BENDIGO GULLY.

Dunstan Times, Issue 412, 11 March 1870, Page 2

BENDIGO GULLY.

OWN CORRESPONDENT.) March 6. L6gan-town and its Surroundings have presented rather a livelier appearance during the past week than usual, owing to an influx of visitors from Dufiedin to the district—some to view the reef's, 'others to speculate ; but the majority were in search of work, all owing, I suppose, to the glow* iug accounts lately disseminated about the place. Now 1, being a disinterested observer, beg, in passing, to give one word of advice to the working m'Cft looking for a job, and that is to stay away, at least until the spring, as most of the claims have their full compliment of hands engaged, and the season being so far advanced we cm hardly expect to see more machinery at work until that time. There will doubtless then he a large fiol 1 for labor ; but, in the meantime, the peripatetic portion of the mining community will do well to consider the above hint. The actual yield from the Garrick Range stone crushed this week was forty-two ounces from five tons and threequarters of quartz. If this was a hona-ii e average sample the shareholders in this claim have great cause for congratulation, and such a fact ought to he an incentive to further prospecting for our hidden treasures. The Cromwell Company are crushing stone this week, and may expect a tolerable cake of gold in the course of a fortnight. They are at present in difficulties about the water supply, the sluicers in Bendigo Gully rendering it, by their operas tions latterly, so thick that it is beyond a joke. Gold is being lost in consequence, and I believe the Warden will be called upon to decide upon how far such injuries may be inflicted with impunity The Aurora Company washed up Jlast week, and retorted about two hundred ounces from one hundred tons of stone. The decrease is accounted for by the fact that quantity was known to he poor, hut, lying at grass, it way necessary to get it out of the way. This company’ a.e determined to keep the stampers employed, and, let the reef he poor or r.ch, the quantity put through must eventually tel! a tale. A mill is shortly to he erected at Williams’ famous claim. Previous to such addition, however, ten tons of stone will be carted to the Aurora battery and crushed. This will give the shareholders some data to go upon, and is, I consider, notwitstanding the expense of such an experiment, a very judicious step. During the past few day’s the claim has changed owners, the original proprietors having disposed of all their interest therein. The purchasers are mostly moneyed men, and I look upon the importation of capital into our undertakings as a guaiantoe of success. Such men can afford to mature a scheme. An investment in quartz-mining means an investment for nunlth°, f..v ycarti, laoforc Sividc’sla ' can he declared, and any who enter upon such a speculation hastily are as certain of disappointment as those are of success who persevere in their faith in those resources here which the past limited experience of Bendigo Gully so fully warrant. M ‘Loughlan and party are sinking a shaft on the west end of their least, adjoining that of the Aurora Company. They have a strong reef showing, with the precious metal well distributed throughout. 1 consider that the prospects of the company are Al. All other parties are working with a certain amount of vigor, but the approach of winter seems to cramp operations slightly. This is not to he won lered at when our great elevation is consi lered. I anticipate a winter at this height wlil require some consideration. However, we may expect to see all matters assume a rosy' hue in the spring. In the interim the staying powers of shareholders will he fully tested, and 1 trust they may’ not he found wanting. There is a great dearth of amusement here, the absence of a clue proportion of the fair sex rendering such deprivation more irksome. 1 heg to state, for the information of single ladies generally, that this is a great marrying place. Eligible partners soon disappear, and are swal owed up in the vortex of married life. I hopo, for the sake of my bachelor friends, this may have the effect of inducing more of them to cast in their lot among us. I may mention that temperance ideas are gaining ground here, and this, combine 1 with the salutary- but unexpected and occasional appearance of Sergeant Cassells on the scene, tend to greatly decrease rowdyism.