Friday.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIII, Issue 20, 11 September 1885, Page 9

Friday.

Notwithstanding all warnings (says the Cromwell Argui), that the season is vet too early to do any good at Criffel, numerous parties are making their way to that field. Having got there they can only enjoy a forced idleness, as it is impossible to do anything on the mountain tops. The open season we have had has no doubt beguiled many to make an early start for the field ; but for another month at least the region is subject to sudden and severe climatic changes. This was shown on Sunday last, when a snowstorm set in and drove before it a number of men camped on the spur leading from the diggings. In such cases the cold ia insupportable. At the present time there is from nine inches to a foot of snow on the field, and the ground below this is ice-bound as hard as ballmetal. Those who reach Criffel during the early part of October will be just as far forward as the men who are now incurring hardship and discomfort on the mountain slopes. We are glad to state that the men working in the old Reliance quartz claim at Bendigo for the Prospecting Associa* tion are hopeful of disclosing something permanent and good. Some three weeks ago they struck a thin vein of quartz, and following it up it widened out until now it is about a foot ia thickness. The stone is described as good-looking, and gold is said to be visible v. specimens brought to town. At a meeting of directors on Saturday evening, the report from the prospectors was not bo favour able, as the reef was showing " mullock " in its body ; but still Pengelly and Edwards are hopeful that the reef will prove a continuation of the run of rich stone taken out by the Cromwell Company some years ago. The Reliance claim adjoins the latter property. In the House of Representatives yesterday, Captain Sutter resumed the debate on the Gold Duty Abolition Bill. He read several returns to show the expenditure on goldfields on the West Coast. He asked the Premier to give the House some information as to the effect of abolition of the gold duty on the revenue. Mr. Pyke said the gold duty was the most iniquitous tax ever imposed on a community. It was absolutely crushing in its effect on a most important industry. The second reading of the bill was carried on a division by 24 to 21. Cholera is reported to have broken out at Paimar, and tne disease is also stated to have made its appearance in other parts of. Italy, as well as at Gibraltar. The Governor of Herat has been absolved from the charges brought against him by Colonel Ridgeway of tampering with letters, etc., addressed to members of the Afghan Boundary Commission.