BENDIGO.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 196, 12 August 1873, Page 5

BENDIGO.

(from our own correspondent.) /August 5, 1873. During the past few days a thaw has set in, and we may expect shortly to see work generally resumed in the district. A very uneasy feeling prevails, however, as to the future season s water supply, which, from the exceptionally thin coating of snow on the Dunstan range'at present, is likely to fall far short of our requirements. Another season as adverse to the mining industry as the past two have been, and 1 am afraid Otago will witness a considerable exodus of its mining population. The continued breaks in labour caused by frosts and droughts, cutting down the gold digger’s receipts to almost starvation point, must tell in the long-run, and if the reports continue encouraging from Port Darwin, I expect that far-off Eldorado will receive a large share of the bone and sinew of New Zealand. Men’s minds are disgusted with the intermittent bestowals of Fortune’s favours in following the mining avocation here, and they think, and not without some show of reason, that it will be as well to risk the chances of a tropical climate as to slowly wear out an existence in this sub-arctic one. Gloomy, but true, I believe. I wonder what the postal authorities are thinking about: their arrangements are evidently falling into a terrible state of disorganisation. If mail contractors undertake to convey mails in a specified time, why should they not be compelled to fulfil their bonds I Repudiation seems to be the order of the day, and since the Californian mailman’s laches have been condoned, the smaller fry seem to ) think it incumbent on them to follow suit. We are not a very important community, it may be, but ready I think we have some grounds for complaint. We have occasionally three mails due from Dunedin at one time, and whether some of them ever do arrive, deponent knoweth not. I sometimes feel as foggy on the matter as the man in a small American State, when he was told they had then a tri-weekly mail, which, as the obliging official informed him, “ went up one week and tried to come down the next.” Quick and regular postal communication is a boon to any community, but more especially to one so sequestered from the outside world as ours ; and if the Government will only look into and reform the abuse complained of, our grateful prayers will follow. There is very little to report on the subject of mining, if I except the disc >very of some very excellent stone in the Aurora mine. An underground manager of considerable experience, Mr John Wi liams, late of the GoMen i Link, having been appointed, he has instij tuted a careful inspection of the old workings, i and has apparently discovered that the former workmen have in most instances left the quarts behind. I saw one prospect of nearly two dwts, of loose gold washed to the dish, accompanied by some very rich specimens, nearly approaching in appearance to the extraordinary rich patch found in this lode, which caused a stir about three years ago. I am in good hopes that bright days are in store for the tributers. They have over 70 tons of stone in the paddock, and as soon as the race can be repaired will commence crush- | i n SWork has been resumed in the Lucknow I tunnel: none of the tenders having been ac- ! ceptad, day labour is again instituted. The rate of progression will be understood when I | state that the roc.c is, if possible, harder than ; ever. The Cromwell Company has been brought J again to a standstill from want of water and ! frost combined ; but as rain fell last night and to-day I suppose they will again be in full s ring. The stone being now carted is from the Golden Link, and is of excellent qua’ity. The stone fi on the loise still looks j splendid, and is calculated to crush 5 ozs. per j ton. On the whole, your readers therefore | m iv conclude that reefing this season is likely jto onm more look up on B mdigo. My faith i in its paying and permanent character has I never wavered, and it will be very gntifying to find that in the main T was correct. I hope to see the Rise and Shine Company taking steps for the development of their reef this season : after the success attending the working of the Gabriel’s Gully reef, which I take to be of a similar character to theirs, there need be no hesitation in giving it a fair t mil. I mav mention that this section of MrMacKellar’s constituency are loud in their praises of that gentleman’s able and energetic advocacy of the wants and requirenvmts of the district in the Provincial Council, and are j pleased to discover that they were not misI taken in their man. Supervening upon the ■ imbecility of a Hickey, Cromwel kins ought | now to feel, in the matter of representation, I as Jonathan says, “ some pumpkins.”