Above: One of the earliest photographs ever taken of Bourke, this image shows Mitchell Street, Bourke,( where Oscar lived for much of his time in Bourke), in c. 1865.1865.
Mrs. O’KELLY.-A young woman came to our office yesterday in reference to paragraphs which appeared in this journal on the 19th and 23rd December-one was from our correspondent at Bourke, under the head of " Lost in the Bush," the other was extracted from the Maitland Mercury. She stated herself to be Mrs. O'Kelly, the wife of Mr. Kelly reported to be lost in the bush, and believed to be dead. She has an infant. She describes her husband to have been a squatter in Queensland, and he carne to Sydney on business, leaving her behind on account of her near confinement. She then came to Sydney, and found her husband had returned, and she now finds he went on some exploring expedition. She has placed herself under the protection of the House of the Good Shepherd, Sydney, where communications about her husband would be gratefully received. – Empire, Jan 3rd.
-Maitland Mercury, January 5, 1865.
BOURKE.
Christmas is over, and at Bourke it passed as quietly as a Quakers’ meeting, but I think the race week will make up for the then lack of hearty enjoyment, ii I may judge from the number of horses and visitors at present here. It seems extraordinary that no notice in any of the journals has appeared relative to Bourke races; probably the leading spirits of the movement imagine the country ought to know all about our affairs without the assistance of newspapers -Yesterday Thomas McColl was committed to Wellington to stand trial for wilful and corrupt perjury -The river is very low, and the weather very warm and dry.
The Warrego -from this river the chief subject of talk is the absence of water, now beginning to be severely felt in the lower parts of the district; in fact from Bourke thence is a perfect punishment, both for man and horse. Nearly fifty miles over a waterless track, and at the end of that a mud-puddle which will be dry in three weeks, is very exciting, you must allow. Had the tank movement been carried through travellers might have proceeded from Bourke, but now I should advise everyone to go by Colliss's on the Culgoa -A very serious case of burning took place at Hill's horse station some days ago; the sufferer's name is Flynn and by report he was thrown upon the fire by the hutkeeper. Dr. Pechey has been sent for, and is now on his road. If there is any truth about Flynn being thus assaulted, the Queensland authorities ought to give the offender a period of seclusion in one of her Majesty's asylums for such a dastardly act.
A report has come in that a white man has been murdered near Bulla on the Paroo. At any rate one has been most brutally beaten by the ‘peaceful’ Paroo blacks, as Mr Dowling would have strangers believe. The poor fellow managed to crawl to Freer's, where he now is; how he escaped is a marvel, but it is supposed the crack of a stockman's whip must have frightened the vagabonds off, who were no Iess than Mallacoucha and Bullga Bullga, the actual murderers of poor Curlewis. There is another harmless villain among them called “Ben" by the whites, and who will doubtless be heard of one of these fine days.
Bourke Dec 30.
-Maitland Mercury, January 12, 1865.
BOURKE.
News has just come into Bourke that a fearful and fatal accident, it is supposed, has happened to one of Becker's commercial travellers. The whole of the property in his charge was found burned, and himself dead, in a lonely part of the bush.
Bourke, January 4.
-Maitland Mercury, January 19, 1865.
BOURKE.
Weather still intensely hot, although we had a little rain on Wednesday. The river is still rising slowly.
At the police court, yesterday, before Commissioner Grenfell J P, Henry Colliss was charged by ____ Clithero with taking by force certain articles of household furniture from the house of plaintiff, which had been there left by defendant's brother’s wife for safe keeping, but which had since then, by the plaintiff's evidence, become his bona fide property. The case was dismissed
Our police magistrate has gone with Mr. Becker and Sergeant Cleary to the scene of the late tragedy near the Culgoa but as the body has been removed, and the debris of the property disturbed, I doubt if anything can be elicited to clear the mystery.
Two other races came off yesterday-the Consolation Stakes of £25 and the Beaten Purse of £15. The former race was won by Mr E. Tarran's bay horse Rejected, beating Mr. Foot's brown horse Skipper-the latter swerving from the course a few lengths from the winning post, leading forty or fifty yards. The race was a good one. Two and a half miles, time, 4 min 30 sec. The Beaten Purse was won by Mr G Davis’s horse Snake, three heats being run, in one of which William O'Donnell was thrown and was much shaken.
The prisoner McCall was removed today en route to Wellington
Bourke, Jan 7.
-Maitland Mercury, January 26, 1865.
BOURKE
The weather is confoundedly hot, with little prospect of anything else. River is pretty full, but no report of steamers. After the races we have settled down to the hum-drum of everyday life.
The Herald yesterday startled our town almost out of its propriety, by an article from "the Bourke correspondent." At first your humble servant was in imminent peril for writing what is denominated here a tissue of lies. Of course I vindicated you and myself, and the affair rests at present. The obnoxious billet was in reference to Mr. Tom M'Kenzie's death, and as far as I can learn it was a most uncalled for insult on the party most concerned. However, they must see it out themselves, as I have no doubt they will.
The accident I spoke of last turns out to be a suicide. Mr. Maudsley, engaged by Mr. Becker as a hawker, from some unaccountable cause burned all the property in his custody, and then shot himself. The deceased was a remarkably quiet, inoffensive gentleman, superlatively temperate, and of more than average intelligence. His untimely fate has caused much sorrow among his friends. Following close on the heels of this trouble came another of the same firm ; Mr. G. F. Davis being in the most gentlemanly manner relieved of the responsibility of about £140, on the Culgoa, by a knight errant, named Thunderbolt. Doubtless Davis felt anything but comfortable in such company, and was very thankful when the tempestuous individual departed.
We had a curious case in court last week - one Solomon seeking indemnity of one Newman, for some corn salve. The wise man gained a verdict; and as he departed, a funny man we have in town, asked him very tenderly, "How were his poor feet."
I don't know whether any of our efficient police force are going to take the Culgoa robbers ; but I know they most courageously arrested one of our most venerable and respected townsmen the other day, and as soon set him at liberty. We had a jolly laugh at the astuteness of the officer.
From the Warrego all is dry, hot, and getting hotter. Bourke, 18th January, 1865
(From a Correspondent of the Empire.)
Robbery of a Hawker - I stated in my last that a hawker of the name of Davies had been stuck-up on the Culgoa, and that sergeant Cleary, being in the neighbourhood, started in company with Davies in pursuit. Cleary has returned. It would appear when they got to the place where the robbery took place, owing to a fall of rain that had occurred, the tracks were obliterated; but in the course of their journey they heard of parties answering to the description of those they were in pursuit of. They ultimately reached a station of the Queensland police on the Ballandoon. Through the tracker they obtained information that the suspected party had their camp in a scrub, some twenty-five miles away, in this colony. They obtained the assistance of the Queensland police, and travelled all night; at daylight they rushed the camp, but the men were not there, but a half- caste gin and two pickaninnies. They found a horse hobbled, some of the goods taken from the hawker, and a printed order book belonging to him. They took the goods and horse, and went seven miles to a station, but failed to get any information. They ascertained beyond a doubt, that one of the parties was - Ward, alias Captain Thunderbolt, not unknown to fame, and William Mackay. They had been in this camp upwards of eight months. The Captain brought his gin from the neighbourhood of Maitland.
Scab Inspector -Our scab inspector has returned this week from an inspection of the sheep on the stations in this district, and I am happy to say the report is most satisfactory, all being clean and in a healthy condition. The number returned to the clerk of petty sessions, in accordance with the requirements of the Scab in Sheep Act of 1863, will be about 500,000. While on the question of Sheep, I may mention that just now some stations are losing young sheep from eating a plant, that is now dry and in seed, of which they are very fond- a species of camomile, found on all the ground that has been flooded. It does not appear to affect aged or full-grown sheep, but only the young, constipating the bowels.
January 20th.
-Maitland Mercury, Thursday 2 February 1865
Following is the article from the Sydney Morning Herald, dated January 6, 1865, referred to by Oscar Hughan in the preceding article:
“Death From Delirium Tremens -Writing under date of 22nd ultimo, the Bourke correspondent of the Western Examiner says -The other day the Police Magistrate held an inquiry at the Court-house, touching the death of Thomas McKenzie. The deceased had been for some years on the Darling, and was considered, among his compeers, the crack shearer of the district. He confined himself nearly to this particular pursuit. Like many more of his class, however, who draw large wages, as soon as earned, they make their way to the nearest or some favourite public-house and knock down their cheques in a very short time. Mc Kenzie made his appearance in Bourke some eight or ten days ago with some £l50 in his pocket, and commenced his spree. In about a week he was the subject of incipient delirium tremens. On Sunday, the 11th, he asked a saddler living in Bourke, of the name of Dowling, if he could lie down at his place, for he got no rest at the public house, which request was granted. Dowling assisted him to walk to his place. It would appear that he continued drinking until Wednesday, when he became delirious and died that night. It was given in evidence and sworn to, that £10 2s was expended in drink for the deceased between Sunday evening and "Wednesday. Need it be a matter of surprise that death ensued. Dr Pechey was called in on Wednesday morning, and prescribed for him, but what was the use of that when brandy-pale and dark-was substituted for wine. Out of his hard earnings, £62 pounds odd was handed over to the Curator of Intestate Estates. Another instance, Mr. Editor, of the folly, nay, madness of men in allowing themselves to be gulled, robbed, and poisoned by the keepers of houses licensed by law; and oh, what a mockery, to subscribe to bury the victim and join in the procession to the grave and after all was over to wash down their sorrow by some such reflection as this -"Poor Tom, he was after all a good fellow, spent his money freely , but who would have thought of death a week ago. Who is the next victim?
Lost in the Bush-Information reached Bourke a week or ten days ago of Mr Richards, a licensed surveyor, being missing from a station on the Paroo, on the Queensland side of the border. When my informant left the station he had been missing for fifteen days. –Western Examiner.
The Wool Season: The ‘Kennedy’, steamer, was at Tooralla last week, with two barges, to take the wool from the Bogan River Company‘s stations. She took in some five hundred bales at Tooralla, and started for the lower station (Dunlop), to take about the same quantity, but owing to the falling and low state of the river she got fast, and information has just come to hand that one of the barges has been swamped with seventy bales of wool in her -Bourke correspondent of the Western Examiner.”
BOURKE.
The river is still rising, hut very slowly, and the weather is fearfully warm. Steamers are expected soon.
At the police court, before the Police Magistrate, Robert Banfield was committed for trial on a charge of horse-stealing. The prisoner was arrested by sergeant Cleary, an efficient officer, at or near the native fishery. It turned out also that the horse in possession of the defendant was a stolen one, and awaits an owner. -James Reed was also mulct £1, for using obscene Ianguage to constable Hashan.-On Monday Thomas Mathews was fined £3 and costs, for an assault on Mr. Smith, superintendent to the Bogan River Company.
The inhabitants of Bourke sent up a petition to the Surveyor General praying that the land opposite the township be set aside for grazing purposes; and if it is not granted it will be a disgraceful shame. In order that the claim may be understood, you must know that the river runs between all communication twixt the Warrego and Culgoa districts, and horses coming in from these places are literally starved. Travellers arriving from the Warrego, after a ride of 45 to 50 miles, without water, are not in a condition to seek forage for their exhausted animals, when it does not lay within a radius of miles; and without food it is impossible to return. From some disgraceful cause or another, sheep are grazed close to the water. Of course the squatter has a right to run his flocks wheresoever he chooses on his own run, but one would imagine that the smallest tinge of patriotism for a rising community would have spared me the trouble of lamenting an utter non-existence of grass on the northern bend of the river next to the township.
Business is dull.
WARREGO.
ANOTHER DEATIH IN THE BUSH.-James Dyer, late in the employ of the B H. Co. was found dead on the Irrara, having perished from want of water. The police have taken his property. The poor wretch was on his way from the Cullaburra to the head station, Tooralie, on the Darling, with his order for £50. Not being able to overtake some drays which had started some time before, he fell to rise no more. This is one victim to the order system. Had he been paid in convertible money, in all probability he would have purchased a horse and would now have been in the land of the living. Another poor fellow was also picked up in the last stage of exhaustion, but was saved, and still another on the Warrego, lately in the employ of Mr. Powell, Belalie (Denis McGuire, shepherd), started from Conn's hut en route for Bourke. He wandered without water nearly two days, when he killed one of two dogs, drinking its blood; and, returning to the hut, in a few days he again started with water, but has never been since seen. His remaining dog returned two days after his master’s departure. I picked up on the road a dogskin rug belonging to him. And now let me offer a word of warning to any who are foolhardy enough to wander on foot into these waterless tracts. A horse- man has a deal to suffer from thirst. What then must be the torture of a man sweltering through the heat with his worldly fortune on his back? Again I warn all pedestrians to wait for the rain. Mr Powell, of Belalie, is now opening some springs back from tho Warrego, and I think they will turn out a success. There are plenty of those scattered about, but the natives are very jealous of them, and without the whites find them for themselves they will be of little use to us.
-Maitland Mercury, 16 February, 1865.
BOURKE.
(From the Empire's correspondent )
FEBRUARY 3 -COMET -This visitor was first seen on the evening of the 22nd January, but would probably have been seen before only the two previous evenings were cloudy. It has continued to be visible every evening to the present time It appears to be getting a greater distance from us, as it is becoming very faint.
ANOTHER BODY FOUND IN TIHE BUSH.-A few days since information was received in Bourke of the finding of the body of a young man, between the Bogan and the Darling, in the neighbourhood of Bemery. An examination of the body was made by Dr. Peechey, but decomposition was so far advanced that he could not give the cause of death. The inquiry is adjourned for the attendance of two or three witnesses which may lead to identification.
COMMITTAL FOR HORSE-STEALING.-A man, of the name of Banfield, has been committed to Wellington to take his trial for horse-stealing. He was taken for stealing a horse some time last year, and after he was in custody it was found he had a sold a horse to Mr Kerrigan, at Brewarrina, which turned out to be a stolen one. He admitted he had taken it out of a bend in the Macquarie, near Dubbo. He was fully equipped for business, having revolvers, ammunition, &c, in the true bushranging style.
THE DARLING.-The Darling is now rising, about six inches in the twenty hours, having attained ten feet above the ordinary level, and there is every probability of its continuing to rise.
Maitland Mercury, February 18, 1865.
BOURKE.
An awfully sudden death occurred at Yando, twenty six miles below Bourke, on Saturday, the 4th instant. The deceased, Henry Fitz, a native or a long resident at or near Windsor (N. S. W.), on the day in question spent a long time of that day in the river, and on returning to the hut he was seized with cramping pains in the feet, which quickly ascended, until the unfortunate man was in the most intense agony, and from the time the attack came on until he expired only an interval of five hours elapsed ere he was a corpse. An inquest was held before J. Garrett, Esq , P.M. ; and the medical decision, after post mortem examination, was that death was caused by congestion of the brain.
- Noland was brought before the court yesterday, having voluntarily surrendered to the law, and was fined £20 for the use of the police nag before mentioned. Another case was disposed of, namely, one of sheep desertion; none of the woolly charge were lost, and our magistrate inflicted a punishment, compensation for loss of lime, what in his judgment was sufficient for the enormity of the offence. This, it transpired, was not vindictive enough for the sitting J.P., who insisted, with a wonderful lack of dignity, that a greater punishment should be heaped upon the offender's head. This was objected to on the part of the police magistrate, and a third gentleman had to be called in to see fair play. This gentleman decided in favour of the irate J.P., and the shepherd was mulct accordingly. I am sorry to confess that our scenes in court are not overburdened with that courteous, fair, and dignified bearing which is the boast and possession of similar places at home. An attentive observer is constantly running to that Dogberry personage in Shakespeare instead of directing his attention to the business of the hour.
The Albury, Captain Johnson, is on her way up.
Mr.Rutherford, on the Warrego, has opened some splendid springs; and in a few weeks I hope a road, with excellent water, and much nearer than the present ramshorn affair leading to the north, will be opened from the Darling.
Rain threatening. Bourke, Feb. 16.
Bourke is as dull as a churchyard on a Saturday night. Business is almost at a standstill, and any person arriving here with a tolerable cheque would be looked upon as a ‘rara avis’. The river has been rising, but is again subsiding. No news of steamers. We had a fine rain on Saturday last, but all again is as dry as a Bath brick. Our magistrate has been busy lately, and so have the police staff, but this latter branch differing from the "little busy bee," did not store their exertions well. On _____ two men were brought up on suspicion of horse-stealing, and discharged, but not without blood- shed, actual blood. It appears that one of the number, not liking the society of his captors, or the close confinement of a watch-house, managed in some of the usual ways to give his keepers the slip. A chase took place, and trooper Burns most properly ordered the culprit to halt, which order he showed no inclination to obey, and being, we presume, the swifter of foot, would in all probability have now been in the bush had not a revolver bullet entered the seat of his trousers, causing his second arrest.
For some time past, as we learn, suspicion has been entertained by the police that a young man, Nowland by name, was in the habit of mistaking other people's horses for his own, and using them occasionally, by way of keeping them in health. A few days since sergeant Cleary, with a black tracker, managed very cleverly to find one of their own quadrupeds in his possession, promoted to carry, pro tem , her Most Gracious Majesty's mail up the Bogan. The delinquent was seized, handcuffed, and mounted en route for Bourke; but, wonderful to relate, taking advantage of some thick scrub, &c , &c, escaped, handcuffs and all. The sergeant attributes the contretemps to a fall he received from his steed, and the black's excuse is that his sable authority was brought in contact with an interfering tree. However, Nowland is non est.
Three or four other oases have appeared in court of minor character.
I am thankful that at last the blacks have had served out to them a good supply of blankets. As many as 6O were distributed on Saturday to the delighted natives of our vicinity. This is all very proper, for we must allow that the miserable remnant left have some claim at the hands of the whites.
Nothing has been heard of the Culgoa bushrangers, though the officers have been on the look-out, and have returned.
Warrego.-I am sorry to inform you that another man has perished in this district from thirst. The deceased was employed by Mr. Sullivan, on one of the tributaries of the Paroo, as stockman. His remains were discovered only three or four miles from the station, and by his side lay the body of his horse, his throat being out. This in all probability was done by his unhappy rider to obtain possession of the blood, and this most likely when delirium had overthrown his reason, or he must have known the locality. I could not find out the lost man's name, but he was respected by all who knew him.
A man arrived at Culla Mulla from the Paroo on Sunday week, bringing the intelligence of a white man being in the power of the blacks on that river. The informer's name is George Wilson, and is known in that ilk. He says:-" As I was coming along the road between Dowling's two stations, I turned off the road to procure a drink at the river; as I approached the bank (very steep just there) I heard a startled warning cry of ' White fellow! ', followed instantly by a faint cooee, or rather an attempt of that sound, with a rapid trampling and crushing in the bed of the creek. Simultaneous with all this a blackfellow placed himself in an attitude of opposition before him, waving him off, and brandishing his weapons. Advancing after a time, the black darted down the bank into the creek, and was lost to sight. Collecting himself be looked about him, and saw at the distance of some four or five hundred yards, a party of between thirty or forty blacks, dragging by great force a white man destitute of all covering, save the upper portion of a shirt or some such garment. He describes the man as being about 5ft. 6 in. in height, and from his behaviour should pronounce him mad. Mr. Dowling and his brother unfortunately were from home when this was related at the station, or doubtless something would have been done in order to rescue the prisoner from such horrid bondage. However, I advised Wilson to wait at Culla Mulla for Mr. Vincent Dowling, who is a J.P. in Queensland, and narrate the story, which he, I think, will do. Had he had courage sufficient, in all probability the man might have been now among his countrymen; at least he could have told us much more relative to the appearance of the captive. All persons about there believe him to be Mr. Richards, the surveyor, lost you will recollect, some time since; whoever it may be, God help him, without shelter from the glaring heat. Something will doubtless be done to learn the truth or falsehood of this report, and I will let you know. No rain, though sadly needed. Bourke, Feb. l8.
-Maitland Mercury, March 2, 1865.
BOURKE.
The weather is again oppressively warm- the mercury rising to 107 degrees in shade. No signs of rain, though much needed. The Albury steamers have passed, after leaving us many tons of freight, en route to Beemery, where there is much wool to be taken in. There are also three or four loads just in from the Yougha Wests, in the Paroo country. This came by way of the Wild Dog Springs, opened by Mr. Powell, of Bellalie. These springs are situated in the midst of a scrub about seven miles from the Warrego, to the S.E., and twelve from Conn's Hut, S.S.E. ; but it is better to start from Walker’s old yard, where there is water. Three miles from the Warrego will be found a spring of the purest water I ever saw-sufficient in itself to water two large flocks of sheep ; from this point you follow the road, of course a new one,- running a little to the E. of S.E., and rather heavy, to a broad and beautiful sheet of water, tenanted by thousands of wild fowl, from the stately pelican down to the merry little sand-piper; and at this point I would say that the heaviness of the road is past-the rest of the way to Bourke (21 miles) being capital travelling. The entire distance from the Warrego, leaving that river nearly 100 miles from its junction with the Darling, is not more than 53 miles, reducing the journey, as measured by the old road, 30 miles-with plenty of water. This road will doubtless now entirely supersede the former route-and to the exertions of Mr. John Whitmarsh are we indebted for the boon. Messrs. Birkett and McCulloch were the first to cut their way through with teams, and to them we may be thankful for the permanent track. I should advise all travellers to start from Bourke who are going into the Warrego country, at any rate during the dry season.
The first case since Mr. Horsfall’s appointment as inspector came before the bench yesterday. The defendant (Mr. Demoulin) was charged with driving unbranded sheep, contrary to the Act made and provided. The defendant pleaded guilty, and was mulct one-eighth of a penny per head on fifteen hundred. This fine did not seem stringent enough to the J.P., sitting with the magistrate, and the case was dismissed for the present. Now this jarring element may be very fine fun to the principals in the affair, and the looker on may be forced into a smile at the perversity of human nature; but to the person who has to wait the cooling down process of men's opinions it must be annoying in the extreme. Mr. Demoulin will have to appear again, and again after that, for all we know, ere the case is settled. But this is well known : that any man in charge of sheep, rather than have the trouble of branding, would almost under any circumstances run the risk of being fined such a fine per head as the one-eighth of a penny, as have the trouble and expense of rendering himself non-liable. If a fine means anything, it certainly ought to go towards the suppressing an evil, not the continuance thereof; and in order that an inspector may fulfil his duty, supported by the law, in a firm, unswerving manner, the law must extend its protection. Now there is not a man in New South Wales who would brand sheep at the rate of one shilling a hundred, finding paint or tar; and as this is about the ratio of the fine, we may expect Mr. Horsfall very often before the court. March 7. Maitland Mercury, March 16, 1865.
BOURKE.
The weather now is still very warm, but I think the really hot season is over. Rain is much needed, and the pasturage below us very scant. The river is low, and I am afraid we shall have no steamer for some time.
Our police court business only shows the low state of morals among us, the last case being one in which one of the B R Co.'s shepherds is committed for trial on the charge of manslaughter, the evidence of Dr Pechey, who made a post mortem examination of the body of the deceased, went to show that death had been the result of a brutal attack on the part of the prisoner, which attack brought on fits, to which the deceased was subject, and which caused death, being seized by one of them whilst near a waterhole, into which he fell face downwards and was smothered. There have been other cases, but all of the old style-drunkenness, obscenity, desertion of sheep, £c , &c.
Our people are in many places engaged in well-sinking, and the undertaking has proved a success-water being found in purity and copiousness from twenty-five to fifty feet from the surface. Tho bootmaker we are waiting for has not arrived, though plenty of money is waiting the first good hand who sojourns among us.
The new road to the Warrego is a permanent affair now, and a good traffic passes over it. I think I can confidently state that it is from twenty to twenty-five miles nearer than the old road, and were it not for the springs on this route, all communication with the north must stop. Even on this line there is much to be put up with, and men are picked up constantly all but exhausted from thirst. One young man (name unknown) has, it is feared, passed away, nothing either up or down the river Warrego, or at Bourke, has been seen of him for more than a month. I saw his tracks in the sand three or four days after he left the water in the ridge, and he appeared to be reflecting on the road he would take. There were his footprints on the road going and returning, and at this point they were stationary, the walker evidently puzzled as to which course to steer. I fancy he must have entered the Mulga scrub, here very thick, hoping, but fatally, to find the water he had left two or three days prior.
No rain on the Warrego, and the river bed as dry as one of Tom Hood's jokes.
March 15.
-Maitland Mercury, March 28, 1865.
BOURKE.
From S. M. Herald’s Correspondent.
24th March -At the instance of the Minister for Public Works a meeting of the townspeople was held the previous day, for the purpose of fixing and reporting upon the most desirable site for the new public ferry, about to be established by the Government at this place. The meeting, although not numerously, was respectably attended, as regards vested interests, and the pioneers of this, yet to become, one of the most important towns in the province. The first proposition was made by Mr W. Sly, of the Bourke Hotel, and seconded by Mr Becker, of the firm of Alexander Ross and Co , storekeepers of this town, viz, " That the site of the present private ferry be adopted as the most suitable one, as being at present near about the centre of the township, and in the midst of the capital at present invested in the business operations of the place; and as the site evidently indicated as most suitable for the present requirements of the town from the fact of its having been spontaneously adopted hitherto." Mr Sly was supported in this view by nine out of seventeen Bourke landed proprietors present. Mr. Kelly, of the Old Fort Hotel, suggested that the new ferry should be placed about three-quarters of a mile above the present site, advancing as his reasons, that the approach and gateway would be made at a less cost, and that the present inhabitants would escape the annoyance and damage to property unstained by the dust, and by bad language, of which according to his experience, the forcing of sheep, cattle, and teams over a ferry must be an inevitable adjunct. Mr Kelly was supported in his views by three others. Mr Matthews, blacksmith, now put in an amendment, and was seconded by Mr Horsefall, scab inspector for the district-"That the best site for a punt would be be about 200 yards below the present ferry," in which he was supported by three other landowners. The Police magistrate, who, from expressions dropped, happened to be in favour of Mr. Kelly's motion, expressed himself to the effect that Mr Sly's motion had only a majority of one.
The river is now falling again, from a rise that commenced a fortnight ago here. Season remarkably dry, hot, and windy. Thermometer yesterday 98 degrees Farenheit in the shade; today 100. Nights very close and cloudy. Considerable losses in stock in consequence of the continued drought. The Maranoa steamer on her way up, within seventy miles of here.
-Maitland Mercury, April 6, 1865.
BOURKE.
The river is getting very low, and the weather is confoundedly dry.; business is rather dull, but we are content.
Some days ago a station on the Culgoa was stuck up by four men, supposed to be Captain Thunderbolt and firm. From the station they took a winter's supply of rations; so we may expect various visits from these gentlemen-in fact, we have made up our minds that an attempt to stick up the town will be made, and should it be done now, while our police force are away, we should be entirely at the mercy of the wolves. One old lady in town is quite nervous about their absence, for, as she asks, what should we do without their aid? and echo answers, what? Hill's horse station, on the Warrego, was stuck up last week, and homes, saddles, bridles, &c, &c , taken off. ln fact, we may say that Warrego is full of rascality. There are at this moment thirty horses running near Mr. Vincent Dowling's which that gentleman prevented from being coached off to Rockhampton. These have been stolen from the Culgoa. That the Queensland Government have neglected to put a police force on the boundary is now beginning to be felt, and unless such a protection or baulk is established, it will be positively unsafe to travel the road with horses.
The weather is fearfully dry, and no signs of rain; stock are moving up the river to the waterholes.
Bourke, March 23.
-Maitland Mercury, April 13, 1865.
BOURKE.
From the Empire’s Correspondent.
Killing Sheep -On the 10th instant, Thomas Wilson, a shepherd of the Iate Bogan River Company, was committed for trial to the Wellington sessions for killing one sheep. Wilson was shepherd in the above company on a part of their country opposite Bourke. On the 3rd of this month, when Mi Smith, overseer, visited Wilson's camp, he found the skin of a sheep outside of the hut, and inside the hind quarters of a sheep in a bag, as well as some fragments of mutton. Wilson said the sheep was staked and he killed it.
Scab in Sheep Act- On the 11th instant four charges were preferred by the sheep inspector for breaches of this Act- three for neglecting to register sheep with the clerk of petty sessions, as required by the Act. The first, heard against Sheane and Rogers of the Narran, was pleaded to as having no sheep depasturing on the west side of the Narran, all their sheep being on the east side, which is another district, to which they had made their return. They had country on this side, but no sheep on it. The inspector had no rebutting evidence, therefore the case was dismissed -Henry Newcomen, for the like neglect. The plea in this case was that he held no country on the west side of the Narran. This gentleman was one of the directors for last year, and acted in that capacity, but it now appears he was not entitled to that office. This case was dismissed. James Whitycombe, for the like neglect. The same plea was put in. It would appear that he holds country on both sides of the Narran, but the inspector's evidence went to show that the sheep were depastured on the west side, where the huts and yards also were. He had made his return to Wee Waa last year, and thought it unnecessary to change this. He was, by a majority of the bench, fined £10 and costs. The next case was for not branding travelling sheep. The person in charge, of the name of Demoulin, said he was not aware that it was necessary to brand lambs. He had branded all but the lambs , but the lambs he had not branded-1600 in number. He was fined, one penny per head, and costs of court. This Case had been before the court some weeks ago, but the magistrates present could not agree to the amount of the penalty-one wanting the extreme penalty (sixpence), the other one-eighth of a penny per head , but on this occasion, there being three magistrates present, the above penalty was agreed to.
SUICIDE-Information has been received in Bourke of a man of the name of Richard Moroton, a shepherd on the Mount Murchison station, having committed suicide by drowning. An inquest was told by the Commissioner Of Crown Lands of the Albert district, and from the evidence adduced it would appear that the deceased had on several occasions told his hut mate that he would poison himself. On the day in question he came down with his sheep about sundown, and told his mate he would poison or drown himself. He went to the creek and sat down in about two feet of water. His mate tried to persuade him to come out, but he would not. His mate then left and went to the head station and reported the circumstance to the superintendent, who, after getting horses, returned to the place where he had been left, and at the break of day they found the body in about two feet of water.
THE WEATHER - The weather continues very warm for the time of the year, and this no doubt arises from the absence of rain, for in point of fact, with the exception of a passing shower we have had no rain for upwards of twelve months in this neighbourhood. The accounts received from all directions are very disheartening from want of rain. The food is getting very scarce, and the lambing on the stations will be much affected thereby. There must be a great Ioss in that respect.
THE DARLING- The Darling has not been so Iow as it now is, since the drought of 1862 and from the accounts we have from all directions, there is little hope of the river rising. As a consequence all intercourse with Adelaide by the steamers will be cut off. Now would be the time for operations on the river, by the removal of dead timber, and deepening the shallows -April 20.
-Maitland Mercury, May 4, 1865.
BOURKE.
No rain, and very warm; the river very low, and business even lower.
At the police court, before Mr. Garrett, P.M., Smith one of the Company's overseers, charged one of the shepherds with stealing one sheep, inasmuch that the said shepherd did kill and appropriate to his use the said animal.-The case of scab, o’er which there was a little squabble, was brought to a close last week, the defendant, Mr. Demoulin, being fined one penny per head per sheep which were found unbranded by inspector Horsfall. The decision was given by commissioner Grenfell.
There have just been two vagabonds brought over the river by trooper Brown, having mistaken other people's horses for their own. Would that all the police would act as promptly as Brown has done.
I am sorry to report from the Warrego another death -a bona fide one this time. At this moment there is lying, four miles from Leadsnapper, an unfortunate wretch, half eaten by the wild dogs; the police will probably go out and bury the body. This is another victim bordering on Mr. Vincent Dowling's "young and rising district," and we warn over again all travellers from approaching that promising region until the rain sets in. All is desolation and aridness for miles; you may proceed without one drop of water from the Culgoa to Dangar's horse-station-over one hundred miles; and no water from Bourke to the Warrego. To keep the road you have fifty to sixty miles without water, and this is Dowling's "rising district." No wonder men sink and perish.
You will see an advertisement in the Herald relative to myself- at least it seems such to me. I have not seen it in full. This really clever document bears such undeniable brands of self-gratulation and wounded interest that it is unnecessary for me to say a word; report comes to us hundreds of miles, and, did we guarantee all written about, you would have to forward a very large cheque quarterly; but this you know, and of course can see the motive of the advertisement. But as Mr. Dowling defies " any man " to prove that a man was beaten at Freen's, I accept his challenge, and tell him that although he has not heard one syllable of it a man was cruelly beaten at the above place; and did I feel inclined I could mention two cases in which the advertiser has himself been attacked by the “poor peaceful blacks”. But enough of this.
We are praying for rain in vain.
We have a band of bushrangers on the Culgoa. Sergeant Cleary captured some of their horses on the Narran Lake. No news of them lately.
Bourke, April 29.
-Maitland Mercury, May 11, 1865.
Following is the letter to which Oscar Hughan refers in the previous article. It was written to the Sydney Morning Herald by squatter Vincent Dowling on February 25, 1865, and published in said paper on March 28, 1865:
THE EDITOR SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, I
SYDNEY.-SIR,-Through the medium of your valuable journal, I am anxious to contradict certain statements contained in the MAITLAND MERCURY of 13th December and 12th January last.
The " Bourke Correspondent" of the above-mentioned paper seems gifted with an extraordinary and dangerous mania for grossly exaggerating what he terms OUTRAGES BY THE BLACKS, the locale selected as the scene of these different outrages being invariably either the Paroo or Warrego Rivers.
It would appear from a paragraph in the MERCURY of the 12th ultimo, that I have been attempting to inculcate a belief in the peacefulness of the blacks which has no foundation. Why the correspondent should accuse me of attempting to induce such a belief, I am at a loss to imagine; however, I have no hesitation in again stating that the blacks of the Paroo and Lower Warrego are
unexceptionably the quietest, most inoffensive, and likely to prove the most useful of any natives I have ever met with. Having but just returned from Bulla, tho Paroo, and Charleville, on the Upper Warrego, I am in a position to refute the many startling, and no doubt taking, pieces of information supplied to the MERCURY by its "Bourke Correspondent. '
On the Upper Warrego, near the reputed scene of the murder of two of Mr. Grenfell’s shepherds, there is no such report in circulation. On the Upper Warrego, also, I had, much to my astonishment, the gratification of meeting one of the two men the correspondent had murdered in his blankets. This man, Joseph Nobbs, had been shearing for me, and left to proceed up the Warrego in search of similar employment, when he was stated to have been murdered with his mate. He stated there is not the slightest foundation for such a report, and expressed extreme surprise that people should busy themselves in circulating such lies in very forcible language indeed.
The statement of a white man having been murdered at Bulla is utterly false, and without the shadow of a foundation.
In reference to another statement made of a man having been MOST BRUTALLY BEATEN by the blacks, near Mr. Freers, on the Paroo, I have not heard one syllable, - though I have been on the river and close to Mr. Freers'.
The circulation by one who should, and must in reality know better, of more vague reports, false and unsubstantial as the above, is injurious, and unnecessarily calculated seriously to cripple and fetter the resources of a young and rising district ; therefore, in future, before the medium of the press is sought to convey to public mind such startling pieces of information, I should recommend the truthfulness of such report being placed beyond the shadow of a doubt.
In conclusion, I may add that I defy the "Bourke correspondent," or any man, to come forward and prove either of the above-mentioned false and groundless reports.
I remain, Sir,
Yours faithfully,
VINCENT DOWLING. "Warpuelar, Fort Bourke, 28th February.
ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.
MR. DOWLING AND THE BOURKE CORRESPONDENT.
(To the Editor of the Maitland Mercury.)
Sir-Having read in a Sydney paper a letter written by Mr. Vincent Dowling, accusing your correspondent of untruth and false statement, we beg to say that in no instance has your correspondent said anything but what has been the truth, or what was reported and currently received as truth in this district. Men have been attacked and killed by the blacks-Mr Dowling himself among the former. Men have perished for want of water-N.B, James Dwyer (one of Mr Dowling's men), Kelly, Mason, Richards, and Mr. Sullivan's stockman; another is missing; seven or eight men have been picked up in a dying state. And your correspondent did his duty in warning travellers against coming into this waterless country. This is a perfect desert. You may travel from the head to the foot of the Irara without getting a drink of water, save at Mr Dowling's, and that is not fit to drink. We are only working men; but we read the papers, and know what is the truth and what is the untruth.
Begging your pardon for writing you, we remain yours, sir, obliged,
SAMUEL ROUSE
THOMAS ENGLISH
WILLIAM EDYAR
ANGUS ROSS
WILLUM B BRIGHT
THOMAS BRITTON,
Residents of the Warrego River. May 20, 1865.
-Maitland Mercury, June 6, 1865.
BOURKE.
(From the Empire's correspondent.)
May 5 -Wounding with Intent, and Suicide.-A man named John Popple died in the watch-house on the 29th ultimo, under circumstances of a very painful character. In order that your readers may have a clear conception of the case, it is necessary to go back a few weeks to see how the present painful result was brought about. Popple was brought before the court on the 11th April, charged with having assaulted a woman named McCarthy, on the bank of the river, opposite to Bourke, where they had been camped for some time. It would appear that they lived together for period of nine years. The woman McCarthy appears to have been a widow, and has now two boys by her husband, and she has had three children to Popple, all living. Previous to the assault above-named, Popple had reason to believe that the woman was going to leave him, and be married to a man named Brown. This led to the quarrel. He was fined £1, and bound over to keep the peace for six months. It appeared at the time that they were to separate, M'Carthy took up her abode with Brown. Some intercourse took place between Popple and the woman, as to the keep of the children, which she called hers, and I believe it was arranged that Popple was to let her have the horse and cart, in lieu of any other claim upon him, and the rumour was that she was going to be married to Brown. On Saturday morning Iast, Popple went to her tent with a tin pannican in each hand-some gin in each. The woman was at the time frying some steaks; be gave her one of the tins, and she, seeing some white powder at the bottom of the liquor, threw the contents in his face. She had a common table knife in her hand at the time. A struggle took place between them, when he eventually got the knife from her and stabbed her in the face, neck, and arms, and cut her hands; but the knife being round-pointed and blunt, no fatal wounds were inflicted. He continued to use the knife, and would, without doubt, have killed her but for a man living in the neighbourhood, who, bearing her scream, and seeing him striking her with something, ran up and knocked him down. He had kicked the woman badly. She was in a most exhausted condition from the struggle and Ioss of blood. Popple was lodged in the watch-house. There were two prisoners there at the time, and one of them, seeing Popple in a low way, tried to cheer him, when he said, " It's all over with me," and taking some white powder between his fingers out of the breast pocket of his coat, which appeared to the man like strychnine, showed it to him. Tho man asked Popple if he had taken that, when he nodded and said, " Don't tell anyone ;" but he went and told the constable that he thought Popple had poisoned himself. The doctor was brought and an emetic administered. At first he would not take anything, but finally did. He vomited some liquid substance and meat, and in six hours after he was said to have taken the strychnine be died. The powder found in his pocket was thought by the doctor to be strychnine. The result of a post mortem examination was that the heart was diseased, and that death had been accelerated-supposing he had taken poison at all-by a dose of strychnine that, to a person in health, would have produced no fatal results.
Weather -On Saturday last the weather broke, and we had three days' rain, which, as far as I can hear, has been general both up and down the river. This rain has been of immense value to the squatters ; without it there would have been great losses. The change in the temperature is very marked; before the rain the thermometer ranging 80 to 96, since the rain it ranged from 65 to 78.
The police have just returned from the Culgoa, having visited that locality to bury the body of a man lying dead on the Warrego road, some eighty miles from Bourke. It was reported by two Queensland men. They saw it on the 20th April, on their way to the Culgoa; but their own lives were in jeopardy for want of water, having travelled 120 miles without any; therefore the body had but a passing glance ; but they wrote to acquaint the police authorities here. The police found some documents and pencil writing by the deceased, in which he says he died for want of water. He gives his name, George Robinson Mason, and other particulars. There is to be an inquiry to-morrow, when these matters will be entered into.
-Maitland Mercury, May 18, 1865.
BOURKE
There can be no doubt but that Bourke is notorious. Not that the people of Bourke are vicious; on the contrary, I think them well behaved and free of reproach ; but it seems that every crime in the district culminates at this place, and a stranger must fancy us an abode of demons. Murder, suicide, robbery, pillage, and all sorts of abomination are carried before our court as the weeks go by, and still there is no end. On Monday, Harper Nicholas and Mary Ann Murray were fully committed to stand their trial for child murder, the particulars being too horrible to narrate. Mr Commissioner Woore sent information of the death, and sergeant Cleary and trooper Byrnes went down to Mount Murchison and made the arrest. From what I have been able to glean, the place kept by the prisoners was a den of infamy, in which the miserable child was born, and probably killed. Grog seems to have been the presiding god, and every other vice to it the willing worshippers. A most fearful case, in which all that make up the nobility of our nature was laid low in the dust, and that which make friends smile built up in lasting shame, was brought to light at the court house, on the day of trial.
Last week a shepherd, formerly in the employ of the B. R. Co., destroyed himself by taking a dose of poison. This seems to have been a case of jealousy, the fair heroine of the affair being Mrs. McCarty, from Mudgee. A fierce attack was made upon the fair victim by Poplaw, the shepherd, with a table knife, in which attack several wounds were inflicted-none desperate, however - and afterwards the fatal draught was taken. A magisterial inquiry was held, and a verdict of self destruction was returned.
On Saturday, a case of assault was disposed of, the parties being Downey v Lascelles. It appeared that the complainant, overreaching the propriety of gentlemanly conduct, was roughly pushed aside by the defendant and his man, from a stockyard on defendant's run. Had Mr Downey kept cool, he would have been blameless; as it was he and his man were fined £3 each.
Trooper Brown has just returned from the interment of George Robinson Mason, who was found dead on the Leadnapper Road, going to the Warrego. The information was forwarded by Mr Henry Brabham to our people, and Brown was at once dispatched to conduct the sad funeral rites. A paper was found on the unfortunate man, purporting his name, and leaving two horses to Mr. Templeton on the Bogan. Thirst was the cause of his untimely death. The document seemed to express an idea that the deceased wished his end to be known. He says his father was in the 56th Regiment, and lived last in Leeds, Yorkshire.
Bourke, May 9th.
I have some glorious news this week. We have had rain, glorious rain, stretching over a vast extent of country, filling up the dried up waterholes, and causing nature once again to assume her emerald robes. All up the Warrego now is hope for the future, and men who a week ago looked blue, are covered over with smiles. The lambing, now soon to commence, will be met confidently, and I hope a paying one will be returned.
I believe that an application for additional troopers has been made, and I hope the Government will grant it. You must know that we are absolutely at the mercy of a league of villains, and Cleary with his one or two subs is "cramped, cribbed, and confined." Cleary, I am thankful to say, is an officer well adapted to our vicinity; he is active, intelligent, and, I believe, zealous in the police cause.
The latest news I have is that another public house and store is going up, the contractors being our esteemed neighbours, John Patterson and Co. This store has been long wanted, and everybody will be thankful for the acquisition of another source of profitable outlay.
Bourke, May 12.
-Maitland Mercury, June 1, 1865.
BOURKE.
Today is the Queen's Birthday, and as far as jollity is concerned it is a gala day. Cricket and croquet are played-the first by the manly portion of our people, the latter by the girls and beardless boys ; this game is well worthy of its origin, and as destitute of muscle making ingredients as any of the many fancies of the grand empire. Early at morn we had at the fore the Union Jack, and everybody seemed full of joy ; in the evening a select party, comprising the elite of the district, met at Sly Hotel.
The river low, and weather-threatening rain
May 24.
Before the court, Henry Burslem was fined one penny per head on 4400 sheep, for violating the branding provision of the Scab Act, with an additional fine of £5 for failing to make a return of 9000 sheep, in accordance with the 37th section of the Scab Act.
I am happy to say that some of the leading men of the town are beginning to stir themselves. Mr. John E. Kelly is about building a brick house-the first one here. Another public-house and store is now being put up by Mr. John Patterson, for Blackstone and Bond, Maitland ; this has long been needed, and we doubt not that the enterprise will be lucrative.
The punt-I mean the Government one-is just about as nigh completion as it was six months ago. We don't pretend to fathom the idea of Government expediency, but a more hearse-like business was seldom witnessed.
The hospital is almost ready for patients; but there is a hitch in the medical department, and without the committee give freer movements to the chief we shall be some time ere we are prepared to accommodate the suffering.
From the Warrego there is not much news. There has been some fine rain, and feed is getting abundant; but I hope men won't be led astray by the idea that there is plenty of water on the road. This is not the case; Bellalie has been fortunate in having a supply left, but I know of no other places where the needful can be found.
Mr. Jamerson's place was stuck-up by bushrangers last week, and robbed of a few articles. The proprietor seems to have been the chief attraction of the robbers. He was from home. They have expressed a desire to meet me, and if they are in earnest there is nothing to prevent the interview. That the Queensland Government are fifty years behind the times is plainly lo be seen from the fact that not one police officer of any grade could be found for hundreds of miles of the boundary. This is loudly complained of, and justly, too, by the squatters.
May 30.
-Maitland Mercury, June 8, 1865.
BOURKE.
River very low; no news of steamers. Weather very cold, and frosty by night. Last week, James Binge, sawyer, was committed to Wellington, on a charge of wantonly killing sundry sheep, the property of the B.R. Co ; also, for assaulting the shepherd in charge (a China man). Binge, it appears, brought four witnesses-viz., John Patterson, James Clancy, Pater Grey, and William Luck, to prove an alibi. The Celestial swore that the assault was made upon him about one o’clock p.m., while the witnesses proved that Binge was in the township hours before and after the time specified by the prosecutor. The case was remanded, and on the second hearing the Chinaman stated that the affair was committed about half-an-hour before sundown. However, Binge is sent to Wellington, and we shall see how he gets on there.
I am delighted to say that a branch of the Commercial Bank has opened business at Bourke; and it is to be hoped that the villainous system of "calabashing," or, as the Yankees call it, "shinplastering," is about to get its death throttle. Some of the tenders now given in this district are a disgrace to all parties concerned. I have one in my possession printed on the most flimsy tissue paper imaginable. It soon wears out, and there is an end of that floating capital. If it is lawful for employers to pay their men by such tenders, they ought to be compelled to draw them on something stronger than blotting paper.
The punt is just as near completion as it was six months ago. There never was, I think, in modern times at least, such a delightful inertness as is displayed in all governmental works hereabouts. In Victoria this some punt would have been increasing the revenue nine months back ; and for all that I can see we shall have to wait that time ere it is available.
Bourke, June 8.
WARREGO.
I have to report this week a case of violence occurring between two white men, in the employ of the B .R Co, on the Cuttaburra, and thirty or forty of the “poor peaceful blacks”. It seems that this savage party of “lambs”, painted and armed, went to the two bushman, and demanded tucker and 'bacco in a most threatening manner, the main body keeping at a distance. The whites ordered them off, when the ringleader, Larry, turned round to call on the others, and received a bullet through the body. He fell, mortally wounded, while his companions made off, leaving the wounded where he fell. The whites made in and alarmed the station. Mr John Cameron, superintendent, at once armed and mounted three or four men, and rode to the scene of the affray, but all was quiet; no blacks, save the dead one, were seen. The party of savages, it seems, after the shooting affair, went to a shepherd of Mr Vincent Dowling's, and took an entire flock of sheep from him ; they were recovered some days afterwards, at least all that had not been eaten or destroyed. What the loss may be is unknown, the super being at Bourke at the time, and no count was made. Too much praise cannot be given Mr Cameron for his promptness in sending messengers to the surrounding stations.
Rain is badly needed. No water in the river or holes by the roadside
Nights dreadfully cold.
June 8.
-Maitland Mercury, June 22, 1865.
BOURKE.
I have little to say this week. The weather is very I fine, but dry. Tho river is low, and we have no prospect of steamers.
The Commercial Bank is, I believe, an institution. Mr. Capper, the manager, seems sanguine as to the success of the affair, which, with his gentlemanly deportment, raises Bourke above what it has been hitherto.
Tho punt is about as near completion as it was months ago : and why those whose duty it is to see to its building do not show a little life in the matter is more than I can pretend to say.
Business is pretty brisk, and I hope some of our loading men will put down a well between this place and the Warrego. Tho present road is fifty miles nearer than the Leedenappa route, and from this district it is the direct road to the north.
Our two publicans (Messrs. Kelly and Sly) are up at Dubbo. Mr. Richard Kelly is doing the host at the Old Fort Bourke.
Martin Keogh was arrested yesterday by sergeant Cleary as an absconder from Yan Diemen's Land. How the charge will stand remains to be seen. Ho was remanded yesterday for farther evidence.
There is no news of the bushrangers on the Warrego. I think they have retired into the interior of Queensland.
The hospital is now in full working order, Dr. Pechey being the chief. There are several persons already receiving benefit from the institution.
I am thankful to say that crime seems to be at a lower ebb than for some time past. May it continue so.
Bourke, June 22.
-Maitland Mercury, July 6, 1865.
BOURKE
There is every appearance of rain to-night, and unless it comes I don't know what we shall do. The bend opposite our township is as destitute of grass as the top of a dining-room table. This is a disgraceful state of things, and reflects little credit on those in charge of this portion of the B. R Co. ground. Why the people of Bourke have not petitioned the Government for this bend as a reserve is a mystery. Some months ago a charitable overseer put a flock of sheep down to our very doors, and what they left the present super has just chopped off, not leaving a solitary blade. Our horses are all over the country, and cannot be found.
The case of Hendle v. Sly and Kelly terminated at Dubbo, Hendle being fined. This was a case where the defendants were charged with driving cattle from off the township. As a precedent, I hope this may prove of service.
At our police court, before John Garrett, Esq , Martin Keough was arraigned for forgery on Isram Baldwin, and remanded. A second charge was laid by Sergt. Cleary in that the prisoner, on the night of the 31st June, did escape from the custody of trooper Brown, from whom in the pleasant hours of sleep, he managed cleverly to take the key of his handcuffs, and, when divested of these, the watch-house was soon left;-committed. A third charge, of horse-stealing, was then made by Cleary, who had rearrested the prisoner after a diligent chase. Two horses of Mr. William Sly's were found in his possession, also Brown's handcuff key. The prisoner was committed on this charge.
In the letter published by you from some of the Warrego residents, "one of Mr. Dowling's men,'' should read “one of Mr. Dowling's former servants”.
-Maitland Mercury, July 18, 1865.
THE WARREGO.
From the Warrego there is little of importance. Rain is much needed, and grass, owing to the severe frosts, is getting very meagre. Lambing has commenced, and promises well. At Belalie Mr. Rutherford is putting down a well; the men have sunk over fifty feet without finding water.
A savage attack was made upon Mr. John Jackson, overseer at Mr. Hill's horse station, by one of the " poor harmless blacks." It appears that the gentle savage had attempted the life of Tommy Jackson's blackfellow, at Tienenburra, a few hours previous, by snapping a pistol at his head ; the cap being too long for the nipple saved Tommy’s life. He afterwards went to Jackson's, and, watching his opportunity, struck at his intended victim with a huge jagged stick, inflicting a very ugly wound on the top of the head. Fortunately there were other white men present, and the would-be murderer was placed beyond the ability of committing further violence. Jackson says he never believed a black would hurt him without some cause. "I have been speared," he says, " but I knew the reason ; I've been baled up in my hut, but not without knowing the reason ; but this attack was quite without provocation, and I've changed my mind about the varmints."
-Maitland Mercury, July 18, 1863.
BOURKE.
(From The correspondent of the Western Examiner.)
Since my last, there is nothing of moment transpired at this place. The weather has been everything that the most fastidious could desire-that is for matters of health and comfort, but for the great interest of the immense district, that is sheep farming, it has been anything but that that is required; we have not had, if all were put together, a full day's ruin this year, and, as a consequence, stock of every description is suffering. It is a very prevalent opinion, that the average of lambing, this year, will not reach 25 percent, and many think, should the dry weather continue, there will be fearful losses among the sheep. For months past, there have been parties on the Darling buying fat horned stock for the South Australian Market, at very high figures, but it is to be feared that the foolish alteration made in the Impounding Act, by the Legislative Council, requiring stock to travel ten miles a day, and sheep six, will affect those operations; indeed, there was a party in Bourke, a few days ago, who declared that they could not now buy. To travel back at that rate, coupled with scarcity of food, would render it impossible. So much for legislation.
There has been a worthy of the name of Martin Joseph Keogh figuring in our township for the last six or eight weeks, but has managed at last to find his locale in Her Majesty's gaol at Wellington, for trial at the next Court of Criminal Sessions, under four distinct charges; so that it is a safe speculation to say that bed and board is provided for him for some years to come. To begin at the beginning, he first appeared as one in a position to do a good business, with the exceptional drawback that he drank a good deal. His first stroke was to buy the premises of one of our publicans, stock, &c, to be taken at a valuation, and possession to be given soon afterwards; the publican was under a heavy penalty it he failed. All this time he was sporting a number of cheques, some small ones, I believe good, and some large ones, but no one seemed disposed to negotiate them. Things went on in this way for a little time, and ugly rumours began to circulate when Mr Keogh retired to the female residence of one of the townsfolk to recover from his debauchery. The police were on the watch about these cheques. He had sent, through one of the publicans, two cheques to Maitland to be cashed, and he had also sent, through the local bank, an order on a Brisbane bank for the transfer of two thousand pounds to the Bourke bank, signing, by procuration, for Carr Boyd, Esq , a Queensland commissioner. During his retirement from the public houses, he sent a cheque for £7, purporting to be signed by Esram Baldwin, by a workman, to one of the public houses to be cashed. The landlady said she did not know the signature, but she would keep it until the bar-man came in, and he was to call in the morning. The messenger returned in the morning, and was very anxious, on Keogh's account, to get it back. Well, he got it, and it was returned to Keogh, and he lost it. Just at this time there appeared a description in the papers of some teller of a bank absconding from Tasmania, and it appeared to the officer in charge of the police here that Keogh answered that description. He was arrested when on his horse and he said to the constable that he was going to Mount Murchison to purchase a quantity of ale and porter from some person at that place. Upon being searched, he had not a penny in his pockets, from which I would infer that he thought it was time to change his quarters. He was brought up before the Police Magistrate, and the evidence of the constable who arrested him was taken. Keogh said he could prove that he was in Queensland at the time when the embezzlement was committed in Tasmania, by a Mr Wilson, in Coolgea. He was remanded for eight days, and a summons issued for the appearance of Wilson. Keogh wrote a note, in the constable's presence, to Wilson. Before the constable left Bourke, the cheque which Keogh had lost was found, and given to the police. When the constable served Wilson with the summons, he enquired of Wilson if he knew Esram Baldwin. He replied that he did, and when showed the cheque, he declared it to be a forgery , and, to confirm it, there was in Mr Coller’s house, where they then were, an agreement between Collers and Baldwin, for the sale of some cattle in 1863, on which was Baldwin’s signature and upon comparing the handwriting of the note sent by Keogh to Wilson with the writing on the cheque, the similarity was obvious. On the remand day, Wilson proved that Keogh was in Queensland at the time the Tasmanian offence was committed. Keogh was then charged with forging the name of Esram Baldwin, and remanded for a further eight days. This was on a Thursday. To understand what follows, it may be necessary to say that the police occupy, as their barracks, a private home, in which there is a passage dividing the skillion-rooms leading to the back. In this passage the prisoner was kept at night handcuffed. Between Friday night and Saturday morning, he managed to free himself from the handcuffs, and got out by a window in the front. I may observe that Keogh's own saddle was outside.
At daylight on Saturday morning he was missed. The police got their horses, and, with the aid of four blacks, tracked him on foot about two miles down the river, where he had secured two horses. They then mounted one of the blacks and took up Keogh's horse tracks, and followed him some miles back, where he appeared to have edged in towards the Darling. They scoured the dry and wet Bogan to within about seven miles of Bemery, and at a little before sundown they came up to him as he was camping in a scrub, the two horses grazing close by. He at once said that they were not his horses-he knew nothing about them. His horses were coveted with sweat and the saddle-marks on them; and moreover one of them was hobbled with a stirrup leather, and his saddle was a stirrup-leather short. Where they got him was fully thirty five miles from Bourke. The two horses were a pair of buggy horses belonging to Mr. Sly. He was brought up on Monday, and was committed on two distinct charges-one for horse-stealing, the other for escaping from prison. On the remand day he was committed for the forgery of the aforesaid cheque. On the arrival of the mail, the day before the last committal, the two cheques that had been sent for collection were returned; they were of no account. Evidence was taken in this case also, and he was committed, this being the fourth charge against him. I may remark, by way of dosing the account of this worthy, that the two thousand pound order on Brisbane was returned, but as he preferred to sign this by procuration it would not amount to forgery.
Our hospital was opened for patients on the 1st June, since which there have been three deaths, but they were all dying subjects when admitted; indeed, one of them never spoke in the hospital, but died on the night he was admitted. He had been brought from one of the Company's stations on the Warrego. One of the other deaths was that of William Maddock, commonly called "Punch," who was in the service of Mr. T. Smith, of the neighbourhood of Bathurst, for upwards of twenty years. He was a very old man, and died from weakness and old age.
The new store for a Maitland firm is progressing, and the principal is expected here in a few days.
You have noticed in your columns the opening of a branch of the Commercial Bank here. The general impression is that this will prove a successful movement as soon as the residents have made arrangements for the transfer of their cheques.
July 21.
-Maitland Mercury, August 8, 1865.
BOURKE.
River as low as anyone could wish it. No steamers advised; and I think if we wait for their advent we shall starve. You would be surprised did you know the excessive enterprise of our '' leading" men. Bourke, you know, ought now to be the main depot of the Northern district. All the outlying stations look to us for their necessaries-and how is it? Teams are waiting to come in, but we have no stores. Fancy such a thing! no flour, sugar, tea, or salt, and, what is worse, no grass for miles. I should not have written this letter had not Mr John Kelly provided my horses with feed, as a personal favour. Hitherto, coming in from the Warrego, I have had to tie my horses to a tree, and start away at once, my business completed. What will become of our quadrupedal animals, should the drought last, no one is boastful enough to say, or oven conjecture ; and all our people can say is, who would have thought it? The apathy is revolting. Bourke ought to be a first-rate inland town; as it is, I leave it for visitors to decide. Government works are keeping pace with individual energy, and should we continue in our present course, some other township must knell our departure.
(from The Empire's correspondent.)
Telegraphic Communication.-There is a movement now on foot to connect Bourke and Wentworth by wire. The importance of this movement can scarcely be appreciated, for had we had such a means of communication in the early part of last year the sheepowners might have had information of the rise of the river, and provided for the safety of their flocks, whereas they were unprovided, and more sheep and other property destroyed than would have covered the expense of the undertaking above named. Another advantage in connection with the steamer, would be that serious delays and losses would be avoided by information of the state of the river, for it not unfrequently happens that the steamers get a considerable distance up the river when perhaps it is falling; and from want of knowing the condition of the upper river, they either wait, or, more frequently, discharge their cargo at some station, where it is left exposed to the weather and other risks till the river is higher, or the owners send down teams for it. Goods so left have no one responsible for them, and it needs no conjurer to tell what the losses sometimes are. Coupled with these two advantages, there is the trade in stock for the Melbourne and Adelaide markets. The only difficulty, I believe, in the way of this important work will be in finding responsible parties to enter into a bond for the payment of interest on the outlay and working expenses-the outlay being estimated at £25,000, the interest five per cent, for five years, and Mr. E. J. Bloxham, who has been in correspondence with the Government on this subject, thinks this difficulty will be overcome without any extraordinary effort. Before concluding, I would say, it would be of immense public importance, if the circuit was made complete, by connecting it with the river, either at Dubbo, or up the Darling and the nearest town where there is a station on the Northern road.-Aug. 14.
-Maitland Mercury, August 19, 1865.
WARREGO.
The weather still continues parchingly dry, and round about some of the stations there is not a blade of feed. Higher up the river rain has been more abundant, and feed is very good. On the 8th and 9th we had a little rain- just enough to make us lament it was so little. Nothing short of three days' heavy rain can do us any good. Travellers have now to go from the Culgo, (eighty miles) without water! Heaven knows what will be done. The water at Leadanapper is marked as a township reserve, and yet, would you believe it, the Bourke River Company have put their sheep there, trampling and eating every bunch of grass near the water, which itself will soon be done. 14,000 sheep soon dry up a little surface water. When that is accomplished travelling must stop; but I trust there are means to stop such proceedings.
A young man, a native of the Hunter, died on the road three miles from Mr. Charles Cowper's station, from some cause or other. His mate rode up to the station, and begged assistance. I rode back to the ailing man as fast as possible, but life had fled. The deceased died without a struggle; he was leaning against a tree, in perfect repose. He was a young man formerly employed by Mr. Robert Fitzgerald, of Noona, and was known up river as "Jemmy the Native." Mr. Patterson took possession of all his property, two horses, &c, &c., which will be handed to the authorities. His mates buried him where he died, protecting the grave from any encroachments from cattle or other animals.
Lambing up the river is much more successful than in many parts of the colony.
A very large number of blacks are assembled above Culla Mulla, 500 or 600. The troopers are on the alert. Aug. 19.
-Maitland Mercury, 31 August, 1865.
THE MURDER OF MR. JOHN DOWLING.
We have received from a correspondent the following account of the murder of Mr. John Dowling, briefly mentioned in our last. The communication is undated, and the postmark (Bourke) is in this respect illegible:
I have this week a most mournful task to fulfil-one of those fearful events which every now and then places the district in which it occurs in profound gloom and sorrow. Some eight or ten weeks ago, Mr John Dowling (brother to Mr. Vincent Dowling) left his home on the Paroo River, in company of a "Waddy Galo" blackfellow belonging to the Buela River, with the intention of cutting a road from the Paroo to Mount Murchison. Time passed away, and no news came in from the lonely pioneer; no one had seen him or knew of his where abouts. After six weeks of uncertainty, Mr. William Hall, with Mr. George Podmore, accompanied by a black, started on the tracks of the absent one. On through the silent solitude rode the two friends, passing the camping places which had been weeks before occupied by the object of their search, full of doubt and foreboding.
They travel on the trail with the unerringness of a sleuth hound ; they enter a waterless tract, and after passing thirty or forty miles, their journey is brought to a painful close. Beside the scattered embers of a small fire, in the awful stillness of the desert, lay the earthly remains of the murdered settler ; beside him and around lay the various articles belonging to the deceased-there were his rations, blankets, saddles, undischarged pistols; and from a diary found on the scene of murder, picked and tossed about by the crows, was read the last entry of the unfortunate young man. Only four entries bad been made since he departed from his home, and these of trifling importance. The lost one states that the blacks could tell him "no more about the springs." He was evidently at fault as to his position. They had travelled a long way without water, and still were distant from it many miles. From the last entry made the writer had perished just seven weeks, and nothing was remaining by which he could be recognised save his hair and clothes. One blow seems to have alone been given, which crashed in the skull. No articles were removed from the dead, not even the rations. All remained as the too confident explorer had left them on the night of his violent death-his murderer evidently flying from the scene as soon as his diabolical deed was accomplished. With sorrowful hearts Messrs Hall and Podmore gathered up the wreck of their lost friend, and hurried with their mournful burden upon their back track. Mr. John Dowling was a young man of great bush experience, a kind friend, and an indulgent master. His untimely death has caused deep sorrow in all who knew him.
I have since heard that the murder was committed early in the evening, as a pile of wood collected for the night lay unburnt; also that a large stick was found, bloody, and with portion of the deceased's hair sticking to it. Probably sleep came across the traveller soon after camping, which proved to be the sleep of death.
-Maitland Mercury, August 31, 1965.
BOURKE
(from a correspondent of The Sun Herald.)
AUGUST 23.-Any one returning to Bourke, after an absence of a couple of months, could not fail to notice an evident sign of improvement pervading the town, numerous new buildings, some for public, others for private use, springing up and adotting the hitherto " pathless wood "
The construction of the punt, whoso completion will facilitate the transfer of goods and passengers to the opposite side of the Darling, is being vigorously undertaken; the locale, however, for its baptismal plunge is keenly contested. ln the arguments advanced on either side, let us charitably hope that none but disinterested views are expressed, and that the most favourable site will be selected, apart from interests of a strictly local character.
Our " Palais de Justice" is all but completed, likewise its requisite adjunct, for the execution of the decrees that issue from it ; the great expense and delay, together with the personal annoyance, consequent on the prosecution of felons in remote courts, must lead in many instances to condonation of offences, and audibly cry out for the establishment of a higher jurisdiction than that at present existing.
The trade of a large and increasing district centering itself in Bourke, in spite of the difficulties attendant on the means of transit, has given to it an impetus which allows it to take the lead of remote inland towns. Its prosperity would be materially aided were the Darling permanently navigable; but in the uncertainly of freshes in the river occurring, that highway cannot be relied on. Its practical canalization is a disputed point ; and a marked preference is given to the idea of a cheap railway ; with the fact of our Queensland friends accomplishing such a work, the formation of a line, let us hope, will not be long delayed. Incipient agitation may even now be noticed in the constant recurrence to the subject in conversation, and where the vitality almost of a remote district's traffic warrants the construction of an inexpensive line, its formation should not be unnecessarily deferred. Hopes are expressed that the telegraph will soon be extended to meet the present termini; whether such will be in the direction of Dubbo, or down the river to Wentworth, is of minor importance than that communication should be effected in some way. The interests of the squatters on the Darling and its tributaries would be sufficient to induce them to effect the required guarantee for interest of invested capital. As to be abused is considered preferable to being ignored, so these much maligned gentry find consolation in the fact that by that means their grievances may be at the same time ventilated. Quick conveyance at a moderate rate of stations' supplies is of material consideration where, as here, rations’ prices have no corresponding influence on the price of labour.
Mr. Cowper inaugurated our shearing season a week ago, and operations will now almost uninterruptedly be carried on. In consequent of absence of grass for available drying grounds, the preliminary operation of washing will this year be dispensed with, while the still more serious manner in which it will affect the lambing (the absence of any succulence, in the obtainable food preventing to a great extent the due secretion of milk) renders the dryness of the season a lamentable visitation; the plains are full of great fissures, the ground seeming actually to gasp for that moisture which would convert its present arid aspect into a smiling meadow.
-Maitland Mercury, September 7, 1865.
WARREGO.
I am sorry to say, that rain is still the earnest prayer of everyone on the Lower Warrego, Parro, Irara, and Cuttaturra Rivers, and so utterly desolate is the country getting that it will soon be uninhabitable should the drought continue. Already three or four stations are deserted, and the distances without water, from the Darling and Culgoa, render travelling next to impossible. From Bourke to Hill's horse station you have a distance of say 120 miles; you only find water at a group of springs, about half way, and at these are camped the bane of every horse-man-sheep. By the Culgoa you find water once-likewise being rapidly absorbed by sheep-25 miles from the river; leaving about 85 miles with not enough water to quench a mosquito's thirst. And where that greatest of blessings is found, there is not sufficient grass to make a toothpick. So you see what a delightful state of existence the people of this ilk are reduced to.
I have found the name of the person, who died on the road above Mr. Patterson's, to be James Dwyer-that of his mates, Forrester, John Bavin, his son Alfred, with another, name unknown. I mention these names, simply by way of commendation for the trouble which was taken in the burial of the deceased; and the secure manner in which the bones of the departed were left, all things considered, reflect the greatest praise on the performers of the sad task; and it may be a small comfort to the relatives of the dead to know that he sleeps cared for even in the wilderness.
-Maitland Mercury, September 14, 1865.
BOURKE.
Mr. John E. Kelly, of Bourke, writes us at some length, complaining that our usual Bourke correspondent has done unnecessary mischief by exaggerating the present dry and sterile state of the country on and beyond the Darling. The effect of such exaggeration, Mr. Kelly says, is to prevent carriers and other travellers proceeding to Bourke or other places in that tract of country, when they could well and safely do so.
Mr. Kelly says:
To support my statement I will Instance a few facts, which I trust will somewhat repair the injury already done by careless remarks.
This season's lambing will compare favourably with any since the settlement of this district: thus at Beamerie, fifteen miles hence, on the Darling, Mr. Rutherford numbers 90 per cent of lambs ; Mr. Templeton, on a more remote station, 95 percent; while Mr. Reid, ten miles away, has within the last few months fattened 4000 wethers. And bullock-drivers may bear this in mind also, that for the use of Bourke stables men have been for some time past employed to mow bush hay : there is an abundance of it on most stations between here and Walgett-but not in the middle of the road. That grass is scarce on the frontages is not to be wondered at seeing that over 100,000 sheep have travelled along the river since the last rain. I have just returned from Coonabarabran, Walgett, Coonamble, and Warren, and I deliberately avow that I have seen the country in a much worse state within the last four years than it is at present. I hope you will relieve the minds of many travelling teamsters by removing some of the fears they at present entertain.
There are at least 130 teams on the road for this district. The number will be vastly increased should there be no rise in the Darling, which at present is doubtful. The welfare of the settlers is concerned in the methodical transit of rations and produce, while the carriers are so dismally impressed with the false statements to which I have referred that they express regret at having taken loading, and would forego the carriage to anyone who would relieve them of their charge. This is most lamentable and monstrous, and the poor fellows require consolation and reassuring in their dejected state of mind. Squatters are waiting for their shears and woolpacks, and not being advised of their whereabouts, are at a complete standstill ; at the same time the carriers, fearing if seen to be urged on, and, as they fancy, to the starvation of their bullocks, plant themselves to avoid a reucontre.
{From our own Correspondent.)
I should have written ere this, but I have now but a few hours in Bourke, the feed being so luxuriant that you have to tie your horse to a tree, or pay ten shillings for the privilege of grass, and then you have to be very civil or you and your horses will go hungry.
I am happy to say that, as far as store accommodation is concerned, we are now well to do. It is not now, as heretofore, a case of nolens volens; you can procure what you want with civility.
The punt has at length showed signs of vitality. There are actually three or four men working at her building, and should they continue to labour, I dare say 1890 will see her completed.
All our police under Cleary are away, so we hear, after Dunn. What a clever set of constables we have to allow a young ignorant fellow like this to set them at defiance. Cleary will do his best, and will do well.
We have a band of minstrels under Mr. James Campbell, who discourse very good music. They have given two concerts in aid of the hospital-both highly applauded.\
THE WARREGO.
Still no rain, and the weather getting hot. Travelling is almost at a standstill. From the Culgoa ninety miles without water, from Bourke northwards, one fifty five mile stage, and another sixty. What we are to do, Heaven only knows. The mailman cannot keep horses on the route, as many of the stations are deserted, and without a change comes the mail will cease to be. Up to the present time it is a life of abject slavery.
I hear that a police camp is to be established near the boundary by New South Wales. We are thankful for benefits, however long they are on the road coming ; such an institution has been wanted for many months. And the paternal goodness of canny Queensland seems to care as little about her isolated children as a wolf does about his cubs. The water at Leadnapper is nearly all exhausted by the interesting animals belonging to the B.R Co , and that consummation will add twenty-five miles to the ninety before spoken of.
The gentle blacks are quiet at present. Nothing done relative to poor Dowling's murder, and talked of. Such is the magnificent state of dullness to which things have settled on this ilk.
-Maitland Mercury, September 28, 1865.
BOURKE.
Our little township is struggling into something like a place of importance. The punt has actually taken a form, much to the astonishment of everybody within fifty miles, for all had arrived at the conclusion that it was never to be commenced, much less finished. Business is pretty brisk, and our rival stores do a fair thing. We are soon to have another public house, much to the delight of our drinking community. Sixpence is to be the charge, it is said, for an inch of brandy.
We vary the scene with horse racing, &c, &c., and on Monday we have a footrace for £50, between Mr. Charles Newton and a stranger, who is too delicate to entrust his name among the knowing ones.
Tho blacks some few miles up the river are slaughtering one another, and the whites fear trouble. A settler rode into town for assistance, but all our splendid police force were away, or under orders, so the spears could hurtle at pleasure.
I am grieved to record the sudden death of a young man, lately superintendent at Winbar (Mr. Glass’s station), named G. L D, Bushe. He had been some time on a visit to Bourke, and, a few hours before his death, appeared in comparatively good health ; death ensued from serous apoplexy. The event has caused a deep feeling of gloom.
River very low; and I have heard of steamers below Field's. Fearful news from downwards.
Sept. 28, 1865.
WARREGO -
I have this week to chronicle two more murders by the blacks. Both victims were shepherds-one in the employ of Mrs. Dolman, on the Yas Yas Creek ; I could not find out positively where the other man fell, but report says on the Neve. The murderers buried one man after stripping him of everything save his boots; these, with the feet, they left upon the surface, which led to the discovery. Six of the rascals are in the hands of the police.
Rain has fallen very heavily in some places, on the Cuttaburra for instance, leaving a fine spring in the grass. Save this all is perfectly dry, and the worst fears are entertained for the stock on the Lower Warrego.
Lieutenant Armstrong was at Cullamulla with his black troopers last week, and, save their sable majesties, there is no protection here.
-Maitland Mercury, October 12, 1865.
ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.
To The Editor of the Maitland Mercury
Mr. Editor-I ain't a writing chap-it's out o' my line-but I've just been readin an account of this ere place in your paper, which you say you got from John B. Kelly, the publican. Here, he ses, the country ain't half so bad as he's seen it-that the lambin’s as good as ever; an he also ses, to prove his remarks, that they're fattening sheep about here. But the richest part of the lot is, he wants you to button for him by telling the carriers it’s all right - to load up-there's heaps o' grass. Now I reckon, Mr. Editor, you ain't to be had so easily ; but any how I want to contradikt this ere yarn of Mr. Kelly’s. It’s all rot: the country, as every paper and every man as don't want loading can tell you, couldn't be worse; and as to the lambin, out of pity to Kelly I'll say nothing about it, as it don't concern me ; but the fat sheep's too strong. Lor bless you, Sir, there ain't a blade of grass in the district, nor nothing as sheep can make a run on. You’ll see 'em staggering about in such a style that 'ud stun those coves that's got heavy pots on the stations about here, but what the eye doesn't see the heart don't care for. Anyhow, if this weather keeps up my yarn will come true; there'll be some busting up, depend on it. I've druv my team from Maitland to 30 miles below Bourke, and never since I fust handled a whip, some 20 year ago, have I got such a gruelling. Just fancy, Sir, what a chop it is to punch a lot of half-starved bullocks 500 miles, and while you deliver your load, have to wheel round and face back empty; for your bullocks ain't got a feed for a crow on 'em, so in course they can't pull nothing, and they’d die clean out only for the trees you chop down so as the poor brutes can get the leaves. It's all very well for Kelly to pitch about mowing bush bay ; but I've seen 'em at it, Sir, and how d'you think it's done? Why they get down the steep banks of the river, where the cattle can't, and cut down a tussock here and there with a butcher's knife, and then it ain't half so green as Kelly must think them as reads your paper is, to believe what he sez. And as to them ere teams what Mr. Kelly speaks on-150 on'em, I think -they might get down here if they're loaded with hay and corn, by a little generalship, but not without.
I don't want to be too hard on Bourke; but when the steamers came up 'ere regular, Mr. Editor, they was rather too jolly with us carriers; they got up big companies-blowed about the size Bourke 'ud be-pitched about Riverina separation-and talked tall about Adelaide and Melbourne ; and as soon as ever the river was crossable they wos knocked clean into fits. But every dog as his day, and now we've got ourn,-we've got 'em on the whip, Sir. Maitland can supply 'em with loading and carriers too ; but they'll have to come out. We must make hay while the sun shines, for the fust flood as comes the steamers 'ull pop up, when they'll ding us, and start pitchin agin.
Axing jour pardon for writing, I am, Sir, your humble servant.
JOHN WELLS, Carrier.
Bourke, Oct. 4, 1865.
-Maitland Mercury, October 21, 1865.
BOURKE.
Rain is still the great want of the district, and unless it comes what we shall do I know not. Our horses and cattle are dreadfully poor, and feed enormously high-in fact you have to be very civil to get a feed at famine prices.
We have had a week full of events. On Friday a son of Mr. Maxwell's broke his arm. On Saturday the son of John Reed was unfortunately drowned in the Darling whilst bathing, leaving behind a throng of mourners. I trust all who read this will take warning, and keep the children from the banks of rivers. A day or two ago Mr. Hughes, of the Bogan, was severely stabbed by a man now in custody; the wound is dangerous. On the Bokhara Mr. McKenzie has been fatally injured from a fall from a horse. Dr. Pechey has attended him, and gives no hopes of recovery.
The punt is going on quite spiritedly for a Governmental work, and some time in 1870 we shall have it in use.
Our houses of business are doing well, and prices have been reduced nearly 30 per cent; so much for competition. '
A race came off on Monday, between Charles Newton and John I. Conlan, for £70. Newton carried off the laurels.
From the Empire's correspondent:
OCTOBER 13th.- MR. GEORGE L. D. BUSHE -This gentleman died suddenly at Bourke, on the 27th of last month. Mr. Bushe was superintendant on one of Mr. Hugh Glass's stations, on the Darling. His health had been failing for some time, and he had been in Bourke for some weeks for the benefit of medical advice, his complaint being enlargement of the liver, but the immediate cause of death was apoplexy. Mr. Bushe was much respected by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance, and his death is much regretted. I believe he stood in the relationship of nephew to the Rev. Canon Allwood.
BOY DROWNED.-On Saturday last (7th), a boy of the name of William John Reed was drowned in the Darling while bathing with some other children. Some eight or ten minutes elapsed before the body was recovered by a black gin. For several hours efforts were made to restore life, but, with no avail. The boy's parents live at Ponto, near Wellington, but he was stopping with his grandparents, at Bourke, for the last six months. A gloom was cast over the whole community by this melancholy accident, he being an interesting little fellow of seven years of age.
WEATHER AND THE DARLING.-The weather still continues very dry. We have had, on two occasions, some rain ; but it has been of very little service. There has been some heavy rains, I am told, on the Cutteburra, and filled some of the holes with several feet of water, but it did not extend over a large area. The Darling is now very low indeed, lower than it has been since 1862; as a consequence we have no traffic with the steamers. The Kennedy, steamer, is now lying above Mount Murchison, and can get neither up nor down. She has been several months in the river. The Culgoa, a new steamer belonging to the same company, got snagged in the Darling a few miles from Wentworth; most of the cargo, I am told, was got ashore before she sank. She now lies in twelve feet of water.
SURVEYING PARTY FOR THE DARLING.-Information was brought up here by a gentleman who had been to Wentworth, that the party had given up the idea of working up stream by boat, and had got waggons to attend them with supplies. This, certainly, appears to me to be a preferable course ; but under any circumstances it will take them a long time to accomplish their work, whatever that may be. Doubtless, they know what that is, but the public do not. If it be to lock the river, as some think it is, that will be a failure ; but, if to dam it, then they may succeed. It is pretty well known that there is but a slight fall on the Darling, and a few dams would serve for the purpose; but the great work, and that most speedily accomplished, will be the removal of the few bars of rocks that now interrupt the navigation, and the snags.
SHEARING.-Several of the stations have finished their shearing-Mr. Cowper’s on the Bogan ; Mr. Josephson's, on the Darling; and there may be others-but all are busy in getting the golden fleece. The food is becoming daily more scarce, and the great number of teams that have already reached Bourke, and those still on the road, find great difficulty in accomplishing their journey.
TELEGRAPH.-The movement recently commenced for the establishment of telegraph communication between Bourke and Wentworth is progressing, and likely to be brought to a successful issue. Circulars have been issued to gentlemen interested in the trade and pursuits of the district, resident in Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, and elsewhere, and I have been informed that it has been warmly taken up by many influential persons. As soon as replies are received, a list of those consenting to be parties to the bond-guaranteeing interest on the outlay and working expenses-will be forwarded to the Government, in order that the amount required for the construction of the line may be put on the supplementary estimates for 1866.
Information has been brought to Bourke this week that the Macintyre-the continuation of the Darling- the Culgoa, and the rivers running from Queensland are coming down "bankers." If this be true, we may expect a rise in the Darling that will enable the steamers now in the river to move on. It has also been reported that on the Warrego there is, owing to partial fails of rain, a good spring in the grass; but the rain has not been sufficient to fill the water-holes, consequently travelling is yet difficult.
There is a man of the name of Richard Crank now in the lockup, charged with stabbing Mr. Charles W. Hughes, of Charlton, on the Bogan, some fifty miles from Bourke. He was brought up on Saturday last, and remanded for eight days, as Mr. Hughes is not yet able to attend. The business at the police office for some time back has been slack, but the last week or two business has revived-masters' and servants' cases preponderating.
WARREGO.
I am glad to say that we have had a few splendid showers, giving us plenty of grass, but no permanent water.
Cattle are very scarce, and fetch a tremendous price.
Lambing is about over, and comparing it with other parts of the country it is very good.
I am thankful to report that the poor, peaceful blacks the other day got a real good drubbing by the black troopers for some of their harmless work-N.B., cattle spearing. This is a recreation they have long indulged in with impunity, but at last they have met their reward -poor things!
-Maitland Mercury, October 26, 1865.
DISTRICT NEWS.
[FROM VARIOUS CORRESPONDENTS]
BOURKE.
I have but the same old tale from all parts of this district-our wants getting harder to bear as the weather increases in warmth, and if it continues to grow much warmer, I think Hamlet's desire that "the solid flesh would melt" will be a consummation. Traffic downwards, I learn, is all but stopped, and, as for the upward track, I think you could safely warrant two blades, or the shrunken semblances of blades, of grass in favour of the former.
A rather amusing scene occurred here last night, illustrative of our sad condition relative to forage. I had procured from Mr. James Reed a bundle of grass, which he informed me he had carted for more than twenty miles ; going to the boat my hay was suddenly set upon by some hungry kine coming in to water, and not without some little trouble could I keep them from upsetting the blackfellow, who had the coveted article upon his head.
Business is pretty brisk. The new stores are slowly progressing.
There is a slight rise in the river, but of no consequence.
A case of false impounding came before the court- Lascelles v. Bogan River Co. The defendant was fined £5 and costs, the said sheep being taken within half a mile of the road, and had travelled the required distance per diem, as demanded by the Act.
A person named Jerry Smith was given in charge, yesterday, charged with having abstracted from the chamber of Mr. William Sly sundry valuable documents, &c - supposing then to be money of course. He will be attended to today.
I am sorry to say that the young son of Mr. James O'Neil, Belalie, was killed the other day by pulling on himself a barrel of apples. The full particulars I could not learn.
I have just been told that the Government are about sinking wells 'twixt this and the Warrego. Don't believe it-too much in the line of usefulness.
Oct. 25.
-Maitland Mercury, November 11, 1865.
(To the Editor of the Maitland Mercury.)
Sir,-You will oblige me much by the insertion of this letter, and at the same time be doing an infinite service to a numerous tribe of bullock and horse drivers who may be on the road or are about starting from the Bathurst district towards Bourke. In your journal of the_____ is a letter emanating from Mr. John E. Kelly, "publican", of Bourke, in which he strives to cast a stigma on your correspondent's love, or rather lack, of veracity in his communications respecting the present state of the feed on the river Darling. That it is not a pleasant duty to report as to the nakedness of the land, I allow; but it is nevertheless a reporter's task to speak of things as they exist, "setting down naught in malice." And I can painfully vouch for the truth of every item of information published by you relative to the sterility of this district. I have been frequently at Bourke with horses, and know plenty who have pulled up there with bullocks; and if attenuated frames can speak for the utter lack of food, the animals themselves tell a sorrowful tale. Mr. Kelly speaks of the abundance of bush grass. I have known men to ride fifty miles without water, and then have to pay 15s. 6d. per bushel for oats, and the same amount for a wisp or two of the said bush grass. Call you this abundance, sir? Why, it is a common thing for teamsters going in from the North to carry fodder in with them, knowing it their only salvation. As to the instances given of the luxuriant state of the country in speaking of the lambing and fat sheep about us, a man, though a fool, can understand Mr. Kelly and his letter ; and every man who has driven over those roads lately knows in what a dreadful state of starvation the country is in. The fact that no rain has fallen for many months, with sheep almost up to our very door, is quite sufficient to convince anyone possessing a reasonable amount of brain of the desolation which reigns - Yours, obliged,
J. GREEN. Darling River, October 24, 1865.
-Maitland Mercury, November 11, 1865.
BOURKE.
(From the Empire's correspondent.)
NOVEMBER 17 –The welcome news brought by your issue this week of the breaking up of the drought gave universal satisfaction. Though we have not participated in the blessing here, still it is some satisfaction to know that the food-producing districts have been so visited. The weather here continues hot and dry. The average heat of this month has been 101 ½ degrees, something frightful-at least, it would be so to residents of more moderate districts-although we that are acclimatised think little of it. Should a kind providence favour us with rain, it would be a boon of inestimable value. The food is getting very scarce, and unless the rain comes soon the losses of stock will be alarmingly great. Information was received at Bourke last week of the death of a young man near Mount Murchison; he was one of your colonial experience men, of the name of Oliver Dinham. It would appear that he was engaged drawing water from a well, and one of the slabs getting wrong, he went down by tho rope to see it right. The parties at the surface were under no apprehension of anything being wrong with the well, but hearing nothing they became alarmed, and getting no reply to their calls, one of the men slipped down tho rope, but had not reached the water, forty feet, when he called to be hoisted up quickly as he was nearly gone with the foul air. It then became evident that the young man who first went down had been affected with foul gas, and slipped in the water. A drag was obtained, and the body recovered, but life was extinct. The station belonged to Messrs. Myers and Bonny, called Womba.
Richard Crank was, this day, committed to take his trial at the next Circuit Court, to be held at Bathurst, charged with an attempt to murder Charles William Hughes, a squatter on the Bogan.
WARREGO.
I have nothing to report save the usual complainings of everybody on the river. We are getting shorter and shorter of water every day, and still no signs of rain. At Waughanoora, Mr. Cowper's station, one of the very best water holes in the lower parts is getting alarmingly low, and unless the river soon runs the stock must be shifted ; in fact, stock is already on the move looking for grass.
A report has come in from the Paroo, to the effect that an unfortunate man was found sitting, dead, in a deserted hut belonging to the Riverine Pastoral Company. He had killed his horse, drinking its blood, and there were sad evidences that he had died in terrible agony. Four other men have been picked up in a very exhausted state, making towards the Cuttaburra. Had they not fell across a station cart, in which was water, they doubtless would have perished.
Mr. Henry Williams has just started a mob of splendid fat cattle, and I hope he may get in all right, but he has a terribly dry road. They are still working at Rutherford's well, at Belalie, carting water for the work men twenty-three miles.
Nov. 3rd, 1865.
-Maitland Mercury, November 30, 1865.
WARREGO.
We are getting to be almost as badly off for water as Coleridge's " Ancient Mariner" was when he says-
Water, water everywhere,
But not a drop to drink.”
Rain seems to come almost to the parched up earth, and as often deludes the hoping watcher. The weather seems to have cleared away again for more heat and less grass. Last week at Charleville, the mercury rose 118 in the shade, and at Culla Mulla 113. High and hot winds, accompanied by clouds of dust, make life, to say the least of it, miserably uncomfortable. I think six weeks more will settle all below Culla Mulla.
Mr. J. Cameron, on the Cuttaburra, has been singularly fortunate. Rain has given him abundance of feed and water, and his sheep look well, He commenced shearing a day or two ago, and a fine clip of excellently washed wool he may expect. This seems rather at variance with my dolorous reports of drought, but the natural features of his country seem to collect what stray rain clouds are about, and, being located on a splendid water-shed, he seems to collect all that falls in the lower parts of the river.
I was informed that the Queensland mail, between the Condamine and Roma, had been robbed of £50 in silver, 100 sovereigns, and 150 notes. Dunn is supposed to be the pillager. There is truth of the mail being stopped, for I saw a letter bearing the classic superscription, "Opened by Bushrangers." We shall see now what metal the Queensland police are made of.
Nov. l8, 1865.
The Queensland Guardian of Friday, December 1st, has been informed by a gentleman lately arrived from the Warrego that that portion of the country is in very good condition, and has suffered but little from the late drought, which, however, has been felt severely on the southern border, whence it has been necessary to remove whole flocks. The lambing has been successful, the increase averaging from 95 to 100 per cent. The shearing was commencing when our informant left, and there was every reason to believe that the clip would prove abundant. The late rains have been only partial, some districts, not having received a drop, while in others the showers have caused a good spring in the grass, and set the creeks running. The crops in general present a healthy appearance.
-Maitland Mercury, December 7, 1865.
BOURKE.
The drought continues, and as a natural consequence, everything wears a depressed and gloomy appearance, although we are a little more lively than most places would be under the circumstances.
" Mr William Sly has made over his premises, and interest therein, to the firm of Blackstone and Bond, so that this firm has now two inns in the town. Booker and Co. have purchased the store effects of the latter party, so that we are only represented by one mercantile firm, though that one is very extensive. The only obstacle which throws Bourke from the sure line of rapid progress is the almost totaI absence of water northwards. Were there wells from this place to the Warrego a steady and increasing trade would be constantly plied from that and other Northern and Western rivers. As it is, the settlers are turning towards Roma, and other Queensland towns, for their supplies.
It is at the present moment a most difficult task to get a team into Bourke from the North ; and in another month, should it not rain, traffic must stop. It is the opinion of every one that water along this route could be very easily obtained, and yet such is the supineness of the people here, that no step is taken in the matter. And with squatting matters things are just as bad. There are five or six splendid stations within 130 miles of Bourke without stock, and others will be deserted soon; and all this could have been prevented by a little enterprise and outlay of capital. Should we ever have rain again I trust this season will be a warning to all concerned. Accounts from all parts downwards are very disheartening, and nothing but a very long downfall can save ns.
I have heard that the scab has broken out again on the Bogan, not very far from this place. If so, it will be another source of trouble.
Bourke, Dec. 8.
-Maitland Mercury, December 21, 1865.
WARREGO.
No rain; all the waterholes from Culla Mulla down nearly dry. Weather very warm, and rations getting scarce.
On Friday night the ‘poor’ blacks camped at Rotten Row, a station of the Hill Bros., committed a savage murder, on the person of Tommy, a Darling black, belonging to Mr. James Birket. It appears that the unfortunate man, with his gin, were sleeping within ten yards of a hut in which a white man and a half-caste were, when, about twelve o'clock (night), two villains, well known, stole upon the sleepers and thrust a spear deeply into the abdomen of the deceased. With a wild shriek he sprang towards the hut, while blows from bundies and waddies were showered upon him, and another spear hurled into his back. The occupiers of the hut state that they rushed out rifle in hand, but, the piece missing, the murderers escaped. The murdered man was taken to the hut, where, kneeling down, he literally tore at the spear, which was embedded deeply in his body, leaving two or three jags behind, and shouted to his assailers to renew the fight. The poor fellow lingered in great pain about five hours, and then, bidding his friends "good night," fell into a quiet sleep, and died. That this useful fellow's life had Iong been threatened ought, we think, have made those with whom he lived a little more careful ; but the harmless rascals knew where the place was weak, and succeeded in their devilish work. Prior to the attack they had let down the rails of a yard in which were 700 horses, which, strange to say, never moved. Mr. Birket has sent for the police, and I do hope a speedy retribution will follow.
We have had another little act of bravery performed here, which reflects little credit on those concerned. A squatter had a horse stolen by two men, from Kaywarra, on the Paroo. Justly indignant, the owner procured horses, and started in pursuit, calling on a magistrate by the way, from whom he procured another horse, and shackles to secure the thieves. Forty miles brought the dauntless pursuer to a station on the Cuttaburra, where the delinquents then were with the stolen horse. But they were allowed quietly to depart, and the avenger, arming himself with another revolver, started in pursuit. Forty miles more was a spring, at which the squatter arrived first, and securing the assistance of two or three men there camped, managed to place the handcuffs on the horse-stealers, after depriving them of their arms. So far, all well; but in the morning, the hated irons were tenderly taken off their wrists, the arms carefully returned, and the two men set loose upon society. What the J.P will do in the case is not yet known ; but can we, Sir, wonder that crime walks with head erect when such patronage is given to offenders? We shall watch this case, as it is one of interest when every day horses are being taken from their owners in this locality.
Warrego, Dec. 1, 1865.
-Maitland Mercury, December 21, 1865.
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