BENDIGO GULLY.

Dunstan Times, Issue 418, 22 April 1870, Page 3

BENDIGO GULLY.

(from our own correspondent.) Logantowu, April 21. I am sorry that my last communications have not reached you in time for publication ; indeed it is probable that such may be the fate of this one, and for this we have to thank our absurdly inconvenient postal arrangements. Lord Dundreary very sagely remarks that ‘'the—aw—post-office is a deuced fine institution,” &c., but I think 'even his imperturbable sang froid would have been upset by a trial of the one, our wise Government provide for us here. However, we hope to see a change shortly, as a public meeting is called for Wednes 1 day evening, at the Provincial Hotel, when the Solons of Bendigo will sit in solemn conclave to discuss the matter and try to ( i change for the better custody and f transit of tilings epistolary. A general feeling of insecurity as to the despatch of lotiets appears to have crept into the public mind, which will probably culminate in a petition to head-quarters to have the unpleasant doubt removed by the establishment of a local post-office at Logantown. The Cromwell Company have struck 'what is termed in mining parlance another •‘(make” of the reef in their workings, at a lower level than has 'been reached by any other patty. The stone is equal, if not superior to that at the surface, proving undoubtedly that the quartz extends in payr i-ig quantity and quality downwards. This J fact has induced a firmer belief in the per- " manonce of our reefs than anything that has yet occurred. Victorian reefs which were abandoned years ago as worked out at two hundred and fifty feet, are now b sing profitably worked at a depth varying from live hmilre I to eight hundred feet, iuy own experience of quartz reefing in Ota-.o inelin-s me to believe that onr lodes rve simitar wiffi respect to the depth at which they will lie found payable. The truth of this theory could he readily proved 1-y a deep shaft, say two hundred feet, being sunk on one of the lines of reef, and, as this would be a public benefit by creating confidence as to permanency, so necessary In raising capital for tbe development of our mineral wealth, it would be only just if the general public would contribute its quota to the undertaking. A sum raised for such a purpose might with justice be subsidised by the Government. Such a plan, if properly carried out, would do what it will take years of the present hand to mouth system to accomplish in pushing Bendigo into the prominent position it ought to hold among the goldfields of Otago. I commend these remarks to persons about to speculate, or who have speculate 1, as calculated, if acted upon, to make their speculations sura. The Aurora Company have had a small crushing, with, I believe, satisfactory rej suits. Their battery is now engaged crush--1 ing for the public. Loughnan and party’s trial crushing of twenty-six tons ended on 1 Saturday, but the amalgam is not washed j off. so I cannot ascertain the yield, The i stampers are now merrily battering away 1 at tbe far-famed stone from Cololougb’s I reef, from which, according to prospects, handsome returns are expected. 1 believe this party will put through one hundred tons, il ‘Loughlnn and Co., Victoria lease, will follow- with twenty tons; Boadfoot and Co. next, with fifty or sixty tons ; and then the renowned Alta, or Sara Williams, Claim, with a small sample of ten tons. This stone will -have to be packed about three miles ; hut the satisfaction a proof of the value of their reef must ont-weigh all ‘other considerations in the minds of the holders'! Thu Aurora company really deserve the thinks of the district for the manner in which they have come forward at a juncture when the place was languishing for the want of some such test of the relative value of the many reefs now open. • Of course, as water is so scarce, we cannot expect a wonderful transformation to occur, hut doubtless these trial crushings, good or bad, will produce good results, and possibly ease many minds. The Aurora Company have many hands engaged in raising stone, which is, 1 am glad to state, improving in in appearance as the ground is opened out In mentioning what is due in the way of public thanks 1 may state, and t think all will agree with me, that they are certainly due of Mr. J. D. Foraud for his vigorous .advocacy of our cause at the late delegation \o the Superintendent respecting a water supply to Bendigo Gully district, and I trust he may ere long have the pleasure of seeing Such a scheme initiated. ~\Ve are experiencing splendid weather just how, and the water Supply is Well kept up by the snow which fell lately rapidly dissolving under tlio balmy influence of old Sol’s aspiring efforts.