ST BATMAN’S.

Dunstan Times, Issue 399, 10 December 1869, Page 2

ST BATMAN’S.

(FROM OUR OtVjt CORRESPONDENT.)' Dec, 5.

On my first essay as Own Correspondent you may possildy expect something brilliant. If so, you will be disappointed, as it requires a more fertile brain than mine to manufacture anything amusing out of the dcadly-iiveliness of this place, where the occurrence of any matter of particular interest to the outer world is very rare in lee I. However, there are some signs of progression looming up, so an improvement may eventually take place in this respect. In the meantime I may commence hy stating that we “ live and move and have our being,” after the ordinary fashion of other mining communities, and consequently have our grievances, one of which, now the all-absorbing topic, 1 may he excused for dilating upon. This is essentially a sluicing district, no othef method of extracting the precious metal being in vogue, The water necessary for disintegration is provided by the water-races owned by three companies —the Scandinavian, Enterprise, and Mountain Companies—who supply the limpid element at an uniform rate of £-1 per hea l per week. At this point the shoe pinches. After six years continual washing away the ground, remaining yields poor returns. This, combined with the loss of fall necessitating the employment of larger quantitio 3 of water, render the above charge excessive and leave but a small margin for labor. The miners naturally enough wish to alter this state of things and with that view have prepared a petition signed hy nearly a’l the inhabitants of the place, to bo presented to the various companies to-morrow, praying for a reduction. 1 trust, for the sake of the permanent prosperity of the place, the application may meet with success. I conclude the paragraph with a-promisa to go deeper into the water question, as affecting the welfare of the province generally; A spark.from tire flaming excitement at Bendigo Gully and eloewhere aueut quarts)

Veefing appears to have fallen hero, and to have fired some of the community with an j ea of discovering similar attractions at St. Bathan’s. An association is being formed for tho purpose of prospecting the district. Quartz reefs undoubtedly exist in the neighborhood, and will in all probability bo found payable if properly tested. . I think there is great reason for congratulation on the programme issued for oiir annual race meeting Taking into consideration the sparseness of the population (less than two him 'red), the amount subscribed is Wonderful ; in fact, I am puzzled to think where the money comes from. However, it is there and to be run for, and, as the 'course is in excellent order, I trust we may have good racing and a fair proportion of visitors to witness the same.

In Airing matters there is little to report. The Scan inauiau race has broken away twice during the week, an 1 tlxis being onr principal auxiliary a stoppage ensues ) on such occasions entailing a general loss. 1 A good many parties are washing up for 'Christmas, so we may expect some tolerable 'escorts up to that festive Season-. The weather is delightful,but unsatisfactory as tho water supply is remaining short, as the springs dry up, but we never did and never will have in this worli all things as we would wish them.