CROMWELL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 404, 14 January 1870, Page 3

CROMWELL.

(from a correspondent.) The Christmas holidays being over, renewed exertions are being made in testing the quality of Bendigo Reef, the whole of the claims are in full swing, and the shareholders are making preparations to raise stone in anticipation of some of the promised batteries being erected. The; confidence in the wealth of the reefs that was beginning to flag, is to a great extent resuscitated by the readiness to purchase evinced by capitalists. During the past week two shares have changed hands, the one, a sixth share in Gillhs’s claim, No- 4 East, Logan’s line for £3BO to Mr. Ebden, the other a half share, or a fourteenth in the Aurora Prospecting Claim, Plant, and Raco for £SOO to Mr. J. Sherwood of Clyde. The stamping machinery on this claim is on the eve of being completed, indeed, arrangements are made to commence crushing early in the ensuing week. The fate of Bondigo Reefs rests entirely on the result of the first crushing from this claim, as if the quantity of gold obtained is not up to the expectations of those who are watching the course of events most carefully, a grand stampede will take place. The fact that quartz reefing is an expensive occupation, is fully realized by the majority of those who have interests on Bendigo, a"d it will require all good news to keep up the steam. The Cromwell Quartz Mining Company are working away raising stone and crushing, but from all accounts not so satisfactorily as formerly, not that the actual yield of gold per ton is less, or that the -workmen are neglecting their duties, but it appears through the dispute pending between the Company, added to the loss they Company have sustained by the untimely death of Mr. Garrett, one of the shareholders, the whole fabric has liecome unhinged. On Wednesday next, the application for a dissolution of thepartn rship will be heard before the Warden, after which it is assumed things will work more pleasantly.. While on disputes, 1 may inform you that 1 hear by a side wind that Gibson and others, whose case was tried by assessors the last Court Day are not satisfied with the decision, and intend making an Appeal, this litigation is much to be deplored, as not only is much valuable time lost, but a vast amount of money is diverted from a channel in which it applied it would do a lasting good to the Province. Williams’s Reef in Bendigo Gully is fast rising in repute, and there is not a question but that it shews well, the reef has been traced the whole lengh of the claim on the surface, and in several shafts to the depth of fifty feet, the sharehol lets are reticent as to what they intend doing, but as they are all monied men, I do not doubt they will erect a battery of stamps of their own. The deep lead running from the reefs into the foot of Bendigo Gully is paying first class, there are five claims in full work, and two other shafts in course of sinking. I think I have given you the whole of the news of any interest in this part of the district, so now "for a slight resume of intelligence ffom other parts, if I should fail in my object of making this correspondence as readible as I should wish, you and your readers must excuse it, and assign for it the following reason,—the lack of subject matter.

The timely rains that have fallen during the past few weeks have had a most beneficial effect, vegetation that had suffered seriously through the long continued dry weather is now looking splendid, to the satisfaction of farmers and owners of live stock, the miners also are elated with their changed prospects, and in every nook and corner, the work of extracting the precious metal from mother earth is being prosecuted most vigorously. At the Bannockburn Kawarau Gorge, on the banks of theClutha and Kawarau Rivers, the races are brim full of the liquid element,' the which is unsparingly used for the one end, os the various companies have but just commenced, nothing can be said of their earnings ; it is to be hoped the present year will be as prosperous as the past.