BENDIGO.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 202, 23 September 1873, Page 6

BENDIGO.

''(from our own correspondent.) September IG, 1873. ’When we sec a eat looking into a mousehole, we are told to be prepared for an fi early spring”; but without the evidence of -grimalkin, I fancy we have an early Spring this year. I have not, for the past three •seasons, seen the hills and plains looking so Verdant as they do at present. Wo havoliad fully a week of wet weather, with occasional warm gleams of sunshine, and its effect upon the verdure has been almost magical. Springs and water-courses which have been dried up for years are now running, and the limpid 'element is to be seen everywhere oozing from Mother Earth. From these evidences, I am inclined to predict a very favourable season for mining of all descriptions, (in this part of the Province at least,) a supply of fat mutton, nud several other good things and unwonted blessings. This belief is shared in by many ■of my fellow-inhabitants, who, in consequence, appear to have adopted the Tapleian philosophy, and, all circumstances considered, feel “ i n fact hilarious. It is pleasant to be .able at last to report that the clouds seem to be lifting from Eendigo, and as my following notes will show, its prosperity stands a chance of being established on a firm basis ; and if those interested will only bear in mind

Shakspeare’s aphorism, of the “tide, etc-,, which, if taken at the Hood, leads on to fortune,” it is not likely, as hitherto, to prove ephemeral. 3 The Cromwell Company are in full swing, ;1 and the mill is not likely to rest for many months to come. The mine has got a long !, start of the stampers. The manager washed ’ up, last week, a crushing of 100 tons ; the ’ yield was a very handsome cake of 387 ozs. I Hoar this, ye sceptics as to Otagan quartz mines 1 And the stone being now raised is looking richer than ever ! This is no mere patch. The mine manager, Mr John Perry, t who appears to be no novice at such work, B has traced the shot of gold for a very consij- derable distance by means of shafts, and I there is an extensive block to work out at e the present level (about 280 feet). With such facts staring them in the face, the proprietors B of the adjoining lease taken up by Mr Mitj chinson ought to be getting under way. f The Aurora tribute company washed up 3 also last week, the result being 123 ounces from 130 tons of stone. As this was a very ! mixed parcel, taken from various parts of the t mine, it may be considered very satisfactory (. and encouraging; in fact, the shareholders 3 seem to think so, and are “wiring in” accor- . dingly. They are now driving into new and ! solid ground across the gully which intersects the reef, .and have quartz in sight two feet , wide, with good prospects ; so we may fairly assume that their dark days are past, , The Aurora mill is engaged on a trial ! crushing of thirty or forty tons for Mr W. , Anderson, from a leader heretofore described as running between the Colclough and Aurora ■ lines of reef. Good results are expected ; probably fifteen dwts. or an ounce per ton. The Lucknow tunnel has not yet reached the reef, but it cannot be far off, as they have crossed what is evidently a spur from the main lode; gold is obtained from it, I believe, and I trust when the reef is struck, there will be added to the increasing list another of those “ swallows,” of which it is supposed “ one does not make a summer.” I wonder when the Alta proprietors are j going to make any sign. I can here state, I for their information, that their open work-1 ings in the mine are caving in, and the ma-1 chinery is rusting, and generally assuming a! very dissipated look ; there is also a full and apparently permanent water supply, so I hope j they will “ take heart of grace,” and give it | one more trial. Time, money, and patience | are required for the successful prosecution of i quartz mining ; and the shareholders having j had a preliminary lesson on this subject, have now a clear road before them, and knowing the worst, they might make another effort to retrieve past losses, as thousands of other men have done successfully in the past history of quartz reefing. I was looking over the heap of quartz at the Rise and Shine Co.’s reef—about 40 tons —the other day ; the rain having thoroughly washed the stones, gold was pretty extenI sively visible in the solid ; there are also casI ings and decomposed veins of quartz, from which splendid prospects can bo washed. Mr V, Fyke’s description of the Gabriel's Gully reef in his report, will almost exactly apply to this one ; with these oxceptions—this is a wider, and I imagine, much richer. 1 be-! lieve the Rise and Shine company are prepared to deal liberally with speculators in the matter of the erection of machinery, and it is really a pity to sec such an apparent : mine of wealth lying idle. The company : have plenty of water, and are very busily engaged sluicing the gully, and will, I hope, pull up for the lost time during the last dry 1 season. j There is nothing fresh to report concerning ■ j our “ coal-field.” The prospector has been 1 j tracing the seam along the surface, but it does ( not appear to widen so far. Machinery will 1 be_ required if shafts are sunk, the ground i being terribly wet; and as this involves expense, which no one seems to care about in- * curving, the opportunity of obtaining the ; boon of cheap fuel may be lost to this com- ( munity. Firewood is getting daily scarcer ; * it was never plentiful in this district; so I ' consider the neglect—and in fact, to “ call a ] spade a spado,” parsimony—of its inhabitants is nothing short of suicidal. So be it! * 1 have spoken. - As a further sign of the times (our times,) 1 I may mention that a fortnight ago Bendigo 1 presented a very unwonted appearance, caused by the arrival of a wedding party from Grom- I well. The new addition to the ranks of the ' benedicts was Mr James Taylor, ex-Mayor ! of Cromwell. The happy pair were accompanied by a large party of friends, and ’ the beauty, wealth, and fashion of Grom- 1 well seemed to bo well represented. Host * Smith of the Solway had provided a very elaborate cold collation, which, I have no doubt, gave entire satisfaction to our visitors after the long drive. After staying a few hours, and visiting the few objects of into-; rest this lively place presents, the gay party : returned home, carrying with them the best; I wishes of all who are acquainted with Mr a Taylor, for the future happiness of himself ! <_ and bride. I