last week the !pirty completed their maiden washing-up, the result was in every sense 'satisfactory. This new drainage channel must prove of considerable benefit to the locality as a large extent of ■ Id, but payable ground "can now be worked, which otherwise would have had to remain in ' statu quo.' In the Gully the old stagers are doing reasonably well, and to all appearances, seem content with earning steady wages, in preference to seeking at random a precarious maintenance elsewhere. The 'Aurora' water-race company have resumed work in constructing their r ce from No. 2 Creek, Quartz Reef Point, to Bendigo Gully, and expect to finish in about four months hence. This race when completed will revive considerably the mining vitality of the district. The race will be from seven to eight miles in length, and its cost in labour and capital, very considerable ; but the speculation is a safe one, and the proprietors may safely depend upon being rewarded for their commendable pluck. Old liendigo Gully has worn a very sickly appearance during the fast winter, but healthy times are about commensing, and its yield of gold will increase rapidly. CROMWELL NEW DIGGIN'GS, These diggings, as the readers of the ' Dunstan 'I imes ' are aware, are situated ■ about five miles above the Municipal town of Cromwell, on the northern side of the Clutha. They include Hatter's, Chinese, Sydenham, Barclay's and Bell Hill Gullies. The latter was only opened the week before last, and is only adapted for 'ground-sluicing, the wash-dirt being too poor for the box process. There are some three parties, at work in it, but probably more can do so, as the water can be used tln-ee times before it becomes too thick to be of effective service. The chief satisfaction in connection with the opening of this gully, is the proof that this new goldfield is extending, and that in time, the numerous gullies of the same class, extending for many miles in the direction of Albert town, will also be worth the special attention of the miners. At the present time the Westmoreland water-race is thechiefsourceofwatersupply, other races are soon to be constructed, and before the summer is over, there will be a 'considerable addition to the population of this new district. The parties engaged in all the gullies mentioned, are earning wages to a satisfactory manner, although they have to pay Water rent to a pretty high figure. As this new goldfield will only pay for ground-sluicing, and, therefore, with the present limited supply of water, I could not conscientiously recommend strangers to go there for some months to ' come.