BENDIGO GULLY.

Dunstan Times, Issue 431, 22 July 1870, Page 3

BENDIGO GULLY.

(from our own correspondent. , , Lpgantown, July 5. “Ex nihil, nihil fit.” Latin quotations hre in bad taste I admit; but this one so aptly expresses the reason of my non-ap-pearance in your columns during tbd past fortnight, I may be excused for giving it. There has been really nothing to write about. A general dullness prevails and is likely to do so until our mills are again in full swing. The Cromwell Company have hearly completed the repairs to their wheel, have erected their aditional battery, and expect to commence crushing next week. They have a famoils lot of quarts at grass, some of which shows better gold than any previously raised, and the reef in orte place is fully six feet wide, With gold throughout, so we may assume a very successful season awaits the company. The township of Wakefield, near the hull, is improving daily, and very substantial buildings are going up in all The Aurora Company have struck the reef in their main level, at a distance of four hundred feet from .ae mouth of the tunnel. The stone looks well, but being only partially developed as yet, I cannot speak as to the quality. This Company have everything in splendid order for working, and I trust will meet with ft welldeserved success when once they resume Crushing operations The Alta Company had a small trial Crushing at the Aurofa Mill, and the result Appears to be so satisfactory that the Company are calling for tenders for a mill to be erected forthwith. Colclough and Co. have also received tenders for a battery, so that in future there will be no want of pulverizing acents. All seem, like the ■great Macawber, “ preparing for a spring.” Mr. Robert keid, who has had the superintandence of the erection of all the machinery in existence here, is about leaving the district for a time, and the inhabits ts of the district intend giving him a substantial recognition of his services. A handsome sum has been subscribed, and I believe the presentation will take the form of a valuable gold watch, accompanied by ■an engrossed address. The iiifair is to Come off at the Provincial Hotel, Logantown, on Friday evening. The tribute is a well-deserved one, as Mr. Keid, apart from his skill as an engineer, has won the refepect and esteem of every one in the district by his gentlemanly and courteous behaviour. The weather still continues mild. The nights are frosty, but the days are mild and •genial. I could not wish for a finer climate, and I question if a better eould be found in the world. It is a pity we have not a larger population to enjoy it. Election matters seem not to engross much. attention here. Who are to be oiir future representatives appears to be a matter of perfect indifference. As the mining interest is likely to be the subject of much grave deliberation at a future Session, 1 hope the mining community will rouse from their apathy, and return only men who Understand their wants and who will pledge themselves'to supply them. July 12.

The l*ng-talked-of winter has at length arrived; but really, With regard to its severity, I can see nothing but a repetition ■of the old fable “ A Mountain in Labor," for which pleasant fiction I beg to refer your readers to that abstruse writer and instructor of verdant youth, iEsop. The frosts at night are certainly severe, b’>t the ■days are delightful and spring-like, and I will stake my reputation as a weather pro phet that, this frosty reign will soon be ■over in this district. The dredging interest may possibly suffer, but, as nature does not admit of class legislation, we must accept the gifts the gods provide without grumbling. The Cromwell Company having completed the repairs to their machinery, are now busy crushing. They have about three hundred and fifty tons of s+one at grass, so the stampers have work before them for some time to come. This Comhave to cart their atone a long distance to the mill, Which must be a considerable drawback ; but probably, as they progress, ■a tramway may supersede this expensive process. The Aurora Company are still Vigorously pushing forward \ their main lead. The reef struck by them a week ago is widening and improving as they go on. Mr. Hazlett, the manager of the Company, has been putting through the amalgamating barrels a quantity Of tailings, that is, the Sand saved on the blanket striker after leaving the copper tables, and the result, after the most careful manipulation, was a return of an average of seven grains of gold for every ton of stone passed through the stamper boxes, and as this amount is hot even lost, I confess I fail to see where the extraordinary loss spoken of some time ago takes place. Probably, as deeper levels are reached, and a greater combination of metals occurs, the per centage of loss may enlarge, but, by the exercise of judicious hare even this increase may be avoided. Until then I believe the public may rest satisfied that the " enormous" waste of the precious metal exists only in the imaginations o those who know ho better.

The deadly liveliness of Logantown was pleasantly relieved en Friday evening by a grand gathering of the elite of the district at the Provincial Hotel. A presentation a supper, and a ball, were the occasion of the assembly. As these friendly reunions •are somewhat rare, every one appeared to go in “ confipirito,” and enjoyed themselves immensely Tho worthy, recipient of the honors of the evening Was Mr. Reid, engineer, who is leaving here, after performing his arduous duties in connection with the erection of pur two crushing mills The ■Cromwell and Aurora during which period he has managed to secure the respect of every one with whom he came in contact A subscription list) embellished With neatly

all the autographs in the district, culminated in the purchase of a magnificent gold watch and an engrossed address, which were presented to the parting guest by Mr. Douglas on behalf of the Committee, accompanied by an Upppopriate speech. Mr. Keid responded, thanking the company deeply for the honor done him, &o. Allj present prepared to discuss the various delicacies set forth by the worthy host; Toasts (having been drank atid duly responded to, Terpsichore assllmed the sway. The revels Were carried on into the “wee small hours” when the company separated with a general God-speed to the evening’s guest and a hearty wish for the speedy return to the scene of his successful labnur. [From some unexplained cause, the above letters reached us within a few hours of each other.]