BENDIGO GULLY.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2119, 19 February 1870, Page 2

BENDIGO GULLY.

(from on; own correspondent. ) / Cromwell, Feb. 15. Since the middle of last week, public feeling throughout the district lias been kept at fever heat, by the extraordinary discoveries made at the Aurora claim, Bendigo Gully. The claim, as you are already aware, was put in full working order about ten days ago, and since then the opening out of the different shafts and cuts has been prosecuted vigorously. This energy has already begun to work an improvement on the aspect of affairs, a fact which goes far to prove that yonr remarks regarding the erection of machinery wore well founded. The claim in question has been opened up on tho eastern side by an extensive trench across tho faco of tho prospecting shaft. It averages 25 feet in depth, and the stone is taken out in floors or benches. On Wednesday last, tho men at work near the middle of the trench observed a dark streak or loader running out from tbo back wall of the reef, and dipping down in the direction of the shaft. Upon examination it was discovered to bo richly studded with gold; in fact, the stone in some places stuck together by clasps of gold, and as described in one of the district prints, it did not exhibit gold iu stono, but stone in uold. The lead when struck was not more than a couple of inches thick, and in consequence of the heavy dip nothing but a few specimens could be taken off the surface. On the following Monday a still more promising vein was found, on the ground further east. The proportions of this vein have not transpired, but it is understood to be much larger than the other. Regarding the general working of the claim, wo regret to have to report an unfortunate accident which took place on Sunday last. Some of the intermediate gearing gave way, and the stamps were brought to a stand-still. In consequence of this, the first washing up will take place earlier than was at first arranged. Judging from the appearance of the tables, the stone crushed will go at tho rate of 150 to 200 ounces for the week’s work. A hundred tons of stone were deposited at the mill for the first crushing, aud rather more than half the quantity has been put through. It is of course to be understood that only a few pounds of the stone taken out of the more recent discoveries will be included in this washing, so that the yield will furnish no criterion whatever of future results. In quartz reefing matters generally, a decided improvement has been wrought within the last few weeks. Your correspondent lately visited the various claims along the different lines, and at one and all of them he found work being actively prosecuted. They

had all got a reef of some kind or another, and tho groat complaint was the want of machinery for crushing. IE you can aid the district in this respect, you will confer an incalculable beaelit upon it. Is there not a few hundred pounds knocking about Dunedin in quest of a sure investment, or has the spirit of enterprise died out altogether ? We will admit the truth, cash payments at present are few and far between, but if splendid looking quartz reef specimens could be made a current coin of the realm, there is not a man, woman, or child in the place whose pockets would not overflow with the needful. How can it be otherwise ? All the ready cash is absorbed for labor which cannot be brought to a reproductive pitch until provision has been made for crushing out the precious metal. Pardon me for furnishing you with a detailed statement of our affairs, and you will sec precisely how we stand. To hold the various claims the Goldfields Ordinance enacts that a certain number of wages men must be kept upon the ground. These men have to be paid and they go on punching away just to keep up appearances. There is no chance of the stone being crushed so thus it remains stacked up while the money keeps dropping out of the pockets of tho shareholders. Murray’s spec was an unfortunate one, but it does not follow that more practicable arrangements could not bo made. Tho Aurora Company’s water rights command a position coterminous to an extensive lino of reef and might be made available without interfering with tho company's operations. These, wo believe, might bo secured on reasonable terms, and even at a sacrifice, the privilege would be a gain. The public battery about to be erected in connection with the Aurora stamps has already met with engagements that will occupy it for months to come, and not a tenth of the claims opened are amongst the applicants.