Journal 2
Journals Index
J.H. Watmuff Profile
Prologue
1 1856-05-01 (Bendigo, Dunolly, Sandy Creek (Tarnagulla), Loddon , (Mt. Hope Hoax), Ararat, Chinamans Flat, Moonlight Flat, Mt William (trek with Aboriginal guide), Pleasant Creek (Stawell), Melbourne).
2 Bendigo (1859-07-17) Melbourne 1862 Otago N.Z. (1862-09-10)
3 Otago (1862-09-11)
4 Otago (1863-07-26) to Melbourne 1865
5 Melbourne 1865-11-12
6 Melbourne 1866-03-04
7 Melbourne 1869-03-28
8 Melbourne 1870-06-12 to April 1876
9 Melbourne 1876-06 to 1880-09-07
10 Dribs & Drabs 1881-02-16 to 1882-06
11 Sydney & Misc. 1884
12 Lusitania Voyage 1887-05-27
13 Lusitania Voyage 1887-05-30
14 Lusitania Voyage 1887-06-26
15 Lusitania Voyage 1887-07-01
16 and 17 England, letters and Journal 1887-07-14
18 Garonne return Voyage 1887-09-27
19 Resignations 1888-05-28 to 1892 Nov.
See Bert Watmuff's letters about the family
20 (Journal 19) Mildura 1893-05-06
21 Genealogies from 1738 to 1889
22 New Zealand Essays
J.H. & Bessie Watmuff's Photos
Olive Watmuff's Photos
No
2
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284
[front end paper]
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1859/61
Bendigo, Victoria
1862 Otago @ NZ.
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Journal - Kept by - John Hy Watmuff from July 1859 to 1862 Sept
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John Henry Watmuff
Manuherikia River
Otago NZ
Crabbs English Synonims √ Books Ive sent for
Rogets Thesauris √
Watts Logic ~~
Gilberts — " for the millions √
Abercrombies intellectual powers √
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Continued from July 1859 Long Gully
[1859-07-17 Sunday]
July 11th [17th] 1859 Horrible weather, raining nearly
every day. I went to my job on the “Hustlers
Reef” last Monday morning, but left it last
night, the ground is very dangerous & the men
that own the claim know very little about
timbering & making the ground secure. They would not
allow me to have my way so I did not see the
force of risking my life through their parsimony
Hugh Campbell, Dan Fennegan & I put in a
tender for the driving of 50 ft in the Hit or
Miss Companys claim, Johnsons Reef — yesterday
& got it, The shaft is 280 feet deep & wet, but
unless the ground changes, I fancy we shall
be able to make good wages at the price we
are to have 30/- per foot — & timber supplied
at the Shaft for boxing & propping Etc –
we commence at it in the morning, all
well — I got Bill Donovan into my place
on “Hustlers Reef” Tuesday night I went to
to my Singing Class, quite a revival there
several new members. Wednesday night
stayd at home reading & learning my
lessons. Thursday, went into Sandhurst
called at Barkleys then visited Frazers
Lockey & I took a strool about Pall Mall
had some fine fun with some young ladies
acquaintances of his — Friday remained at [home]
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290
Hit and Miss Reef, Sandhurst, July 1859
looking over Lindley Murray. Anderson came
in & enlivened us with one or two of his lovely
songs — he has a beautiful voice what a pity
he is possessed of so little self respect, with
his intelligence & abilities, combined with a
very little energy would make him successful
in anything he undertook Saturday I left
work, came home & brought a couple of wheel
barrow loads of wood from the hills at the
back of the tent, then dressed myself &
went into Bendigo, called at Barkleys could
not get any money from him, I met my
companion Lockey & we went into the Shamrock
Concert Room, spent a jolly evening — came
home together I received a long letter
from J.Hamilton he is very well, but
not doing very well at his business — his
Reef here is turning out very rich — he
assures me — I have a portrait of my sister
& by some means he got a copy of it & the
man imagines he is in love with it the
best of the joke is he has never seen the
original. I went into Church this morning
& after dinner, I met Donovan took him to
the Hustlers Reef, went afterwards into
Sandhurst, walked about the township had
tea in an Eating House went to Church &
came home together, & so passed another week
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291
Long Gully Bendigo 1859 —
[1859-07-24]
July 24th Fine weather during the past week
Commenced our contract on Monday, had to
rig a windsail & put up a shed over the
Shaft, & had 2 days hard bailing out water
got down the Shaft on Thursday & by
yesterday dinner time had drove about 4
feet — not so bad considering everything we
had to prepare before commencing work
Tuesday went to the Singing Class, Wednesday
Hugh & Dan & I went into Sandhurst, called
at Frazers, had some fun with Margery
Johana & Lockey, on leaving them I visited
the Church of England Bazaar, it was like
getting into a hive of Bees, the young ladies
at the stalls were like a lot of Jewesses
begging & coaxing one to purchase articles
at about 100 percent above their value. I
bought some small volumes of poetry
by different writers, on looking over them
I find they are little gems. Thursday
night my friend Jno. C.Burchell came
up from Melbourne, he is a young chap
I like well, well educated & intelligent
he will be good company for me — he is
going to live with my couzin Henry & I think
he intends trying his luck at golddigging
& is going mates with Henry tomorrow
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292
Hustlers Reef, Sandhurst, July 1859
Burchell & I went into Sandhurst yesterday
afternoon (I received a letter from my Uncle
Charles, he informs me he intends returning
to Bendigo shortly, in the letter was an
order for £50.0.0 to be placed in the Bank
to his a/c. I suppose if he brought it with
him he would spend it ere he arrived here
I got a letter from my Brother Fred — all
well at home) we had tea at the Criterion
Hotel, afterwards visited the Theatre, early this
morning when we arrived at the tent
After Breakfast got in several Barrows of
firewood for the coming week, then went
to Church. In the afternoon we went to
Harry Inniss tent, he had his arm broken
last night in a row, several Irishmen
rolled into him & gave him a hiding in
consideration of several, us boys, have
given them, spent a jolly afternoon there
I intend writing to my Brothers tonight
[1859-07-31 Sunday] August 1st 1859 Fine weather during the past week. We drove 9 ft 6 in for the weeks work, making us about £4.15/. each, we only get paid once a week, & 1/3 is deducted or kept back until the contract is completed, we struck a streak of lava yesterday which is making a deal of water, I should not be surprised if
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293
Hustlers Reef, Sandhurst, 1859-08-07
the drive is swamped tomorrow. Harry &
Burchell left here for a rush at the Sheepwash
Creek last Monday morning. Uncle arrived
here in the same evening, he is looking very
well, but he has led a very fast gay life
since he left us — he left Tuesday morning
& went after Henry, they all returned yesterday
tired & footsore after a fruitless journey, they
could find nothing to suit them, tried several
holes but got no gold — I've been into Sandhurst
I think every evening, visiting about. Last night
Uncle, Burchell, Harry & I went to the Shamrock
Theatre, saw our little favorites the “Worrells”
I saw my foreign lady friend, had a strool & a
long chat with her — I recvd a letter from
Mother, all well — no news. Mary has been
to a Ball at Sunbury, in company with Jane
Summers, & I believe enjoyed herself very well
I wrote to Hamilton on Thursday & to mother
this afternoon. I went after dinner to see Dave
we took a walk together, called on Harry Innises
went into Sandhurst this evening & Church, met
several friends took a strool with some young ladies
got home here about 11 pm. time now for bed —
August 7th 1859. Lovely weather but very cold first thing in the morning. On going to our work last Monday we found 10 feet of water in
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294
Hustlers Reef, Sandhurst, 1859-08
& still running from the lava streak, we thought
of giving up the contract, but the shareholders
agreed to pay us a weeks wages while we bailed
out the water, so all this week we’ve done nothing
else but bail, hard work, lifting a 16 gln keg water
280 feet. We found yesterday that we are just
beating the water, I went down — there is still too
much water to be able to make much at it, so
the owners paid the claim a visit, & have agreed
to give us 10/- a foot more to carry on the drive
I have been very gay & fast this week out every
night on Sandhurst, it would be impossible
to note down what Ive done & where Ive been Etc
went to my singing as usual, Dan & I joind
a Dancing Class, Monday & Thursday night the
man is a Scotchman named I. Robertson, a great
man at athletic sports & Highland Gatherings Etc
I dont think he can teach us anything but Flings
& Scotch Reels & Jigs Etc — however there is such a
jolly lot frequents the place, that I intend going
if only for the fun of the thing. Hamilton came
down from Daisy Hill yesterday. In the afternoon
we went into Sandhurst (I called at the P.O &
received a long letter from Mother & one from Fred
all well, no news. Jane Summers is living with
them for a while, having left Sunbury. I would
like to be at home for a time.) We called at
Frazers, they insisted upon our remaining
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295
Hustlers Reef, Sandhurst, August 1859
to tea — spent the afternoon very pleasently –
after tea, Jim, & I went to the Shamrock Rooms
didnt get home until this morning about 1 am
& arose at 7, we had to go & Bail water at
the Shaft until 1. pm. so as to keep it down
for if it rose above a certain level it would
distroy the Shaft — I hate having to work on a
Sabbath — but it cannot be avoided sometimes
on the diggings. Spent the afternoon reading
& in the evening went into Church, met some
acquaintances, got home by 10. am —
[1859-08-21 Sunday] August 22nd [21st] 1859. A fortnight since I continued my journal. We have done very poorly at our contract, only drove 8 feet during the time; it takes all our time to keep the water down & the rock we are driving in is the hardest I ever met with in the whole course of my digging experience We struck a small quartz spur on Thursday & with it came another heavy stream of water Im afraid we shall have to give the affair up unless we make some fresh arrangement with our employers — £5.0.0 per foot would only just give us wages — very annoying — Last Saturday night, I went to the Theatre along with Uncle, Burchell & Dan — Sunday morning I went to Church, being Sacrament Day we (Choir) were kept in until 3. pm. I had dinner at Campbells — I received a letter from Fred on Wednesday, all well, made me quite
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296
Hustlers Reef, Sandhurst, August 1859
envious with the account of the places of
amusement he has visited, Theatre, Oratories Etc
flirting about with Jane Summers — no news
from England by the last Mail from father —
I have visited the Dancing & Singing Class
as usual — Friday night I took Miss Scott
home, got into hot water through it — there is
a chap named C.Smith after her, I dont think
he has any honorable intentions towards her. She
is a poor girl but rather nice looking — however
he is very jealous of her & I me & knowing it I
was determined to annoy him & have been very
attentive to her whenever I meet her at the S. Class
I know she likes him but I think is afraid of
him, however time tries all — Last night, Dan,
Burchell & I went into Sandhurst, knocked about
one place & another, had a dance at the Hamburgh
Rooms — heard a song in the Shamrock & about
9, went to the Theatre, saw Fawcett in the
“Lady of Lyons” I remained at home to day
reading & writing. I wrote to Mother & enclosed
£5.0.0 in the letter, for her — her money is done
Im sure, ere now. I received a letter from my
Brother Ned; he is still on Ararat, but not
doing much, that is the reason he states for
not writing before this; my old mates are
still knocking about that neighbourhood. I
wish Ned was on Bendigo. Mother is very
anxious for us to be together
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297
Long Gully, Bendigo, August 1859
[1859-08-28-Sunday]
27th [28th] August — Weather very unsettled, but I
fancy its clearing up for Summer. Our employer
put us on wages this week (£3.0.0) each, they
also engaged 3 other men to assist us, we
have done nothing but bail water the whole
of the week, after working 2, 12 hours shifts
in the day, we tossed up, for the shift & we get
the day one — I dont like night work — we
beat the water once more — so next week I
suppose we shall resume our contract I
would much sooner be on regular wages
but that doesn't suit the claim holders ideas.
Dan, Hugh & I go on the night shift the
coming week — commence to night at
12 oclock — Went to the Dancing Class on
Monday & Thursday, could not go to my singing
owing to the rain — I went to Church at
Sandhurst this morning, called at Frazers
found a letter from Mother, she has received
a letter from Uncle Hartley (Halifax) he is
very indignant at the manner in which
my father left his family & Im afraid he
will wish a cool reception if he visits there
Jane Summers has got the Refreshment Rooms
at the Sunbury Station. Im afraid such an
occupation as she is likely to fill will not
tend to improve her, girls soon lose their
greatest charm (their modesty) in public places
such as Hotels, Restaurants Etc — She begs to be
kindly remembered Etc to me
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298
Hustlers Reef, Sandhurst, Sept. 1859
Long Gully Sept 1859
Sept 4th Miserable cold wet week, anything but pleasent working at night at the windlass what with the rain, wind & cold, the stone we have been driving through this week has been very hard — on paying our 3 mens wages £9.0.0 & the Blacksmiths Bill for picks, gads & drills sharpening, powder fuse Etc — we had about 5/. each to draw. Im quite disgusted with the affair if it doesn't get softer next week I dont intend doing any more at it — I went into Sandhurst last Monday afternoon had a cruize about met my foreign lady friend, went to her place for about an hour, she playd & sang me some pretty melodies. I missed my Dancing & Singing this week. Yesterday I went to see Faithey Bostock, some other merry devil of a woman was there, had a good romp & had to run for fear of getting my head broken from there I went to Sandhurst met Liza Marshall had a long chat with her, wanted to know why I never came to see them now explained the reason, became good friends & I promised to visit her this evening — I met some friends, we all went to the Shamrock came home by 12 oclock. This morning we had to go to our Shaft & bail water until noontime, spent the afternoon reading went to Church in the evening with Dave & Burchell, went to see Liza for a few minutes
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299
Hustlers Reef, Sandhurst, Sept. 1859
on leaving her, I met the two young Kings
Alick & John, the former is a nice chap
but rather fast, the other is clever, but Im
afraid will from present appearances turn
out when older a sad scamp. Alick has a
nice voice & is a member of our choir, along
with his sister, a nice little girl. I often go
to their house, they live close to the Church
Old Mr King I like well — he is gold smelter
in the Oriental Bank — we took a long
strool together, accompanied me nearly home
I wrote to mother last Monday & sent her £1.0.0 —
Sept 11th 1859 — Lovely weather for a change. We discharged our men yesterday & intend working it by ourselves if we do any more to the Hit or Miss Companies Claim we made small wages this week — the ground is still very hard, every particle has to be blasted out with powder. I heard to day the shareholders intend giving it up & getting the claim registered for awhile. I shall not be sorry to back out of our contract, for we are injuring our constitutions working at it we take 4 hours each down below & then come up to the surface & work at the Windlass the other 8 hours, its harder work than being below, but far more healthy. I went to my Dancing Class on Monday & Thursday night, had a little adventure, the latter night, about 10.30 I left the Room in company with a pretty Scotch girl to see home, she lived about 2 miles
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300
Hustlers Reef, Sandhurst, 1859-09-11
from Bendigo towards the Emu Creek (I didnt
know or I wouldnt have gone) we thought of
taking a near cut through the bush, but we
lost ourselves & at length tired & weary our
clothes in an awful state through pushing our
way through the bushes & high heather — I got
her home, she lives in a hut in a quiet little
gully in the hills, she opened the door very
quietly, & found her father sound asleep in
a chair, she put the clock back to 11 (it was
then 3. am (Friday) & awoke him, the old
man was sure it was after 11 before he fell
asleep, but of course she easily persuaded him
it wasnt any such thing — I started for home had
5 miles to walk — the day was breaking on
entering the tent. I didnt get to work the
until 9. am. & then wasnt fit to do any
work properly, my mates had sat down
by the road side until nearly 2 oclock
waiting for me — Friday went to the S. Class
after it was over Dan & Burchell & I went
to the Shamrock stayd there until 11.30 &
then came home — I went into Sandhurst
last night called at Frazers, got a long
letter from Hamilton, he is not doing much
I wrote to him & advised him to return
to Bendigo & attend to his interests here, his
claim is paying very well, but would pay
him better if he was working at it himself
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301
Hustlers Reef, Sandhurst
Burchell received a letter from the Maguires,
they are working on the Gt Western diggings
between Ararat & Pleasent Creek — only just
making a living, they state that my Brother
Ned is working about 5 miles from them
somewhere nr Moonlight Gully — I visited the
Lyceum Theatre, heard Thatcher, Mrs Oakey
& my old favorite Mdm Vitelli, the latter
is a charming little woman — the young chaps
on Bendigo are all in love with her. I of course
being susceptible & at a very susceptible age
must say ditto — women & girls play the
devil with me — make me keep late hours
or early ones I should say — I feel Im a
flirt – or else am so very
particular & fastidious in my taste that I
can never find one that seems to please
me wholly, for Im positive I never was
in love — Minnie Hooper I liked very
well but Im sure my feelings towards her
were anything but that of a passionate
lover — Jane Summers I like a little, but
I feel as if my vanity was the only thing
she seemed to affect — I should never go into
ecstasies about, her, beautiful as she is. I have
her likeness, there is an expression about her
features that seem to say, Im beautiful, I
know it — I like to be flatered, courted &
admired, & will be while I can, boast of a
charm. (If thats not her Ill suffer hanging)
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302
Hustlers Reef, Redan Reef, Sandhurst
This morning I had to go to Eaglehawk Gully
for our money, Sunday morning being the
usual, diggers, settling up time — I spent
the afternoon Reading a strange history of
Carthage, on the war between the Romans &
Carthagenians, the characters of the two great
generals Scipio & Hannibal are well portrayed
I went into Sandhurst this evening, & heard
a good sermon, afterwards took a long walk
with several members of our choir — about
10 when I got home —
[1859-09-18-Sunday] Sept 19th [18th] 1859. Lovely weather; we gave up our contract at the beginning of the week settled up on Tuesday night, the claimholders are not in a position to carry on the work any further, so we were out of work but on Thursday we took a contract, to sink a shaft 60 ft deep on the Redan Reef, we took Dave Anderson into partnership so there are now 4 of us mates — we put in 3 Tenders last evening for other contracts I think we shall get one out of the 3 — we commence with the one we have on Monday — Last Monday I went to the Lyceum Concert Room & heard some excellent singing. Tuesday night I went to the Shamrock Wednesday night remained at home reading until 11. pm. Thursday knocked about the gully called at several acquaintances tents. Friday I went to the Singing Class — took a pleasent walk along with two young ladies, on leaving them I went into
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303
Long Gully Bendigo 1859 (Sept)
the Shamrock for a short time. Yesterday afternoon
we all turned to & carried in a lot of firewood for the
coming week, about 4 pm dressed myself & went
into Sandhurst called at Frazers (where I get my letters
a/d) found a letter from Fred awaiting me, all well in
town. Jane S. has been in town again — On leaving
there I went to the Lyceum Theatre, heard Vitelli sing
some pretty ballads. I arose early this morning &
went into Sandhurst to Church — after the service was
over I met young Lockey had a long chat, 2 oclock when
I got home to the tent spent the afternoon reading
& in the evening went to Church again found I was very
late so did not go inside, went into Kings had a
yarn with the old folks — came home & have just
finished writing a note to Mother in which I enclosed
£5.0.0 for her — I wrote to Hamilton during the
week —
Sept 25th 1859 Lovely weather. Anderson & I commenced our contract on Monday, & by last night had sank it down 30 feet & slabbed it 15 ft. so we have done very well- Dan & Hugh have done nothing yet they have been looking out for a contract, they got one on Friday to sink a shaft 70 feet deep on the Sophia Reef — we had to buy a windlass & rope (£3.0.0.) before they could begin, which they purpose doing tomorrow so we ought to do well now for a short time. Last Monday I went to a Ball at the Town Hall (had a ticket sent me) enjoyed myself firstrate, sunrise next morning
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304
Redan Reef, Sandhurst, Sept. 1859
when I arrived home. Burchell very kindly took
my shift in the Shaft on Tuesday morning while
I went to bed, arose at dinner time & went to work
Remained at home every night till Friday, when I
as usual visited the Singing Class, on leaving it at
9. pm I went to Lyceum in company with Dan &
Dave Anderson, left about 10 & on our way home
in Commission Gully we fell in with anything but
a reputable lot, (some old neighbours) went to their
place & remained until nearly 1 next morning, eating
oysters & singing & dancing & kicking up a row
Left work at 5 pm yesterday, had tea & afterwards
went into Bendigo (or Sandhurst) visited several places
of amusement (on the cheap, I dont think anyone
sees more life than I do on so little money, I never
drink & am well known) Remained some time in
the Lyceum Theatre — came home with old Lockey
I went to Church this morning with him, had
dinner at a tent in Iron Bark Gully with Dick Day
called at Bostocks stayd an hour or so — came
home & wrote a letter to Fred & another to Mother
October 9th 1859. A fortnight since I wrote up
my journal — been hard at work with our contract
Dave & I have only 7 ft more to do. Hugh & Dan
I dont think will be able to make the other one
pay, the ground making a deal of water —
Last Sunday afternoon Alick King with his sister Mary
& another young lady paid us a visit & remained to
tea with us at the tent, the first time ever a female
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305
Redan Reef, Sandhurst, Sept. 1859
had a meal in my tent — we returned into
Sandhurst with them & went to Church, afterwards
Took a nice walk. I & Mary have always been very
good friends, my mate Hugh is very fond of her
but she hates the sight of him, he was at her
mothers on our return & was anything but amicable
he is a most infernal hypocrite, pretends to be very
religious, but I wasnt long in finding him out
during the time we lived together in our tent
Last Monday night I went into Sandhurst, met J.King, who informed me that Hugh had been saying a great deal to my disparagement, which rather annoyed me, so the following evening I went to the S.Class on purpose to see him. I called at Kings they were very cool to me — I accused Mrs K of it – & at length she told me that Hugh had warned her not to permit me to come to their house, or her daughter would soon be a prostitute. I could hardly contain myself with rage, for I can swear I never had an impure thought towards her or breathed an indelicate expression in her hearing I did not meet him that night, he sent a man to work in his place at the claim, but on Friday night I went into the Singing Class & met him, he wanted to avoid me but I got hold of him & exposed him & antecedents to all his acquaintances, & made him apologise to me & also to the Kings for his calumnies. I recvd a long letter from Hamilton yesterday he wants me to go with him to Melbourne at X mas I had a letter from Mother, no news by the late mail from England for us — she is
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| 2/23 |
306
Redan Reef, Sandhurst, Sept. 1859
getting very short of money & doesn't know how to
make things meet. Jane S. is living with her
she left her fathers place — because he married
her servant & took possession of her bedroom Etc
she is on the look-out for a situation, poor
girl Im very sorry for her, she has workd
& striven very hard to make money for her
father — & now to be the next thing of being turned
out of house & home, is really very hard —
I went to the Shamrock after leaving the S.Class it is discontinued for 3 months — Im very sorry for I was getting on nicely could read music a little & my voice has greatly improved since I have been under Mr. Hardy. Burchell is mates with us instead of Hugh Campbell, I went to Sandhurst yesterday came home early for a wonder. This morning I went to Church, got in early called for Alick King at the Bank — In the afternoon Lockey & I took a long walk to Eagle Hawk Gully, he stayd tea with us spent the evening writing a letter to Mother
October 30, 1859 It is 3 weeks since I continued my journal I am getting very negligent & careless — but its really not worth while the uninteresting Im continually filling my book with. In after life should I live & be in a different position perhaps the pages I write may though insignificant at present may be
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| 2/24 |
307
Redan Reef, Maiden Gully Sandhurst, Sept. 1859
a sort of reference if not of amusement, &
its become such a habit now that I could not
break it off very well. I feel it like a duty
tho a self imposed one — I am sure it has
been the means of improving me in many
ways & to a person wishing to improve & instruct
themselves will find it a great assistance.
I must try & recall to mind how the the time has passed or how I have spent it — We finished our contracts a fortnight ago and were out of work for a week afterwards. On drawing my money I wrote to Mother & sent her £5.0.0 — I bought a share in a Quartz Claim in Maiden Gully, there are 8 shareholders — we are sinking a shaft on the ground, it will cost us about £1.0.0 per week each to sink it, we let out the shaft sinking by contract, Dave & Burchell got it, we are not in partnership now — Dan & I are mates, we took a contract to sink a shaft out of Bendigo about 6 miles, on the Break of Day Reef, we are going to lodge & board at the Robinson Crusoe Hotel (Allens) & come home here once a week. I received a very affectionate [letter] from Jane Summers & another portrait — I had mine taken here & sent it her in return — she informs me that Hamilton is in town & making havoc with ladies hearts, flirting about every where
|
| 2/25 |
308
Break of Day Reef, Robinson Crusoe, Hotel, Sept. 1859
the little beggar has been telling her of my
flirtations here, & she intends being jealous
she is living at the Club Hotel St Kilda &
informs me she has any amount of beaus
& admirers — what a tantalizer she is,
she may have 10,000 for what I care. I
dispise coquettes. I got a long letter from
Fred, he informs me that my sister Mary
is very ill, & in the opinion of several that
she is in a decline. God forbid for she is
very dear to me. Im trying to make arragements
for her to come up here, the change
may do her good. Dan & I went out to
Break O.day last week, we like the place
very well, the claim is situated in the Bush
about a mile from the Hotel, there are
about a dozen quartz Reefers staying there
a nice lot of fellows. Mrs A. makes us very
comfortable, Mr A is a quiet gentlemanly
man, evidently been in a very different
to what he now occupies, he is a fine
musician & the best flutist I ever heard
they have also an excellent Library, so we
are very comfortable — Mr & Mrs Sexton
paid me a visit to day stayd tea, he
got a billet last week (they are people
that lived in the half of mothers house
in town, she referred them to me) I
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| 2/26 |
309
Break of Day Reef, Robinson Crusoe, Hotel, Sept. 1859
lent them some money a short while back
I wish they would return it, for Im getting
very short — I went to the Kings last night
Dan — Burchell — & I took Mary & some
other young ladies to the Theatre. I went to
Church this morning & evening — had tea at
Barclays took a strool about Sandhurst
got home here about 10 pm — In the after
noon I paid Mrs Hooper, (good old soul)
a visit — Mrs Hickey was there — wont be
long to judge from appearances ere she is
a mother — she looks very wretched poor girl
13th November 1859 — Another fortnight passed over my head. Im getting very irregular Our contract at Robinson Crusoe Gully, is not paying us — the first 15 ft was a nice soft rock but since, we have struck a body of granite we can hardly clear our expenses out of it. Its a delightful place to live. I love the bush, dont think I could ever settle in town the neighbourhood where we are working is very rough — a continual succession of steep hills covered with thick scrub & timber, snakes, Lizards abound here — worse than Sandy Creek — I think we have killed about a dozen snakes since we have lived there — I had a narrow escape on Friday from the bite of one — I was going
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Break of Day Reef, Robinson Crusoe, Hotel, Nov. 1859
after some slabs for our shaft, when I trod upon
a snake. I observed it instantly, I think before
my foot was upon it, for I gave a bound or
jump that eclipsed every jumper I ever saw
I could have fainted, to see the hateful thing
coil up round my ankle. I believe I was bitten, but
having on a pair of Wellington Boots fortunately
my life was spared — cursed things I do hate
them, a lion or tiger, generally gives some
sign of his approach, but a snake lies in the
grass, you dont know the moment when in the
bush you may be bitten, & ones end is sure & quick —
I received a letter from Mother last week, my brothers & sisters are all well, she received a long letter from Father by the last letter, he abused her for allowing me to send such letter as I did to my Uncle Henry. I merely informed him of the manner in which he left his family, he looks upon it as an exposure & is very wrath & states that our object has failed if we wished to prejudice Uncles mind against him & insinuated that I have ruined my future prospects by such a line of conduct. I dont much care for myself but my poor mother is accused of possessing a malignant & persecuting spirit — because she has spirit enough to let his relatives know her
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Break of Day Reef, Robinson Crusoe, Hotel, Nov. 1859
wrongs, she is very miserable at the accusation
so little deserved, with regard to expectations I have
been taught to look forward to, I look upon as
moonshine, Im not very sanguine about ever
receiving a penny, if it comes, right & well, if
not I shant know disappointment. God knows
Ive had enough of that in my life. — I received
a note from Fred, & one from Jane he writes
in anything but respectful terms of Jane — he
makes her out to be nothing but a flighty giddy
vain, proud coquette — & Im not to think anything
more of her — its very little I ever did — it affects
me very little. Im sorry she is such a fool —
My friend James Hamilton came up from
town & confirmed the report concerning Jane
Jim imagines Im in love with the girl, he
doesn't know me — I had her portrait on me at
the time. I stuck it upon a post & Jim & I
made a target of it for stones, we couldnt
hit it which so annoyed me that I dashed
it on the ground & it broke in a thousand
pieces & so ends that affair — I spent the
evening with Jim very pleasently — he is a
fine generous hearted young chap too good
natured for his own good, Im afraid. The
claims I have shares in are likely to be too
expensive for me to keep them on, there is no
retreat now. I must either continue on or else
forfeit what I have already spent on them
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| 2/29 |
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Isa King, Nov. 1859
[Sunday]
27th.November 1859 — Bendigo Victoria
Another fortnight passed; the weather has been
fearfully hot — we finished our contract yesterday
at Robinson Crusoe, the poorest job I ever
took in my life the last 30 feet being through
solid granite, it took every penny we earned
this last 3 weeks to pay for tools & powder –
my share or calls upon me for my claim
amounted to £6.0.0 & to pay these Ive had to
get into debt for my board — I could
borrow but I dont like — so Im pretty hard
up just now. Ive not wrote to mother the
last three weeks, not having any money to
send her. Im sure she must be greatly in
want of money, I cant think about it, I do
hope the claim Ive got shares in will soon
strike a pay able reef — I received a long
letter from my brother Fred about a week ago
the mail arrived from England but no news
from Father, mother has been expecting money
from him, I wasnt so sanguine — Last
Saturday week when I came into Sandhurst — I
spent the afternoon & evening at Campbells &
Kings — Mr Kings eldest daughter had just
arrived from Geelong where she has been residing
for a long time. I was introduced to her –
she is a very different girl from Mary,
she is very pretty, with lovely dark eyes
& curly black hair, & a perfect little needle
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Isa King, Nov. 1859
her manners (in my estimation) are
perfect, something so fascinating & irresistible
about her — that I experience emotions when in
her company, I never felt for mortal before
her image is ever before me. Ive been in
her company very often since & the more I
see of her the more I like her — I cant
make her out, there is a melancholy about her
that amounts to mystery. I cannot get or
find out where she's lived the last few years
& in what capacity — I cannot think theres
anything improper attached to her — although
it has been hinted at, by acquaintances of her
family — I was with her last night, Dan &
I took them out for a walk. Dan with Mary
& I with Isa — he was so cross at the arrangement.
Dan is in love with her (Isa I mean)
the night was lovely so we took a long
strool. I was astonished to find my companion
so well informed — that she was intelligent
I was sure — but without exception she is
the best educated woman it has been my fortune
to meet with. I spent this morning in
my tent reading, after dinner I walked
into Sandhurst — met Alick King, he invited
me to their place, made me welcome, he
& I, with his sisters took a cab & rode to
Kangaroo Flat, walked from there to the
Robinson Crusoe Hotel, Mrs Allen made us
very welcome & after a short rest walked
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| 2/31 |
314
Break of Day recommenced, Isa King, Nov. 1859
through to the bush to see the shaft Dan & I
sank on the Break of Day Reef, lowered Alick
down couldnt persuade the girls to go down
we had tea at Allens, it was a lovely night
we took our time walking to the Flat
beguiled it by singing Etc, discovered that
Miss K — possesses a beautiful sweet voice
nearly 10 pm when we reached their home
11 pm when I got to my tent, feel very
sleepy. I wrote to Hamilton this morning
he left Bendigo some time back for
Daisy Hill —
[Sunday, 4 December 1859] December 3rd [4th] 1859. The weather has been very hot 100º in the shade, Im burnt as black as a coal, the first four days of the week, Dan & I spent the time looking for work or a contract. Thursday night the shareholders of the Bk of day Reef offered us a £1.0.0 per foot if we would continue sinking their shaft, I dont think we can make wages under 30/- a foot. Dan thought otherwise, so in the hope of the ground getting softer, we accepted the offer — Im not in great hopes about making anything out of it, but perhaps its better than being idle We took out our tools & things on Friday morning &
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315
Break of Day, Isa King, Dec. 1859
worked there until yesterday afternoon
when as usual, we came into Sandhurst,
nearly all my leisure time has been
spent at Kings, in company with Isa
reading, conversing & taking pleasent moon-
-light walks, about the ranges surrounding
Bendigo. I think Im not disagreeable to
her — for my part I could live in her
company for ever, she is very superior
to myself — & also to any other member
of her family except her father — he &
she seem isolated from the rest, Mrs K. is
rather a vulgar coarse woman — but very
kind & goodnatured. This morning I spent
in the tent reading & writing. In The afternoon
visited several neighbours — After tea Burchell
& I walked into Sandhurst, went to the Kings
& got the girls out for a walk, Isa & I
together of course — much to the disgust
of several young chaps that are paying
(or would if allowed) a deal of attention to
them. We talked on a variety of subjects
I found her far better posted up than myself
on nearly everything we conversed about. I
have read a great deal the last 4 years
far more than she has — but she has an
excellent memory & very keen in her
conceptions & pretty correct in her judgement
Im more subtle in my reasonings, but
she is the most convincing It was late
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Break of Day, Isa King, Dec. 1859
when I got home — I received a long letter
from Fred yesterday — no news from home
no money — mother is poor spirits — Ive
not wrote to her for a long time, not having
anything to send her — she must think it
very cruel & undutiful of me — My
claims are still sucking me, no return,
nor do I see any chance of any. Ive
given up one share, that has cost me
over £50.0.0 since I first commenced it
[Sunday, 18 December 1859]
13th [18th] Decr.1859. Another fortnight
rolled by — similar to the last, we gave
up our contract yesterday, the ground got
harder than ever, we could not clear our
expenses. I owe for a weeks board where I
was living. I hope soon to pay it.
While I have been away at Break O day
Burchell with 3 others took a contract
on the Nelson Reef California Gully
to sink a shaft 60 foot deep — one of
them wanted to give up, but in doing
so would forfeit his back money, the
contract not being completed. I bought
or gave him the amount that would
be coming to him, so I will commence
tomorrow,) all being well. Ive not been
(or to night I should say, at 12 oclock)
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| 2/34 |
317
Nelson Shaft, Isa King, Dec. 1859
very well the last few days — where I have
been working there was a deal of foul air
which has affected my lungs. I am a little
better. Im very downhearted & miserable
at my long continued run of ill luck
if it was [not] for the consolation in the way
of sympathy I get from Isa King, I
would be truly wretched — she is so
kind & affectionate — I wonder how my
mother is getting on, she must be very
much in debt — I hear that if we
finish our contract in a satisfactory
manner, we are to be put on wages
I dont much like working for a “boss”
but I think constant regular wages
is preferable to what I have lately
been engaged at — Last night having
a free pass given me for the Theatre
I took Isa. Burchell was there with
another young lady, we enjoyed ourselves
very much — Spent to day reading
until the evening, when I called at
Kings Isa & I took a pleasent walk
sat on the grass in the Camp Reserve
till 10 pm — came home nearly 11 Pm
I hear Jim Hall — my mate we are just
going to work, being on the night shift
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| 2/35 |
318
Nelson Shaft, Jim Wedding, Dec. 1859
Long Gully Bendigo Jany 8st 1860
A fortnight since I last wrote, but how
differently spent from the previous one
I feel quite a different being from what I was
when I last wrote — I received a Telegram
from my friend Hamilton on the 20/12/59
informing me that he was going to be
married the following day or day after
& was very anxious for me to be present
I had not the price of the fare, but Uncle
who is somewhat indebted to me lent me
£10.0.0. I had just come from work at
daylight when I received it (the message) having been
at work all night, so Id no time to
lose — I got my things ready & in the
afternoon went into Sandhurst, had about
2 hours sleep, made my adieus, paid
my fare & left by the night coach
at 6.pm. the coach was crowded &
the night being sultry, I was stiff, tired &
sleepey on my arrival at Mother's house
the following morning at 6 am & ill
prepared to go to a wedding party —
I found all very well, tho’ all in bed
I was surprised, by seeing J.Summers
come into the parlour, she looked so
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| 2/36 |
319
117 Kerr St. Fitzroy, Jane Summers, Dec. 1859
beautiful, I was quite taken aback. I
soon recovered myself & was very cool
which seemed to hurt her terribly, we had a
long conversation together, she told me how
her father getting married left her without
home Etc, & she was only marrying
Edelman for the sake of one. I couldnt
but dispise her, a young beautiful girl
uniting herself to a man so
much older than herself & from what Ive
heard of him is a renegade Polish Jew
& anything but a man of principle
I went to see Jim about 10 oclock, took Jane with me, found him all right – just married by a Scotch clergyman Mr Odell in the house — ive promised to return there in the afternoon, on our return home Jane told me she would never have been engaged, but she heard I was going to be married to some girl on Bendg now I have heard that she was engaged previous to my acquaintance with Isa I was strangely situated, loving Isa & hearing Jane swearing how dear I was to her Etc, on my arrival home I found my sister Mary just returned from Sunbury where she had been spending a few days on a visit at McDougalls
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| 2/37 |
320
117 Kerr St. Fitzroy, Dec. 1859
after dinner Mary, Jane & I returned to
Jims place. It is needless to relate how
we spent the time, as usual upon such
occasions very jolly, he had hired a fine
large Ball Room at an hotel next door
so we had plenty of dancing, singing
fun & I believe everyone enjoyed themselves
Mrs Hamilton is really a nice girl, for
that is all she is, her maiden name
was Kennedy, she is about 16 years of age
but looks older, I hope they will be
happy, for Jim deserves to be – he, *in the
course of the evening, insisted upon me
receiving a £5.0.0 note, to pay my
Coach fare up & down, he would have
sent it me for that purpose, but had
not time. Im to pay him it back when
I have £500 ayear, heaven grant it
wont be long ere Im out of his debt,
It was daylight when we arrived home
next morning. Id not slept for 3 days
so I didnt rise until the afternoon
Christmas Eve I went to the Exhibition Building with Mary & heard the Messiah sang in grand style. Farquharson – Coulon, Sara Flowers, Carandina being the principal vocalists, next day was
|
| 2/38 |
321
117 Kerr St. Fitzroy, Nelson Shaft, Dec. 1859
Sunday, went to St. Kilda. with some ladies
in the afternoon — St Peters in the evening
knocked about with Hamilton my spare time
on Monday, & for the short stay I had
I saw a great deal of life. Bid adieu to
Melbourne & those so dear to me in it
on Tuesday morning, the weather was
intensely hot, the coach was crowded, I had
a fat woman sitting in my lap for
some 5 hours, no joke, arrived on Sandhurst
at 8 pm in another hours time was in
my own miserable tent, however I had
a good welcome given me by those in it.
I spent the following day in the tent, asleep in the afternoon I went to work at night being my night shift, next day Thursday I went to see Isa, she was very glad to see me but thought I ought to have called the day before -, I spent my spare time with her ever since. Last Monday the 1st Jan 1860 the first Caledonian Gathering on Bendigo took place in the Camp Reserve. I went into Sandhurst & called for Isa, spent the day with her witnessing the sports, we went to the Theatre in the evening, it was very hot & we were very sleepy having been up all the night before, seeing the old year out & the new one in, on leaving the
|
| 2/39 |
322
Hamilton and Wife, Ironbark, Jan. 1860
about 10 pm we took a walk sat down for
a while until we nearly fell asleep — it was 2 am
Tuesday when I got home — I found my
brother Ned here, having just walked up
from Melbourne, where he had arrived from
Ararat the day before I left — Thursday –
Friday & Saturday night — I visited Sandhurst —
Sunday, a good boy remained at home reading
Im taxing my memory considerably to day
& still Ive another week to account for — last
Thursday night I went to the Lyceum Theatre
saw Mr & Mrs Fred Younger & Mungall play.
Jim Hamilton & his wife arrived on Sandhurst
on Friday. I was to have met them last night
at Frazers the Bakers, but I couldnt keep
my appointment until it was too late. I saw
Jim in the morning he was very glad to see
me — I called at Frazers last night, took
a strool with Young Lockey — saw a storm
coming on & thinking I could get to my tent
before it came on I started, but when
I got to Iron Bark Gully, the rain came
down in torrents I was drenched to the skin
before I got into shelter, did me no good
for Ive been suffering from a cold & a quinsy
in my throat the last few days, which
annoys me greatly, for I have such a job
to swallow anything. I spent to day
writing, but under difficulties, our tent
|
| 2/40 |
323
Ironbark, Nelson contract ended, Jan. 1860
being swarmed with visitors, at present there
are no less than fourteen in it — some sitting on
buckets turned upside down on the ground –
my tent seems a rendezvous for all the idlers
about the gully. I intend putting a stop to
it — We finished our Contract on the Nelson
Reef last Friday, but owing to the Manager
being away in Melbourne we have not been
paid yet. I hope we shall get on, on wages
for the future. I am getting sick of contract
work its so very hard to get a party of good
working chaps together. I have just heard
that Jane is to be married next week to Edelman
& feel rather jealous & yet I ought not to be,
for she is a girl I never would have married
I liked her very much, & perhaps if Id never
known Isa King would have loved her, for
when I was in town, very little would
have made her leave, E, she wanted to come
to Bendigo with me & perhaps if I had had
the money I should have brought her up
a good job I think I had not — for I would
have disgraced her & myself too, how affectionate
she laid in my arms & showered kisses on me
its the thought of those moments that bring a
pang of jealousy — well its all over now –
our acquaintance was brief I was only in her
company a few times & yet was as intimate as
if I was living with her for
years! (a sensual passion nothing more &
the more easy to shake off-)
|
| 2/41 |
324
[1860-01-15 Sunday]
Long Gully Bendigo Jany 16 1860
Weather very hot. We got our money all
right last Tuesday & went on to work on
wages £3.10.0 per week, but last night
(Saturday) we all got discharged. It appears
the late manager Mr Anderson, had employed
a number of his friends to work the mine
the new Manager Mr Froggart, found
a great many of the hands were useless
ones, many who had never had a tool in
their hands before so to get rid of them
he commenced by discharging all hands
I think that is the reason, for he will
have to employ some to keep the ground
so I hope to get on again next week
for I was specially recommended to him
as a good workman — heaven knows I
have had experience enough in practical
gold mining — I wrote to mother on
Tuesday & sent her a pound Stg- all
I could spare — my brother Ned is
living with me, he is not doing any
thing yet — Uncle received a letter
from mother yesterday, stating that she
had heard from Aunt Hartley by the
last mail from England — who informs
her that my father had been in
|
| 2/42 |
325
Long Gully, January 1860
Halifax, but had not called on them — very
strange. I suppose he had a presentiment of
the reception he would have received if he had
done so — some relation is dead who has left
Uncle & Mother about £15.0.0 each
it will come out in the course of a few
months — it will be very acceptable tho
so small a sum — There was a PS to her
letter for me stating that Jane Summers
was married yesterday week to Edelman
heaven grant she may be happy, tho I
see clouds hovering over her future I know
for a fact that he is at this moment
an insolvent — & is only marrying her
so that she cant give her evidence in
a case of arson — it appears Jane
was living at a hotel in St Kilda
belonging to him, that was insured
very high, she saw him or his *man
setting fire to the place, for the sake
of the insurance, the trial takes
place shortly, & from what I can learn
Edelman will lose the case — & I also
hear he has another wife living, &
has a family somewhere, so putting
one thing to another it doesn't look very
bright for her in the future, however
she has been warned sufficiently
|
| 2/43 |
326
Long Gully, January 1860
My sister Mary was her bridesmaid & is
spending a week with her. Thursday night
I went to the Theatre, heard some good singing
I went last night & took Isa King — we
spent a very pleasent evening together —
Rose early this morning read a great deal
until dinner time, when Alick King came
out to see us, & spent the afternoon here
After tea Burchell, Alick, Ned & I walkd
into Sandhurst called at Kings, had an
hours quiet chat with Isa under the
verandah alone — Dan was there looking
as jealous as the devil, he likes Isa.
I did not get home till late — I wrote
a long letter to my father yesterday
enquiring whether he had forgotten or
ceased to take an interest in his family
its a very painful duty for a child
to have to write to his parent in the
spirit I was obliged to do — There is
a large rush about 50 miles from here
at Lamplough, great numbers are
flocking there — Harry, Alick King,
L Frazer, & my brother Ned purpose
going there in the morning, they are
preparing their swags for the journey
I dont envy them, no joke travelling
such fearful hot weather as it is
|
| 2/44 |
327
Long Gully Bendigo Jany 22/60
The weather has been very hot during the past
few days, the thermometer being as high
on several occasions as 115º in the shade
two men dropped down dead, sun struck –
Im positively melting away. I got on to
work again in the Nelson Reef Co. on Wedny
on the night shift & 3 wretched shifts
they were the days being so hot that
it was impossible to get any sleep &
have to work at night is very trying to
the constitution. I received a letter from Mother
last Monday, all well — enclosed in it was
a printed effusion of some rymster the subject
being the adventures of the Maid of the Merry
Jig -the name of the place Jane Summers
lived at for some time on Sunbury, it is a
most scandalous thing, enough to shock any
virtuous mind to read, bad as Jane is, she
doesn't deserve caluminating in such a manner
I wonder who composed it, I suppose one of
her old rejected suitors — Burchell & I went
to the Theatre the same night & enjoyed
ourselves very much, my shift ended yesterday
morning at 7.am. I tried to get some
sleep but found it impossible, it was so hot
In the afternoon I went into Sandhurst called at Kings, they had just received a letter from Alick, stating they had just arrived on Lamplough – all right, but could get no opinion about the rush
|
| 2/45 |
328
Long Gully, January 1860
for a few days, they had *seen many friends
who spoke highly of the place. I trust
they will be fortunate — I had tea with
the Kings, & afterwards Isa & I went to the
Theatre, we didnt enjoy ourselves much it
was so like an oven — I saw her home
& on leaving her I walked through the Camp
Reserve & being very tired I sat on the grass
& fell asleep. I suppose it was about 12 oclock
I awoke this morning & found a policeman
standing over me & my little dog, barking
most furiously, the man thought Id been
drunk over night & from the Police
quarters he had noticed me lying down. I
was cross with him awaking me. I was
enjoying a luxury unusual for some time
past, a sound sleep — he invited me to the
Camp, they were sitting down to breakfast
& invited me to partake of some. It was
very kind — I felt very much refreshed
afterwards. I sent one away for half a
gallon of ale which pleased them as much as
there coffee did me — I got home about 10
this morning, after dinner Burchell & I
went to Joe Deans tent this afternoon he
came home with us & had tea, I called at
Frazers (Long Gully), had a chat with them
came home & wrote to Edward. I wrote to
to Mother on Friday & sent her a pound
Stg. I hope if I continue in constant
|
| 2/46 |
329
Long Gully, Nelson Reef California Gully January 1860
work to be able to send her something
regular for the future — my shares in three
claims Ive had to give up, after costing me
about £150.0.0 since I commenced them
I have still one share left, but I have very
little hope of it ever doing me any good
it costs me about 12/. per week to keep it.
Im now 8 years on the diggins, it appears 18 to me & yet how short my life has been, what trials I have endured & what scenes & changes Ive witnessed it seems like a dream, but for the many stern realities connected with it. Im just ten years in Australia, there were about 40,000 people in Victoria when I first came into it & now theres between five & 600,000, what a contrast, where Sandhurst now stands I remember when it was a forest with hardly a soul near it for 20 miles, since that time what tons of gold have been taken away from it & I no better for it all — Curse upon gold digging I say. I wish gold had never been found in it — I went to see Mr & Mrs Hamilton last Tuesday & spent a very pleasent evening with them
29th Jany 1860. Lovely weather the past week, quite a nice change — Ive been at work on the Nelson Reef at £3. 10.0 per week, but unfortunately the wages are to be lowered after this date to
|
| 2/47 |
330
Nelson Reef California Gully January 1860
£3.0.0 per week, eight hands were discharged
because they would not accept the reduced
rate — I thought I would [not], but I find the
N.R.Co. is not the only one that are lowering
the pay, so I intend to go on at it tomorrow
morning. I wrote to Mother last Monday
& sent her £1.0.0 , received an answer yesterday
all well, she has moved into another house,
more rent, but better situated, she is going
to let one room — & Mary has commenced a
school, attached to the house — I hope she will
be prosperous in her undertaking. I cannot
but admire her courage in making such
an attempt at her age. I think she is just
turned 15, she wants some money to fit
the room up with forms & desks Etc. I wish
I had some to send her, but unfortunately
I have not. I went into Sandhurst Thursday
night, met Miss Scott, took a long walk
with her, I went last night, called at Kings
they have received another note from Lamplough
stating that Alick has been laid up with
dysentry & that they all think of returning
soon as possible, Isa & I went to the Theatre
met Burchell there came home together
I have spent the day reading & making
another attempt with my school books —
Burchell & Hooper have just gone to Church
so I shall have a quiet evening alone
[Monday 30th January 1860] Monday morning 6 am. I had just finished writing last night
|
| 2/48 |
331
Nelson Reef California Gully January 1860
when who should pop in, but Alick King
& Lockey the elder) tired, & footsore, & looking
miserable & haggard after their journey. My
brother Ned & couzin Harry they left some
twenty miles behind, Harry being knocked up
they left Lamplough in disgust on Friday
morning — they have had some hard times
since they left, having very little money
& not getting any gold — & the weather being
so very hot — I went into Sandhurst with
Alick, remained an hour there, fell in
with Burchell came home & found Ned &
Harry just arrived & boiling the billy for
some tea — poor devils they look wretched
after their tramp — I know what it is
knocking about & travelling under a hot
sun with a heavy swag — & many times
with a hungry belly — I thought little
of it at the time, but I fancy I could
not go through so many hardships again, its
well we dont know whats in store for us —
Im cook this morning, & while the Billy
has been boiling Ive been writing, so now
breakfast — & then to commence work
7.am — I begin /, have one hour for dinner
& work until 6.Pm — 10 hours work aday
& it is hard work under ground, working
with a heavy hammer & gads & pick &
shovels, I dont think its healthy, what
with the dust & the smoke from the
powder, in a hole 200 feet deep —
|
| 2/49 |
332
Long Gully February 5th 1860
Lovely weather — Still at work on the Nelson
3 days underground & the other 3 at the
windlass — we have been getting out some
very rich quartz, about 20 Tons which
yielded over 1,000 oz — it was only a
small spur, & is worked or run out
they purpose erecting extensive machinery
shortly — & I believe only intend keeping on
about a dozen hands just to make a large
dam & to assist, in the Engines action
about 20 hands were paid off last night
I wish I could get constant work elsewhere
for the Manager Mr Froggart is a
regular little tyrant, & bullies everyone
he has spared me so far; with the exception
of some insinuations I overheard that was
meant for my mates & I, which didnt
affect me much — My tentmate Burchell
took very ill at the beginning of the week
with Rheumatic Fever — poor fellow he is
as helpless as a child, cannot hold a bit
of bread between his fingers Harry & I
have to feed him like a baby, he is
suffering the most excruciating agony
I dont know what we should do, if
it wasnt for the kindness of Mrs Hooper
& Mrs Forbes who are always bringing
him something nice & waiting upon
him during my Brother & mines absence
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one woman is worth fifty men, where theres
sickness. I hope he will soon recover — its
very miserable having any one sick in such
a place as a tent, he wants to go to the
hospital, but I dont like the idea, we'll see
how he gets on next week. Ned has been
at work with Uncle Charles (who lives along
side in a tent with Harry) the last week
but with poor success, didnt get enough
to pay for his food — so it falls heavy on
me having to keep all — I went to Sandhurst
last night — saw Isa spent a couple of
hours very happily with her — This morning
we had the tent full of visitors, bad luck
to them I say — Dave & I went to see the
Drews in California Gully, they keep a
Restaurant there — Ive known George Drew
a very long time — his wife is a nice woman
I left them & went alone to Mrs Hoopers
found Mrs Hickey there, she has been
confined, got a fine little girl, they were
very glad to see me, Minnie looks 5
years older since her wedding & has such
a melancholy sad appearance — that doesn't
speak well for her happiness. I had
tea with them & didnt leave till late
so now for bed — bed did I say. Im
sleeping on the ground since Ned
returned, & to make things worse I
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have no bed clothes, but an old coat & a
ponsho — my Blankets I left at Allens
& owing them about 30/. I dont like to
go for them until I can pay my debt
Dan I hear had no such scruples but
brought them on his own away yesterday
Its fortunate its hot weather so I dont
miss them much. Last Thursday was
my 21st Birthday — what a brilliant
fortune Ive inherited. I spent the evening
at Drews, singing & dancing Etc —
Feb 12th 1860. Weather very hot. Been working very hard, making a dam, the work is very hard, wheeling barrows half the day, the other pick & shovelling my shoulder, arms, & face are burnt black I feel it much being so accustomed to work underground lately, Mr Froggart & I have had several tiffs, he has seemed to pick upon me, as a butt, but I opened his eyes, when I told him I knew the way the work should be done better than he did Etc — I could teach him his work — I expect Ill get the sack. I dont care I shall get more elsewhere. Ill remain as long as possible if only to annoy him. I dont think he ever had men working for him that speaks to him as I do, the other men fawn & submit
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to everything he likes to dictate. I suppose
its owing to them being married & knowing
work is hard to obtain just now. I went
into Sandhurst last Monday night for
medicine for Burchell, called on Mrs Hooper
who kindly made up the liniment & lotion
he requires — he is still helpless but I
fancy doesn't suffer so much pain as he did
the women neighbours continue to visit
him & bring him little niceties, that we
cannot procure, or cook, such as nice
gruel — chicken, broth Etc — what a
ministering spirit heaven has endowed women
with. — I receivd a letter from Mother yesterday
all well, no news by the Mail, but some
pencil marks in a newspaper informing us
that father was in Manchester — doesn't state
what he is doing — I dont think he takes
much interest in his family, or he would
write to us a little oftener. Ned is doing nothing
yet, he & Uncle are working together they
made 14/- each last week. I went to Kings
on Thursday night — also on Friday, called
at Frazers, from there went to the Shamrock
didnt get home until 12 oclock, spent a
jolly evening altogether — Hamilton & his wife
went to town last week I heard from him
during the week he purposes returning next
week. Burchell heard from Bob Maguire
he has quite recovered from his illness &
is at work on Ararat doing well — my
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old mates are still in that neighbourhood
Last night I spent at G.Drews, drank a
lot of Cyder which gave me the gripes
Ive been suffering great pain ever since
Ned went for some brandy & cayenne which
I took & Im glad to state Im better now
I wrote to mother this evening & sent her £1.0.0 I saved it out of my last pay I could ill spare it as Im now situated my credit at the butchers & bakers fortunately good or I dont know what we should do for my wages are always spent before their earned —
19th February 1860. Beautiful weather Still at work at the same job. I was paid last night had very little left after paying my debts — Burchell I am happy to state is much better he is able to knock about a little, but is very weak & thin — I went into Sandhurst on Tuesday night, saw Holloway play “Belphegor” called at Kings saw Isa for a few minutes — promised to see her on Thursday night — when we took a long walk — it was a lovely night, & I enjoyed her company very much, our theme being what constituted happiness in mankind, a simple
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subject, but one when gone into is very
interesting Isa must have read or else
thought & observed a great deal in her life
she is very intelligent or else Im very
ignorant & my knowledge so limited that
I form an estimate of her intellect from mine
Last night we went to the Theatre together heard L.Thomas — the harpist I never listened to anything more beautiful it was late when I got home — I have been reading a Book called Lions, living & dead, it gives a good description of celebrated characters, chiefly literary, contains a small review of their principal works. I find it very interesting — I was surprised at about 2 pm to day by Isa & Mary King with their brother Alickcalling here. I felt so ashamed at having only a poor tent to invite them into, however they hadnt expected anything else, they very soon made themselves at home — Isa bustled about & made an impromptu dinner I had to go into neighbours tents & borrow plates (tin) knives & pannikins Etc a stranger would have laughed to have seen two nicely dressed young ladies & us dirty rough diggers sitting
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anywhere we could on the stretchers eating
what I called a good dinner, but they I
suppose, considered a pigs mess, however
they appeared to enjoy the novelty as
it must be to them — they remained
to tea after spending a most jolly Sunday
afternoon — we had a walk about the
hills & gullies — showing them the
diggings & how the gold was extracted
Ned & I accompanied them into Sandhurst
didnt stay long there, got back by 9 p.m
& wrote a letter to mother in which I
enclosed £1.0.0., I received a letter from
her yesterday that put me in very
poor spirits, she is in great poverty, had
to pawn her watch. She is very
bitter, thinks it very hard that having
three sons, she is not above want
Ned feels it very acutely, poor chap he is
rather downhearted, doing nothing — how
different we might have been if my father
had but done his duty to his sons & taught
or gave us either a trade or an education
not one of us is fit for anything but hard
work, if we take a situation it can be
but a menial one, & we are all possessed
of a spirit above accepting such an one
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I would if circumstances permitted it go
now & learn a trade, but as mother is
situated I cant — I must make money some
way or another in order to assist her. I
did think Ned would have been spared
the feelings I experience — I, years ago offered
to pay for him being educated & sent money
to Adelaide for that purpose, but it was
put to other uses — I wish him now to
endeavour to improve himself & go & learn
a trade he is not more than 18, but he has
knocked about so much the last few years
that his mind & inclination is against
making the attempt — there are some
people possessed of good abilities that might
become clever if so disposed, but not
gifted with energy or application sufficient
to be so, my brother is one of that sort
naturally talented & quick, but wanted
developing when young. A time will come
when he will have wished he had taken
my advice. Ive worked very hard the past
year or so, & under difficulties such
as few have experienced to improve myself
& fit me if ever the opportunity occurs
for something better than a diggers life
Mother states that a person called upon her who has just come from England & seems to know our family
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P.56
affairs, he sais that he knows my father
who informed him, that he (my father)
had visited my Uncle Joseph, who refused
to let him have a penny more than what
he has the control over & threatens if he is
pressed that it will [be] the worse for us
boys — & hinted as much that he purposed
leaving his money to us — it appears
Uncle Joe has certain monies that other
deceased Uncles of mine left, which monies
he has invested for his own interests, my
father wishes his share of them, but
the miser didn’t like parting with it &
father doesnt want to press him, fearing
to injure our prospects — he promises
to write by the next Mail & let us know all
particulars — I trust he will — its time I
was in bed, after 12 & I have to rise at 6.
26 February 1860. Weather very hot we finished the dam about the middle of the week — since that time Ive been working at the windlass, hard work this hot weather —
Burchell is getting all right — Ive had a deal of unpleasentness with Uncle, this week — he received some money from Adelaide, & has been on the spree ever since, during one of his drunken fits he slit my tent, & cut down all the nice saplings around it. I was very sorry for they made the tent
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so nice & cool. I remonstrated with him &
he was very insulting said many bitter
things about me & my family. I could
hardly keep my hands from striking him –
but for somebody being near I should have
done so, he had the audacity to claim my
tent, which Harry & I put up while he was
in Adelaide — & on his return I bought out
Harrys share of it, because he wished to
live with his father — he never liked me
for when a boy I would never knuckle to
him, & once he struck me, so I shall never
respect him & he knows Im too manly to
strike him now, he came into my tent abusing
me the other day & I bundled him out, by
the shoulders with the assistance of my knees
I went to the Theatre on Tuesday night saw the “Honeymoon” played. Thursday I went to Kings found Isa very ill in bed laid up from the effects of a cold accompanied by a fever — I was very much grieved she was delirious & didnt know me for some time — Ive called every night since, she is much better, Im happy to state I found her to night sitting up in the parlour — but looking very pale — I spent a couple of hours with her, reading — I was at the Theatre a short time last night — Hamilton called on me this morning, he was in poor spirits his claim is not turning out anything just now, & the weekly
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58.
outlay per share is about £7.0.0. a very
considerable sum & no returns. I went into
Sandhurst with him. Mrs H. is looking
firstrate. I had dinner & tea with them
after which I went to Kings — I receivd a
letter from Mother, all well — she informs
me that a friend of hers a Mr Dewer
who is in the Murray Navigation Co.is going
to interest himself on my behalf & endeavour
to get me a situation in the same employ
I trust he will do so, I wish to cut this
life. Mr Froggart & I have had several
wordy battles. I dont think Ill remain
long in the Nelson Reef Co. unless theres
some change — I met Lockey the Younger on
Friday night he had just returned from town
called several times at my mothers house
saw Mrs Edelman, they had a long chat
about me — Lockey knows nothing about our
amour — but he gathered from her enough
to know how we were situated to each other
so I got pretty well riled about her from him
March 4th 1860 Still very hot weather had a thunder storm on Friday & continued raining until last night. I lost 2 days work through it just £1.0.0. out of my pocket, spent every night this week at home reading & learning my lessons Etc — I went into Sandhurst last night
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Nelson Reef, California Gully March 1860
called for Isa, took a long [walk] together — visited
Hamiltons & introduced her to them — spent
about an hour there conversing about one
thing & another — it was late when I got
home — This afternoon I went to see Enniss
met Lockey the Elder, went with him into
Sandhurst called at his Uncles the Baker –
had tea there — went in to see the Grandmother
next door — poor old lady she has been
confined to her bed the last 16 weeks —
March 11th 1860 — Lovely weather the last few days — I received my wages last Monday. I wrote to mother at once & sent her £1.0.0. — I received no answer yet, perhaps she is waiting the arrival of the mail I hear its Telegraphed. Macauley the historian is dead, also Captain Harrison of the Gt Eastern I went into Sandhurst on Tuesday night called at Kings, their house joins the Scotch School Room, there was a grand Concert in it, tickets 5/. each — we didnt honour it with our presence, but took an outside ticket, which cost us nothing, the window being open — we heard as well as if we had been inside, & Im sure we were far happier — she is a dear good girl, so very kind & pleasent — I never met anyone I liked so well in my life. I wonder if
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60.
she cares for me. I dont think Im very
objectionable to her — for she always prefers
my company to any one else, whenever
I go to their place — she is very frank &
agreeable to me except upon one subject &
that is about two years of her life before
her arrival on Bendigo. I cannot imagine
anything improper connected with her
but there are those uncharitable enough
to hint as much to me — & when I
challenge them are very quiet, & know
nothing. Ill find out sometime or
another — I met Mrs Hickey & her mother
one night in California Gully, Minnie
looks so wretched. I returned with Mrs
Hooper who told me a long story about
Hickey, about his manners Etc, & the
manner he treats her, she is very sorry
she allowed the wedding to take place
March 18th 1860. Had very indifferent weather the past week. I lost the first three days in consequence of an accident I met with. I was under a bank of earth working, pick in hand, when a lump of ground broke away & striking the pick drove it into my foot, Im afraid it will be a long time before its better, tho I dont
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intend losing any more time if I can possibly
help -it — I lost yesterday owing to the rain –
so I did not have much money to draw last
night, we finished the job at the dam, &
all hands were discharged. I was not sorry
for I shant be long ere I get another billet
& perhaps a better master — I dont know how
it is this last few days Mr Froggart has
been very civil & in fact taken quite a
liking to me, if there was anything he
wanted doing particular & well, he sends me
about it, strange — for we were always
at loggerheads until lately — I let him see
he couldnt bully me like the others & he
respects me the more for it — I was the last
he paid & in doing so told me that if I
would come up on Monday morning he would
try & find me constant work until the
machinery came up & the work commenced
in earnest, very good of him, I was astonished.
I have read a deal during the past week
Hudibras, Tassos’ “Jerusalem Delivered”, & a strange
old book without a title page, about the
Goths & Huns — I have been reading in the
way of light literature, alternately Dickens
Bulwer — Disraeli & Walter Scott, I used to like
the latter best, sometime back, but I like
Dickens now, there is too much philosophy in
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62.
& abstuse speculation in Bulwer for my mind
to fully enter into, in its present unculterated
state. I think Disraeli is too artificial, there
seems a desire in his writings to please two
classes, I have just finished, Sybil but there
is a work by Thackeray – “Vanity Fair”, that I was
delighted with such an easy racy style & full
of fun & good sense its written in — Tuesday
afternoon I went into Sandhurst, called at
Hamiltons Photographic Rooms, had my portrait
taken on closing for the day I accompanied
Jim home, Mrs H. insisted upon me staying
tea — I did so & spent a pleasent evening
with them. Wednesday night I called at
Kings saw Isa remained with her about an
hour — went to Hamiltons. I went into Sht.
last night called at the P.O. received a letter
from Fred, all well at home, he states that
Mother had received two letters from England
one from Father, who has commenced business
in Manchester, as a Silk Manufacturer, he
anticipates being in a position to send for
his family in the course of another year. I
trust he will be successful in his endeavours
to retrieve his fallen fortune, the other
letter was from mothers relatives & contained
an account [of] my Couzin Chambers death
through Consumption, poor fellow I remember
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him so well — he was his mothers pride, she
will be sadly cut up, her other son Charles Bryar
is very wild I hear & does very little for her —
I called at Kings, Isa & I took a pleasent walk together — Edward is still doing nothing poor chap he is getting quite downhearted he only made about 15/. last week — he intends looking for work next week at some of the claims
[Saturday, 24 March 1860] March 24th 1860 Nice weather, Mr. F sent for me on Monday morning. Im to do just whatever I like about the works, Im left entirely to my own judgement
My brother Im happy to state got employment at the Engine Shaft at present being sunk by Contract (Nelson Reef
Monday night I went into Sandhurst called for Isa went to the Theatre, together nearly 1 oclock when I got her home — I afterwards met some young men (acquaintances joined & visited some cursed place, where we found a lot of girls, two of them were beautiful & under different circumstances would be worshipped by lovers of female beauty I left them about 3 oclock the remainder stay’d there — company I dont care much about — I overslept myself the next morning & lost ¼ of a days work in
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Nelson Reef, California Gully March 1860
64.
consequence. I received a letter from mother
my sister Mary she states is far from
being well — imagines she is in a
consumption, God forbid — she writes in
very desponding terms about their Circumstance
I answered it & enclosed £1.0.0 in the letter,
It will be acceptable. I was unable to send
her any money last week, losing 4 days.
I have been reading Nicholas Nickleby —
I like it very much. I received another letter
to day from mother, informs me that Fred
is very ill. I went into Sandhurst this
evening, called at Kings, did not remain long
went to the Theatre for a short time, got
home early, & now for bed, or I should say
the floor for bed I have none. I filled a
sack with dry leaves & sleep upon it, my
covering being an old cloak & coat. I hope
in a fortnights time to be able to go out
to “Break of Day” & get my bedding out
of pawn.
[Tuesday, 27 March 1860]
26th March 1860. Last Sunday afternoon I
went up to Mrs Hoopers — Mrs Hickey was
there, looks 10 years older than she did
on her wedding day. After tea Bobby
Hooper & I went into Sandhurst, visitd
the Church of England, on leaving after
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Nelson Reef, California Gully March 1860
the service we went to the Kings, found
Burchell & my Brother Ned there, while
sitting talking, Mary King came in crying
on enquiring the reason, she stated that
Hugh Campbell had met her — & wanted to
kiss & take liberties with her. I was very Cross
& said if she was a sister of mine Id give him
something he didnt bargain for or words
to that effect, her brother Alick was there
who admitted he hadnt courage sufficient
to resent it — Isa & I walked out into the
Verandah I filled my pipe & seeing a light
in John Nevins tent (situated about 20 feet )
from Kings) I left her to get a light for my
pipe, on entering the tent I found Hugh Campbell
lying on the stretcher, he made an attempt
to be friendly, held out his hand, I began to
remonstrate with him, he got very insolent
& while I was in act of lighting my pipe
he in a most cowardly manner, rushed
upon me & struck me in the face my pipe
stem going nearly down my throat. I soon recovered
myself & getting him on my hips I lifted him
on his stretcher, with one hand I held him
by the jaw & with the other I commenced
giving him something he didnt relish I
unfortunately hadnt struck him more
than twice, when my old mate Dan (who
is at present mates with Hugh) rushed
in along with, John & James Campbell
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Nelson Reef, California Gully March 1860
66.
Dan got behind me & held my arms fast
while Jim Campbell tried to strangle me by squeezing
my neck. I was powerless, in the hands of
I believe the three strongest men on Bendigo
however I wouldnt let go my hold of Hughs
jaw with one hand & his hair with my other
I could not hollow out, however Isa heard
a struggle & knowing I was in the tent rushed
to see what the matter was — the wretchs
had blown the candle out, & were doing
their work very quietly. I remembered no
more, but on recovering my senses, I found
myself supported by Isa & Ned — It appears
they locked the hut or tent door & no one could
get in, my brother Ned smashed the window
but could not assist me all being so dark
Isa took a candle & set fire to the place
which caused them to let go of me. Lockey
Frazer & Alick never helped a hand — the curs
the former hadnt time he says to get off
his Sunday Coat & Vest — the latter did
do better, for on Hugh being got out of my
hands he rolled into him & gave him the
hiding I had commenced — I was very
illused, my left shoulder was put out, & my
body & head are covered with bruises & torn with
the nails in their boots. I did not feel
hurt on recovering my senses (at the time)
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my blood was up & If I had not been kept
back I should have done somebody an injury
I with great difficulty got home, about
half anhour afterwards. Isa & Alick came out
to see me, a nice object I was, my clothes
torn into shreds — they state that Hugh
has both eyes bunged up & looks anything
but handsome, Ill pay the lot out for their
nights work — Ive heard since that one of
them heard me make the remark through
the window, when Mary came in, & they had
been prepared for me — Dan is no friend
of mine, there has been an ill-feeling on his
side towards me in consequence of Isa’s preference
to me — I wrote a letter to Mother on
Sunday & enclosed £1.10.0 in it, Burchell
posted it to day, this morning I got my
bruises doctored up, I dont think Ill be fit
for work this week. I spent the most
part of to day with Mrs Hooper
Minnie was there, they didnt know me
at first — In the afternoon I escorted her
a part of the road home, called at Drews
& also on Mrs Froggart (Mr F. is in town)
& told her I should not be fit to go to
work this week — owing to an accident
I met with, being thrown out of a cart —
This evening, Tuesday, I went into Sandhurst
called at Kings. I was very much hurt
on enquiring where the sons were to hear
they were in John Nevins tent in company
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Nelson Reef, California Gully March 1860
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with the Campbells. I could hardly credit
it & went to the tent, & could hear Jack
King laughing over the affair, as a good
joke, Alick was not there — I felt that
I should like to give him a thrashing to
visit & be on apparently good terms with a man
that never neglected an opportunity to
insult his sister. I felt I was determined
to take no more notice of what had occurred
except in my own defence — if crossed by
by any of them. I did not like the way
Mrs King alluded to the quarrel, she seems
to think, I ought to still see the affair
out, as if it was my business, her sons might
not [like] to be implicated in any way — with it –
& stated as much that she was glad to see
her son so ready to heal up the breach –
so much for meddling in anothers business
I have learned a lesson — Isa was very
much affected & remonstrated with her mother
what a contrast there is in their dispositions
I got home about 9 pm —
[Sunday, 1 April 1860]
31st [1st] Nice weather — I did not go to
the Nelson Reef this week. Ned being out
of work I thought Id try & get him
a job of some sort to keep him employed
hearing of a contract on the Britania
Reef, I went to see it found the shaft
to be 220 feet deep & about 20 feet of
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Britania Reef, April 1860
water in it, so twas impossible to
go down & have a look at it, however I put
a tender in at £1.1.0 per foot (driving) it
was accepted — a neighbour Ike Ket joined
us & we commenced on Thursday & bailed
the water out, we found the shaft in a
very dangerous state at the bottom & as
the owners of the claim expected us to make
it secure at our expense, such as providing
timber for the purpose Etc. we gave the
concern up yesterday morning, I went to
see Mr Froggatt yesterday, to enquire if I
was to go on to work Monday morning.
I had my walk for nothing, Mr. F. had
gone to Melbourne, but will be up again
in a day or two. Ive been reading a
great deal the last few days. I spent
nearly the whole of my day at arithmetic
which Im very deficient in. I borrowed some
time back a volume of Chambers Educational
Course one of the most useful works for
beginners ever published — Im alone to night
my tent mates having gone to Bendigo
[Sunday, 8 April 1860]
7th [8th] April 1860. Miserable weather
during the past week. Mr Froggart
sent for me last Monday morning,
George Drew & I have been working in
company on the Nelson — lost 2½ days
owing to the rain & Good Friday, we
dont get paid for holidays, the way
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Nelson Reef, April 1860
70
of the employers on the diggins, no
work no pay — Mr Froggart told me
last night that he wont be able to give
me constant regular work for some weeks
to come, but in the meantime he will find
or give me as much as he can in order
to keep me — he is erecting machinery at
present, by contract, some firm in town &
they employ their own hands — I spent
last Sunday with Hamilton, he introduced
me to a man named Stacey a Writing
Master, he wants an agent, & wished I
would act for him. I did not care for
it, but I mentioned Burchell to him, who
at once engaged him, he delivered two lectures
on Caligraphy, one at the British & American
Hotel on Tuesday night & one at Buchanans
near my tent. I attended both — they were
very interesting. I procured him several pupils
on the occasion, on our road home a heavy
thunder storm took place, we got drenched
to the skin, found our tent flooded with
water, our bedding saturated, we looked
like a lot of shipwrecked sailors. Monday
night Ned went to Kings, found Dan
there very comfortably seated by the
fire. Ned was astonished & didn’t hesitate
stating what he thought about the
matter after what had passed — & left
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Nelson Reef, April 1860
in disgust — I dont intend going near the
house again, much as I love Isa, I saw
Alick King, he was very much hurt at his
mother permitting those who had so insulted
his sister to be on continued terms of intimacy
he was so affected by it, that he purposes
leaving home in consequence — , an old play
mate of mine from Adelaide called upon me
one day, Pearce Devenish, hang him I
wish I could shake him off for he is a low
blaguard. Good Friday morning I went to see
the remains of the Shellback Engine that blew
up on Tuesday night. I never saw such a
sight before portions of the boiler plates
we found 50 yards away, & bricks & timber
scattered about in every direction, at the
time of the accident the men employed at
the works were engaged repairing a dam
bank some distance from the works, very
fortunate, for had they been at their customary
posts, not one would have escaped alive
its very unfortunate thing, for the company
has been very unsuccessful for a long while
& were just beginning to improve — I
wrote to my mother & sent her £1.0.0
all I could spare — I received an answer
last night, enclosed in her letter was one
from my father, a very long one, any
thing but comfortable, its contents made
me feel, its no use referring to them
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Nelson Reef, April 1860
72.
them, Ned received a letter from her, & enclosed
in it was Aunt Hartleys letter containing
the death of Cousin Chambers Bryars —
I spent this morning reading. In the
afternoon I visited Mrs Hooper, Mr H is
still very ill, the tumour in his side is
increasing in size. I dont think he will
ever recover. In the evening I went to
Church with Jim Hall heard some very
good singing, but I cant say I profited
by the sermon. Mr Croxon will never
be a favourite of mine through his preaching
I came home after the service. Harry & I
have had a long serious conversation since
he is a very thoughtful boy, reads a great
deal & thinks as well — what a pity his
father did not educate him, he is the
making of a clever man, poor chap, he
has been a cripple from his infancy, yet! it is
astonishing how hard he can work —
[Thursday, 12 April 1860] 11th April 1860. Weather still very unsettled. Finished my job on the Nelson to night, so Im out of work — George Drew & I put a tender in to drive a shaft, but we didnt succeed in getting the job, to day — Monday night I went to the Theatre on purpose to see Isa. Burchell very kindly went to her fathers & got her to go
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Out of Work April 1860
so that I might meet her, she was very
glad to see me, we left the Theatre & took a
long walk together, she was not surprised
at my stating I did not intend visiting their
house again, she was very sorry at what
had occured, but thought it ought not to
be the cause of our seperation, that she
loves me Im positive & that I love her is
beyond all doubt fondly & truly with my
whole heart & soul. I feel for her, what
I would never give another being, credit for
what a contrast is the feeling to what Ive
usually felt towards others. Oh love in its
pure & sacred character is a holy passion –
softens & refines both the inner & outer man.
I met her last night, we took a long
walk together, the night was lovely, the stars
seemed laughing & twinkling, the moon appeared
to look upon us so benignedly, open thorough
love episode was ours last night, we were
both so happy, & I did anything but bless
the time for passing so swiftly by. Im sure
it was after 12 when we kissed our adieus —
[Friday, 13 April 1860] 12th [13th] April 1860, Been idling about all all day, looking for work, reading Etc – mending my tent, & ditto clothes, a neighbour (Teetotal Jim) spent the evening with me in our tent, he is excellent company plays the flutina & flagelet & sings well he has only just left us, now for bed
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74 Long Gully Bendigo April 1860
[Saturday, 14 April 1860]
12th [14th] Cold day, I went into Sandhurst this
morning, called at Dr Barnetts for medicine
for Mr Hooper, on my return remained there
till dinner time, In the afternoon I went to
California Gully, went down the companys
shaft, had a long yarn with the men –
called at Drews, had tea there — on my
way home paid my Grocer a visit & purchased
necessaries for the tent, spent the evening
with Joe Russell, a neighbour.
[Sunday, 15 April 1860] 14th [15th] Sunday night, the weather has been too disagreeable for enjoyment — Yesterday morning I turned mason & built a new chimney to my tent. In the afternoon I took a walk with Ned, had a look at the place he & Harry are working at, they want me to join, them but I met some men who have taken a contract, & offered me a share in it — so I declined. I had a very bad headache & could not keep my appointment with Isa last night. Im very hard up for money, not had a shilling for near a fortnight. Froggart owes me £4.5.0 I was disappointed at not getting it last night, shall have to wait until next Saturday night now for it. I owe the Butcher & the Baker a months bill & my dear mother Im sure will
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Nelson Reef, April 1860
be disappointed at not receiving money from
me — I sent her nothing last week I
dont like borrowing or I need not be short
I have so many kind friends that have so
freely offered to lend me some. I called at
Hoopers last night, she knows how Im situated
& on leaving she wanted me to take a pound
all she had, of course I refused, knowing
her to be poorer than myself, it shows what
a good kind heart she has. We spent this
morning firing at a target with a rifle
& a revolver. Im not such a good shot
as I used to be. I beat every one in this
neighbourhood with the pistol, but am no
account with the rifle. my new mates
called after dinner & we tossed up who was
to commence the first shift to night at 12
it fell to me & my mate — I thought of
seeing Isa this evening at Church, but Im
obliged to go to bed instead & endeavour to
sleep. I hate night shifts — but there is
no getting over it, it is nearly 6 pm, so I
must turn in, Ned & Burchell have
just left for Church, 3 miles from here
how I envy them —
19th April 1860 — Three days since I last wrote. Weather beautiful, but have not enjoyed it very much, been on the night shift. Bob Forbes & I are mates, miserable work, go down the shaft
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Nelson Reef, April 1860
76
at 7 pm. come up to supper at 12. am
again at 1. am & leave at 6 — no joke 10
hours work in a close shaft, with bad
air more than 150 ft from the bottom
of the hole – anything but healthy
what with the smoke from the powder
& dust arising from the ground or rock.
I think we shall be able to make
wages at it if we dont come across
any harder stuff than we are at present
driving in. Monday morning I went
up to Hoopers, Mrs Hickey was there
with her baby. I turned nurse some
two hours. Tuesday I went into
Sandhurst, called at Hamiltons Portrait
Rooms had my likeness taken in my
working clothes. I went home with him &
tried to get an hour or two’s sleep but
I couldnt, had tea with at his place & had
to run so as to be in time to go to
work. I did feel tired next morning
not having had any rest or sleep the
day before. I went to bed at 6.30 &
did not awake until 6 the same
evening. I never felt so exhausted in
my life. (Saturday) I went to work
last night & I was quite frightened
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Nelson Reef, April 1860
to commence, during the day my mates
came on a solid face of rock like granite
we couldnt make 3/- aweek at it & the
air being very bad we were compelled
to give up our contract, however we
have spent the rest of the week at it
boring & drilling as far as possible to
try & discover if it was likely to change
but we could see no signs of it — we
only made about £1.0.0 each, I recvd
the money due to me all right, & Ned having made
£2.10.0. we paid off our debts
& sent mother £2.0.0. I feel quite a
load off my heart, trifle as it is —
(Sunday night) 22 April 1860. I went into Sandhurst last night called at Hamiltons, & Frazers — purchased a few articles of clothing I required, met Burchell & Ned, & we went to see "Rob Roy" — I never laughed so much at a performance in my life, *Robertson as the Outlaw, & some girl that would make an admirable little scullery maid as "Diana Vernon", 2 am this morning when I got home —
Been raining hard all day, truly wretched, our tent is like a pig sty. In the afternoon I went up to
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Nelson Reef, April 1860
78
Hoopers. Poor H is very ill. Im afraid
his days are numbered, the doctors
say he may linger a long while, but
hold out no hopes of his recovery —
I thought of seeing or meeting Isa
tonight, but it is so wet, & I wont
go to the house — it seems an age
since I saw her last, nearly a
fortnight — friends of mine, very
officious ones, tho’ perhaps they are
right have been questioning respecting
my intentions towards her — censuring
me for entangling her affections, in my
position. I never gave the idea a thought
before. Ive vainly imagined I could
go on loving forever. Im fairly per
-plexed, it would be cruel & my heart
would revolt at uniting myself to her
as Im at present circumstanced. I
would not think of such a thing
even if my mother was comfortably
situated, but as long as she is not I shall
never contemplate matrimony
but to part with Isa, perish the
thought, my mind seems distracted
come secret hope to my aid & bid
me be sanguine, for Im very
sad, from many causes —
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Nelson Reef, April 1860
23 April 1860. Been very wet the forepart
of the day, so did not go to work along
with my couzin & Brother, took a walk as
far as California Gully paid a few debts I
owed. In the afternoon I went to Long Gully
Crossing place & posted a letter at Pentreaths P.O
to Mother. In the evening Burchell & I
went to the Temperance Soiree, held in the
School Room of the Scotch Church, it
was the most successful affair ever held on
Bendigo £200-0.0 was collected towards
the Erection of a New Temperance Hall.
I met Jim Hamilton & his wife & also Isa
in their company, I could not get near
them until it was over, when Jim took Isa
under his care & left me with Mrs H —
I wasnt pleased at the arrangement, Jim
met some friend who was desirous of being
introduced to Mrs H. & he had the impudence
to introduce Isa as such — I meeting a friend
at the same time I introduced Mrs H. as
my wife — the episode caused us some fun
I only spoke a few words to Isa, agreed to meet her on Wednesday night — all well – on seeing her home — Lockey & I accompanied Jim home remained about an hour at his place — 12 OC Pm now, time for bed —
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Charlie, Charles Brothers Watmuff; Nelson Reef, April 1860
80
25th April 1860 In the midst of life we
are in death — little did I imagine the night
before last, when I wrote the record of that
evenings pleasure that the soul of my
dear little brother Charlie was wending
its way to realms of bliss. Poor Charlie he
was the youngest & the pet of the family
born on the sea Eleven years ago on our
passage from England. I received a Telegraph
message yesterday afternoon informing me
that he died in the morning. I received a
letter at the same time from Fred that was written on the
22nd inst desiring me if I wished to see him
before he died I must start at once, the letter
did not come to hand until it was too late
It appears he went with another boy fishing
in the Yarra — & he slipped into the water &
would have been drowned but for the other lad who
caught him ere he sank, on his rescue instead
of returning home & changing his wet clothes
he play’d about until his clothes dried on his
back, some two or three days afterwards in
consequence he was laid up with Rheumatic
& lost the use of his leg & arm — & became
delerious — & was so when be breathed his
last, my poor mother must be in
great grief — my father will be very much
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Death of Charlie, Nelson Reef, April 1860
afflicted when he hears of it, Charlie being
his favourite child — I would have started
for Melbourne if Id had the money, but
had not & knowing how miserably poor
mother is, I thought under such circumstances
that having to borrow money Id better send
it to her than spend it in travelling — she
will have received £2.0.0 the morning he died
that I sent her, Burchell with his usual
kindness offered me £2.0.0 all he possessed
I would only accept £1.0.0 from him, my
X(couzin Harry had a few pounds by him, but
did not offer me one halfpenny.)X Burchell
borrowed £2 0.0 from him on his own account
to lend me, but knowing how it was procured I
would not take it, but went into Sandhurst
& called upon Hamilton, who without any
remark offered me £10.0.0, he was very much
grieved because I would only accept £5.0.0 from
him — I wrote at once to mother & sent
£6.0.0. Heaven reward Jim for his kindness
In time of sorrow it is, when friendship is
tested. I feel happy in having such friends
I hope it will one day lay in my power to
repay them for their kindness. On leaving
Hamilton, I went to Frazers the Baker
where my letters are always a/d. & having
seen the letter from Fred marked immediate, & the Telegraph
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Death of Charlie, Nelson Reef, April 1860
82
coming through him, he had opened it, thinking
he might be able to render me some assistance
Fred had stated that mother had had to pawn
her jewellery to procure medicine & get other
necessaries for Charlie when ill) — from which
he gathered how she must be situated, he at
once sent Margery with the message & letter
& he insisted or made me promise, if I wanted
any money to apply to him for it —
It was a great shock to Ned & I poor
Charlie Im sure he’s in a better place than
this world, with its cares & sorrows — he was
an universal favourite with everybody, so very
quiet, & thoughtful, too much so for one so
young God grant his souls at peace —
__________________________________________
George & Will Frear, J.Hall & I met this morning & agreed to take the contract we were at last week at an increased rate — two of us to work at it — the other two to go to Huntly & sink a shaft on our own account there as we know several parties who are doing very well & who advised us to take up a claim there. G.Frear & Hall are to go to Huntly, & Will & I to go on with the contract & endeavour to earn enough to keep things going — I hope we shall be fortunate
I went into Sandhurst this evening but did not meet Isa at the appointed place. I suppose she could not leave
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Nelson Reef, April 1860
home without creating suspicion. I do not
visit their house — nor am I at all agreeable
to meet thus clandestinely. I have a great
abhorrence to anything underhanded. I called
at Dr Barnetts on my way home for
physic for poor Hooper — Im getting weary
& tired with writing, my mind being so over-
tasked the last two days — I forgot to state
there was a P.S. attached to Freds note informing
me that Mr. Edelman had bolted from
his creditors & was supposed to have fled to
Sydney, leaving Jane penniless, she has
returned to Mothers — her usual refuge —
[Friday] 27th April, 1860 Weather fine — Im afraid our contract is not going to pay us we have only gone four ft since Wednesday our other mates came up from Huntley this evening, they have a claim there, but dont think it stands a good show, they commenced to sink a shaft upon it, but the purpose “shepherding” it until the party in the next claim bottoms, which they hope to do in a few days, if it is any good of course we shall sink ours, if not we dont intend to incur any further expense on ours. [Monday, 30 April 1860] 31st April 1860 Lovely weather the last few days. Yesterday, Sunday I
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Nelson Reef, April 1860
84
left here early in the morning, to go to
Robinson Crusoe Gully for my blankets &
tools I left there, my couzin Harry lending
me £2.0.0 (rather an extraordinary circumstance)
to assist me in paying what I owe —
It was a lovely day so I was determined to
enjoy it & walked through the bush & as a
matter of course lost my way. I was
well repaid for curiosity led me to clamber
up a very high hill, where I had one of
the grandest views I ever witnessed, from my
position I beheld the whole district of Bendigo
with its innumerable gullies that looked liked
yellow serpents gliding through the green
forests, the tents in the distance looked like
flakes of snow, away to the west the
rugged Pyrenees presented themselves — looking
as gloomy as my fortune did when I crossed
them some years back — a little more to the
North — I could discern Mount Koorong
Malaga & Moligul to the South Mount
Alexander & I imagined Macedon — & thoughts
& old associations crowded upon me, & I sat
down on the spot & was lost in the
bewilderment of the vicissitudes attending
different periods of my life short &
chequered as it has been — an hours
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Nelson Reef, April 1860
walk brought me to Allens — where I had
dinner to which I did ample justice.
Mr A was very kind, stated how foolish I
was in letting such a trifle prevent me from
coming for my things. On collecting them
I found Dan Finnigan had taken the best
part of my tools away & also a pair of my
blankets — time tries all — I did not think
he was so dishonarable as I have discovered
him to be. I went with Allen to see a
new Reef he has just opened, he showed me
some splendid specimens — he gave me one —
I left about 3 — 4 Pm — with my swag
walked to Kangaroo Flat about 1½ miles fell
in with a car & rode to Sandhurst, some
4 miles, passed Alick & Isa King in a
trap driving towards where I had left —
I quite long to see her again it seems an
age since we met & spoke to each other
I was very tired when I arrived in the tent.
This morning I was going to our contract
(which is on the Nelson Reef) where Mr
Nicholls the Superintendant told me I
could go on to work for wages in one of
[the] other shafts for a few days & could then
return to complete our contract — if we
liked — I thought it would be the best to
accept the offer in order to keep in the
good graces of the Company, for Im sure
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Nelson Reef, April 1860
of constant employment in a few weeks time
[Tuesday, 1 May 1860]
2 [1st] May 1860. Weather very unsettled the
last two days, working in a shaft some
hundred ft deep on the Sth end of the N.Reef
raising quartz. I received a letter from my
Sister Mary yesterday giving me a more detailed
account of Charlies death — she states my
mother is distracted since my brothers death
& was unable to answer my letter, but
purposes doing so shortly —
[Friday, 4 May 1860]
5th.[5th] May 1860 — Friday night-) Mr. & Mrs
Hamilton paid me a visit last night — she
thought a tent a cold cheerless place to exist
in, wondered how we lived, & had our healths,
Etc in it, Ive seen tents Ive thought looked
like little palaces, but Im beginning to have
different notions concerning them now, in
fact Im getting ashamed to live in one
very strange Ive lived in nothing else for
many years, but then such a change has
been stealing over things on the diggins
of latter days, that the old joyous reckless
days of golddigging seems vanishing, with
the refined notions now indulged in by
people — I dare say its all very well
but I fear, all that pleasent unaffected
sociability that used to exist has vanished
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| 2/88 |
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Nelson Reef, May 1860
they invited Ned & I to tea this evening
but Ned wouldnt go because he hadnt good
enough clothes to be presentable in, its not
long since a pair of yellow dirty trousers
& a blue serge shirt were passport enough
for any company in the colonies — but
alas! as Ive stated before, such days & times
are fast fleeing away — I went & passed
a very sociable evening — I went into Sandhurst
this afternoon on business for Mr Froggart.
My mates G.Frear & Hall returned from Huntly to day, having seen the next claim bottomed & which turned out a “duffer” so they purpose going on with the old contract while we go on wages – of course we share whatever we earn — [Saturday, 5 May 1860] 6th. Saturday — Left off work at 4 Pm squared up with my mates & dissolved partnership. We made only £2.10 each after expenses were paid for our fortnights work — only two of us having earned anything — I went into Sandhurst this evening, met Mary King — she wanted to know why I did not visit their house as formerly. I soon let her know the reason she says Isa thinks me very unkind they saw me last Sunday when I passed them in the cab, they went to Allens who informed them I had been there — if I
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Nelson Reef on wages, May 1860
88
only remained half an hour longer, there I should
have returned with them — it wasnt to be.
I must try & see her, I went to the Theatre
for a short time, met Ned, came home early
[Sunday, 6 May 1860] 7th. May Sunday. Been a lovely day — I went into Sandhurst this morning called at Hamiltons & accompanied him to hear Mr. Fletcher the Independent minister, he chose for his text the first line of the Lords Prayer, Our father who art in heaven! – I liked it well — its long since I heard such a sermon — or one so liable to make an impression. I had dinner with Jim — left about 3 pm & returned to the tent, paid Hooper a visit — after tea I again visited Sandhurst & went to the Church of England, along with Miss Scott, at the conclusion of the service I saw Isa King, I quite forgot Miss S. Ill be ashamed to meet her again after leaving her so very abruptly. Isa seemed as glad to see me as I was to see her — we wended our step to a quiet spot & sat down — we had such a lot to talk about. I was so happy [I] forgot all the thoughts that have been so perplexing me in reference to her & my duty, it was 11 pm when we parted more enthralled than ever & less inclined to touch upon the subject of seperation
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Nelson Reef on wages, May 1860
I had began to get reconciled to the idea, but
now it is further off than ever — oh for the
past few happy hours — such blissful hours
that compensate one for a life of sorrow
oh love the sacred essence of all thats pure on earth
when the affections are centered on a worthy
object —
[Monday, 7 May 1860]
8th [7th] May 1860. Been a nice day. Been very
busy all day, running about on business for
Mr Froggart. I had to go into Sandhurst
& having to wait an hour I called at Jims
& he would have me sit for my likeness in
my working clothes — I had to go in again
to insert advertisements in the “Advertiser” –
this evening I spent in a most humane
manner. J.Hall cannot write very well
& having a sweetheart on Inglewood he got
me to write a letter to her for him. If
ever love was made by proxy & was successful
he ought to be — I exerted my best abilities
in its composition, such poesy in prose
was never penned before — he was quite
proud of it —
[Thursday, 10 May 1860]
11th.[10th] May 1860 Three days since I continued
my journal. I had an idea of keeping a daily
one — but I purpose writing now whenever I am inclined.
Still on wages at the Nelson Reef raising
stone — Tuesday night I saw Isa King
she looked so nice, we took a long walk together,
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Nelson Reef on wages, May 1860
talked all manner of stuff interesting alone
to ourselves, late when we parted
Wednesday night we went to see Miss —
Avonia Jones in the play of Sybil, she
is the finest actress ever appeared in Australia
I could not imagine it was in human nature
to be her superior — after seeing Isa home
I met Hugh Campbell & Dan — we had
some words, they were very insolent — to
me — how manly? for two men to bully
one. I had courage to tell them what I
thought of them, Dan on Saturday insulted
some foreigners & they nearly killed him
they managed to cut one of his toes off or
nearly so, the police got hold of him &
he was fined £7.0.0 with costs for his
freak. It was 2 am next morning when
I got home. I received a letter from
my mother yesterday. I answered it at once
& sent her £1.0.0. Mr Dewer called upon
her, she mentioned me to him, he wished
he could see me to ascertain what
kind of a situation I am suited for,
he is going to the
Snowy River & wont be back for some
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Nelson Reef on wages, May 1860
time. I dont care much for peoples promises
I have long since discovered that the man who
helps himself in this world is the man
who succeeds. Ive been suffering from sore
eyes lately Ned got some kind of lotion
from Dr Harris to day which I trust will
relieve them —
[Saturday, 12 May 1860] 12th May 1860 Beautiful day. All hands got discharged to day but me, they kept me because there are a few jobs want finishing. I must be a favourite with the manager for he always gives me the preference if he can any time. I have been getting my brother Ned this evening to sit down & endeavour to improve his writing & otherwise improve his mind, he doesn't seem to care about it. Im very sorry for with a very little application he might soon fit himself for a better position than he appears likely to fill in his present state —
[Sunday, 13 May 1860] 13th Cloudy day, got up very late, cut up a lot of firewood & did some sewing such as putting patches on my working clothes & mending the tent, spent the whole of the afternoon reading "Cassells Papers" In the evening Ned & I went into Sandhurst,
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Nelson Reef on wages, Soldier’s Gully May 1860
visited the Church at the conclusion of the
service Ive met Isa & Mary King, we all
took a long walk together, if the rest were
like myself they were very happy
Isa tells me that Alick has left them
& gone to Lake Colac near Geelong. I fancy
he was inclined to be wild. Jack has just
returned from Inglewood, been very unlucky.
[Thursday, 17 May 1860] 17th May 1860 Fine weather, Monday & Tuesday I worked for the company & was politely informed my services would not be required again for some time. My couzin Harry & brother Ned are erecting a small puddling machine near Soldiers Gully & wish me to join them — so I thought I might as well do so as be idle. I commenced this morning — I dont know how it will pay us yet, not having got properly to work — I went into Sandhurst last night called at Frazers found a letter from mother there she is not very well & is very short of money by the last mail from England she had a few papers from father in one she found some pencil lines, in which he informs her he finds it very uphill work to get a commission & make a living where he is. Jane is still
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Soldier’s Gully May 1860
at Mothers, shes had to pawn her jewellery
to pay off debts Etc, since her husband left her
a boy arrived from home who states he is his
son & that his father, Edelman has been twice
divorced, & his wives are still living, they have
heard nothing of him since his departure —
I called at Hamiltons & spent the evening
with them — had supper, late when I got
home to the tent. I hear the 10 O.C. whistle
time to go to bed, very useful things are
whistles attached to engines where so very few possess
watches —
[Saturday, 19 May 1860]
21 [19] May 1860 Weather very unsettled
during the past three days. Ive been working
with Ned & Harry at the machine I think
it will pay us when we get properly at
work, the three days we have been at it we
[got] 1 oz. 10 dwts of gold, the machine is nearly
a mile from the tent & as our tent is
getting done up we purpose erecting a
small stone hut near the work, there
being a great quantity of loose stone on the
surface near the spot we have selected —
On leaving work this afternoon I visited
California Gully, called on Mr Froggart who
paid me what I was due — called at Frears
& also at Drews. George is laid up with a bad
hand I believe he will have to lose one
of his fingers, he has been very unfortunate
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Soldier’s Gully May 1860
lately, his wife is on the point of being confined
& not a penny to bless themselves with, there is
a deal of misery in this golden country —
I wrote a letter to Mother & enclosed £2.0.0
in it, intend posting it on Monday — I
told her to advise Jane to get a divorce from
her husband, I hear she is very unhappy
I did not think such an unholy union could
be otherwise. I called on Mrs Hoopers also
stay’d for about an hour, she related all her troubles
to me — heard nothing else to day, everybody
seems to have their share in this world, more
or less, some of their own creating & some
of anothers — I dont know what people
see in me to be so confidential in their sorrows
If it was in my power to relieve them
I would, but it causes me grief to know Im
unable to assist them — except with sympathy
& its like mustard without beef — that I
never covet it from anyone — After tea,
(being wet) Burchell & I went to Piggotts
& danced for about 3 hours — enjoyed
ourselves very well — 12 O.C Im sure
[Sunday, 20 May 1860]
Sunday. Beautiful day. Spent the morning
reading Addisons, Cato, a fine play, some
splendid passages in it — the characters are beautifully
drawn — I like it exceedingly, shall read it again
if I have an opportunity. We had several
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Emerald Co. (Shamrock, C. Gully, May 1860
visitors in the afternoon. In the evening Ned
& I went to Church, met Isa & Mary King
took a long walk together, 11 pm when we
left them —
[1860-05-21]
Monday 21st. been cold & very cloudy
I had an offer of a job this morning to drive
a shaft in the Shamrock Cos Claim, C. Gully
£3.0.0 per week — in company with W.Frear
we have been engaged making a windlass
to day or I have, for my mate left work
about 1 pm, & Ive heard has been on the spree
what a pity, he would be a nice chap if he
could only keep from drink — I went into
Sandhurst this evening thinking to meet
Isa, but it came on to rain & she did not
put in an appearance at the usual trysting
place — so I was disappointed, however, I
had some compensation, by paying a
visit to the Frazers, where I spent a
couple of hours with Lockey & Margery
the rain ceasing, Lockey accompanied me a
part of the way home —
Tuesday 22nd. Been a wet miserable day. I went to work this morning, but not finding W.Frear there I called at Mr. Cuddys a shareholder in the Shamrock Co who agreed to work in his place until he returned, we working away at our windlass, in his yard, Mrs. Cuddie standing by conversing
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Ellen Cuddihy. Emerald Co. Shamrock, C. Gully, May 1860
with us, when George Frear, came running to
us in a most excited state & informed us that
my mate W.Frear had just returned home
half drunk, with a small phial of poison
he said something about being ashamed of the
life he has led & his inability to reform
& very deliberately drank the poison, Georges
manner & the nature of his communication acted
so upon Mrs. Cuddy, (who had only just recovered
from a severe illness) that she fainted. I did
not observe her at the time, having immediately
rushed to Frears tent to see what I could do
I found Will, stretched on the floor with his
teeth so firmly clenched that I found it im-
-possible to apply an emetic, several people
hearing of the circumstance, came in, & with
our united efforts at length got him to
swallow an emetic — the police afterwards
took him in charge & he is now lodged in
Gaol — the best place for him, he is a
desperate fellow when in liquor, he is one
of the strongest men I ever met with, it
took 6 of us to hold him, when getting his
mouth open — On my return to Cuddys
I found Mrs. C. had burst a blood vessel
two doctors were in attendance, who make
it no secret that her days are numbered
hold out no hopes of her recovery —
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Ellen Cuddihy. Emerald Co, (the Shamrock) Cuddihy, C. Gully, May 1860
It must ever be a source of pain to Frear to know
he was the cause of her death — oh drink, vile
miserable curse of humanity, demoralizing
agent, when will there be a stop put upon
its abuse — when will human nature
throw off — & escape its influence — Governments
build houses for its victims & yet encourages its
sale & derives a revenue from its consumption –
& its effects, what volumes I alone could fill
of the many victims of intemperance
that have come under my own observation
since my sojourn in the Gold Fields, few
would credit that half the population
work & toil for no other recompense than
the pleasure attached to drink which their
labour affords them the opportunity of indulging
in. I used to have a mate that on dividing
our weeks earnings on a Saturday afternoon
would make the remark, "look sharp boys
& lets aget across the creek before dark, so that
we may get drunk before its too late", poor
Ned, we left him on Donolly, a few weeks
afterwards he suffered from Delirium Tremens
& was found dead in the bush with the flesh
torn from his bones — & such is the end of many
in the bush. My old mate Tom Rudd Ive
heard is transported, having been a connected with
a bad lot of drunkards & blaguards, he
got above honest labour & took to thieving
he is now reaping his harvest —
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Emerald Co, (the Shamrock) Cuddihy, California Gully
Long Gully, May 1860. Bendigo
Wednesday 23 Very cloudy weather, got
to work at last this morning. The shaft is
120 ft deep Im engaged in — the rock requires
all to be blasted, the air is very bad gives
me a pain in my chest — Mrs. Cuddy is
very ill — her husband has been helping me
to day but he might as well have remained
at home for what work he has done — this
evening I went to Halls been giving him &
another young friend of mine lessons in
Caligraphy. It affords me pleasure to be
able to instruct another —
Friday. Very disagreeable weather. Still at work for the Emerald Co, (the Shamrock) have better times than on the Nelson Reef, I have more my own way. I went into Bendigo last night & called upon Hamiltons they were very glad to see me — he has been very ill with dysentry & is greatly changed — I offered him £2.0.0 towards what I owed him, but he got so indignant & would have thrown it in the fire if I had not stopped him, he wont receive it until Im worth £500 a year. I trust he may never require it until Im in the possession of such an amount, however I divided it between Burchell & Harry owing
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Shamrock Co’s Claim (the Shamrock), C. Gully, May 1860
them both money — I went to Sandhurst
this evening, called at Frazers & received a
long letter from mother — all well, my
sisters school is improving. Jane is still
with her — but mother dont speak very highly
of her, says she lounges about & actually
puts out her washing Etc twelve months
ago she wasnt above doing it herself but she wants
to be the grand lady, since she has once tasted
the sugared cup of idleness & luxury —
I called on Hooper still unwell — his tumour
increasing in size —
[Saturday] May 26th 1860. Been very cold to day left work at dinner time in consequence of Cuddy, who had to leave me & attend to his wife, poor creature she is very ill — this afternoon I went up to Mr Hoopers, Mrs Hickey was there, looking better than I have seen her for a long time. I have been reading “Ivanhoe” the best of Scotts Novels in my opinion This evening I spent with a wild lot at Piggotts, dancing & rioting till 11 pm — saw Dave & Joe home, drunk.
Sunday 27th.[May] 1860 Lovely day, rose early did a lot of jobs about the tents read during the afternoon — In the
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Emerald Co.(Cuddihy) C. Gully, May 1860
[evening] Ned & I went to Bendigo. I met
Isa — what an age it seems since I saw
her last, she accused me of coldness &
thought I wished to give her up Etc –
I swore I loved her dearer than any object
in life. I summoned up courage enough to
tell her how Im situated & what folly
what madness it was in me to continue
feeding my flame & hoping under such
auspices as mine for a consumation
of hopes that I saw no prospect of
being realized. Isa wept & I sighed my
sorrow. I was very sad, & she angel as
she is poured such balm & comfort into
my soul by sympathy & hopeful trusting
spirit, that she loved she didnt deny, & would
always do so, whatever time may prove or do for
for us. I released her from any thing like an
engagement — she may consider herself bound
to me by, & for the future we are to be but
as very dear friends — but while of she is single & I
ever in a position to maintain her respectability
I vow never to look on another woman
with eyes of affection — it was late when
we parted, I more deeply in love than ever
my mind in a strange bewilderment
Monday 28th [May] 1860. I rose early this
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385
Emerald Co. (Cuddihy), Ellen Cuddihy death, 27th May 1860.
morning & got to the claim at 7 am –
waited some time for Cuddie, not coming,
I went to his house or hut & was
shocked to find Mrs. C. dead, having just
breathed her last, poor Cuddie he is in
great grief, I remained with him all
day & assisted in the preperations for
the funeral. W.Frear was tried & acquitted
this morning, he left Bendigo at once
with an unenviable conscience. I went
into Sandhurst this evening with Burchell
went to the Theatre, saw “Winters Tale”
playd the principal characters being taken by
Mr & Mrs R.Heir — 12 when I got
home. I wrote to mother during the
afternoon & sent her £1.0.0 —
Wednesday 30th May 1860. Wretched weather — rainy & cold — I have not been to work, but have been very busy – I went into Sandhurst yesterday with Ned & bought a cart load of packing Cases, which we intend to build a hut with, having given up the idea of building a stone one. Harry Ned & I have got it nearly finished. I dont suppose I shall live much in it for I anticipate getting on the Nelson Reef for constant, shortly & it will
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Nelson Co (Nicholls) C. Gully, May 1860
be too far for me to walk to work —
Hamilton yesterday gave me a ticket for Mr Hitchers course of Lectures, his first was last night, the subject being the search for “Sir J.Franklyn” I met Isa at Jims & we went to hear it — it was very interesting. MClintocks voyage was the principal feature of the lecture his discovery of the Relics Etc — I went to Cuddys claim this morning just to keep it from being jumped — while there Mr Nicholls the under manager of the Nelson Co called upon, wants me to go on for a few days on the Dam — I dont like where I am at present engaged, so I purpose starting in the morning
Friday 1st June 1860 — Beautiful weather I have been hard at work on the N.R the past 2 days. I went into Sandhurst last night met Isa by chance, took a walk to Hamiltons spent the evening there very pleasently, singing. Isa sings very well she has a nice sweet voice & sings with great taste & feeling — knows such a quantity of lovely little songs — Jim accompanied us, as far as Kings after paying his portrait Gallery a visit
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387
Nelson Co (Nicholls) C. Gully, May, June 1860
I hurt my hand yesterday & I fear it is
going to fester, been very sore to day
& the work Im engaged at dosn’t improve
it, using a hammer & drill all day. I went
to Mrs Hoopers this evening & she good soul
commenced at once to doctor it, Ive got it
poulticed up at present
Sunday 3rd June 1860. Lovely weather I did not go work yesterday owing to my hand being so sore & painful, I assisted to shift our tent in the morning & help to put a roof on the new hut — I intend to board at Drews in California Gully (being near my work) next week, the new hut is too far to walk night & morning, being bound to time, finished the outside of our hut to day, in the evening Burchell & I went to Church but took a strool about Sandhurst until the service was over — we spent an hour listening to a lady playing a piano at a house — she sang & playd beautifully. I could peep into what seemed a drawing room, nicely furnished & how it made me long for such a home what a contrast it presented to the miserable wretched hovels Ive spent
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388
Nelson Co (Nicholls) C. Gully, June 1860
the last 10 years of my life in — well
who knows a time may come when I may
possess such a home — the nice fire blazing
in a grate, the curtains, easy chairs &
sofa, the piano — & various luxuries &
conveniences — appeared so perfect, strange
I should have such thoughts on such a
spot, for I once was camped in a hut
built of boughs 8 years ago on that
same spot, where now stands the best
house on Bendigo -. We got to the
Church just as the people were coming
out, met Isa — we took a long walk
together, our agreement of the other
night was forgotten, for we were
together, as formerly — & have promised
to meet her on Wednesday night —
[Friday]8th June 1860. Having finished my job on the Nelson, last Monday I went to work again with Cuddy. I dont intend working in his claim again I cannot get my money from him, he owed me £5.10.0 I bought some canvass from him about £3.0.0 worth but I can ill afford to lose the rest. I commenced to board with Mrs Drew on Monday morning. I pay her 27/6 perweek washing included. Im very comfortable
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389
Nelson Co (Nicholls) C. Gully, June 1860
Tuesday evening I called at Hoopers. Mrs H
I thought was rather cool toward me & I
accused her of it — it appears those cursed
reports about Minnie & I, that I thought
were buried in oblivion, at this length of
time, has reached her ears. I soon reasoned
her out of her doubts — I imagined Id
put a stop to them long ago — whatever
passed between Minnie & I is only known
to ourselves — she is a true & honest wife
& since her wedding has never spoken to me
but as she might to a stranger — I was
very much annoyed, but people are so
fond of scandal in this world, if a
person has the slightest blemish on them
its soon made into a large blotch
Wednesday I went into Sandhurst & called at the hut on my way. Ned had recvd a long letter from Mother, all well at home, Edelman had returned very suddenly & had vanished again taking Jane with him — I went to Hamiltons, found Isa there — spent a couple of hours very pleasently. I happened to state there was a Dance at Thorpes "Imperial Hotel" California — Jim on the impulse wished to go, the ladies would not go but had no objection to allow us to go I did not care about going, but was
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390
Nelson Co (Nicholls) C. Gully, June 1860
induced to accompany him. I did not think
it right to leave them, but Isa agreed to
remain with Mrs H. so we went — got
there about 10 pm & danced & flirted till
4 am next morning, when we adjourned
to Hazlitts store (a friend of ours, another
wild young devil) we had a supper of
salmon & eggs & other dainties, which we
prepared ourselves. Jim slept with Dave
I went to my own bed at Drews, close by —
Jim left after having breakfast with me
Sunday 10th June 1860 Nice weather — I managed to get some of my money last night from Cuddie, paid my board, wrote to mother & sent her £1.0s.0d. I spent the evening with a fellow boarder, Andrew Smith who has a Chemist shop opposite to Drews he is a nice young fellow — clever & well informed, rather an improvement on the general run of my acquaintances – After breakfast this morning I went to the hut or I should say the tent for the hut is not finished, they are all living in a little 8 x 10 feet tent — I washed a flannel shirt & some socks — had dinner with them — after which J.King & his sisters Isa & Mary paid us a visit
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391
Nelson Co (Nicholls/Froggart) C. Gully, June 1860
the hut is only 1½ miles from Sandhurst
so its convenient. I was ashamed to ask
them into such a hole — but they were too
well bred to make any remarks about it –
we showed them about the gully, how the
dirt was puddled, cradled & the gold seperated
from mother earth, all which appeared
to interest them — we had tea together
on the grass, under the shade of a gum
tree, just outside the tent — Isa & I afterwards
took a quiet walk for some two hours or so
such happy hours — I was very loath to
leave her — Burchell & Ned accompanied
them into Sandhurst I returned to my new
domicile, & now for bed & dream of her
who night & day fills my soul — how
absurd such notions would appear to me
if uttered or experienced by another —
June 13th 1860 Beautiful weather — I went to work for the Nelson Reef on Monday morning. Im the handyman at present doing every kind of work I dont much like it, but its better than being idle. I think I am on now for constant. Tuesday evening Hazlett & I went into Sandhurst, called at Frazers & received
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392
Nelson Co (Nicholls/Froggart) C. Gully, June 1860
a letter from mother, all about the same.-
We went to hear Mr. Fletcher lecture on what
is known of the "Interior of Australia", it was
intensely interesting, his discriptions & accounts of
the adventures of the several explorers was very
good, the subject just at present is one that
is filling every ones mind! the Govt. being employed
now in fitting out an exploring party to cross
from Victoria to the Gulf of Carpentaria — I met
Mrs & Mrs Hamilton there, quite well, promised
to visit them on Thursday night —
June 15th 1860 Lovely weather the last two days. I went into Sandhurst last night met Isa, took a walk met J.Hamilton who insisted upon me spending the evening with them, which we did most happily & sociably, had supper, 11 when we left 12 when I parted from her — 1 next morning I before I got into bed, I felt very happy, blessed with the love of a dear girl & such as Isa is, & the friendship of Hamilton The Nelson Reef is looking very lively about 50 hands at work, two engines & crushing plant in course of erection
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The blacksmith & I are the only wages men
on the ground & do just as we like —
17th Saturday Nice day. Our manager went to town a few days ago & has not returned so I didnt [get] my wages paid to me, another disappointment. Its certain but inconvenient to wait sometimes, for Im in debt. I went to Hoopers for about an hour, the old man still lingers, he was telling me how unfortunate he has been the last few years induced to leave a good home & business in Cape Town to try & make a fortune in this Golden Country, he thinks heaven has cursed him & his family for his covetiousness. I spent the evening in company with Andrew Smith, conversing upon a variety of subjects. I called at Cuddies for the money he owes me but could not get any from him
24th June, Lovely weather — A week since I last wrote my journal. Ive been engaged all the week, helping our Blacksmith & Engineer, at the forge — making Iron Cages bolts & Bars, Nuts & Screws — picks, gads & hammers — Tuesday night I went into Sandhurst, called at Frazers found a letter there from mother, all well she received some Newspapers from England, found some penciling
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394
of fathers in one, in which he states his
business is not paying — I think it was very
foolish of him commencing something he knew
nothing about in an old country, in the
midst of so much Competition — I remaind
about half an hour at Frazers, Lockey & I
went to Hamiltons, remained there till 11 pm
spent a pleasent evening — late when I got
home having nearly 4 miles to walk. I spent
Monday night at Hoopers. Minnie was there
quiet & modest as ever — looks as if she had a
world of sorrow on her mind & I believe she
has according to her mothers account of her
domestic trials — Wednesday night I spent
with Ned & Harry. Froggart came from
town & paid me my wages, after I had paid
my debts & sent my mother £1.0.0 I found
myself in sole possession of a solitary shilling
Thursday night I spent with, A.Smith very jolly — Friday night we went to hear one of the candidates for the mining board give his opinions on mining matters, Mr Lane we know him well, he is deaf & has a sniffle in his nose, very amusing the jokes that passed on the occasion at his expense
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1st July 1860. Weather very fine, On Tuesday
I finished at the forge & was put to the windlass
of the New Engine Shaft, where I have to
work 12 hours a day & the hardest work I
ever did in my life. I get 10/- per week more
wages for it — but I hear it is to be reduced —
I did not leave the gully during the week except
last night when I went into Sandhurst
called at Frazers found a letter from mother enclosed in
one from my father, that had been forwarded
to us by Aunt Hartley of Halifax — he
writes in poor spirits, having had no returns
from his business, my poor father must
be very sad & lonely 16,000 miles from his
family, amidst strangers & unsuccessful in
his pursuits. Mother is also in poor spirits
my brother Fred is confined to bed with
Scarlitina, she misses his wages small as
they are it paid her rent, Ned sent her
a £1.0.0 on Monday. I purpose doing the
same to day — I am afraid Cuddies money
is a bad debt — He has ran away, leaving a
great many debts behind him — I thought of
getting it to day — for Ned & Harry have
bought a puddling mill for £35.0.0 they
|
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396
are to pay £10.0.0 down the rest in 3 months
so if I could have got a few pounds for them
it would have helped them, my fortnights
wages were all spent before I got it, having
bought, boots & clothing I was in need off
& sent a £1.0.0 to mother. Last Monday
a concert was given at Thorpes for the relief
of an unfortunate family. I was solicited to
sing. I promised very reluctantly, however I
sang twice & was encored on both occasions. I
surprised myself, I felt as if, I could sing
to any height & with so much ease — I have
since been solicited to sing at two other places
or concerts that are to take place on Sandhurst
I have neither the time nor the inclination
to devote to such things, so was compelled to
decline the honor. I received a kind little note
from Isa on Friday she had not seen me
for a fortnight & thought it very cruel –
she spent the day at Hamiltons. I shall
try to see her this evening at Church — I go
on to work to night at 12 oclock (I hate
night shifts) 11 pm. Went to Sandhurst
calling at Forbes, Hamblys & Hoopers on
my way from there went to Neds
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| 2/114 |
397
had tea with him, they have bought the
machine, had to borrow the money, I hope
they will make it pay, they hire a horse
to work it at present. I went to the Albion with a
friend had a drink remained with him
until Church came out — met Isa & Mary
King, the former was very glad to see me
we took a walk for a couple of hours, &
enjoyed ourselves — I was sorry I had to part
with her so early, but she knew I had to
go to work she accompanied me home to Drews
I put her in a cab — being too far for her
to walk back —
3rd July. Tuesday morning just returned from work, tired & wretched, the nights are bitterly cold & to be stuck at the windlass for 12 hours through a cold winters night is no joke, last night it rained very heavy, & having no shelter, got wet through. I have not felt very well the last two days. I feel very feverish & have a fearful headache — I shall to bed directly, Ive had my breakfast
7th July 1860. Saturday. I have been very ill since I last wrote confined to my bed
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398
for three days, got quite delirious with fever
the effects of a cold. I feel very weak — but
much better. I found my appetite this
morning so I shall soon recover. I took
a little walk to the works to day, saw
Nicholls — who told me he will find me an
easy job for next week, until Im strong
enough to resume my post at the "Shaft"
the loss of 5 days wages will be a serious
things for me. I intend to try & walk as
far as Neds, he did not know I was ailing
until this morning, Isa, dear angel, came to
see me twice & sat & read for me like a dear
creature she is —
8th July Sunday Wrote to mother & sent her £1.0.0 Received a letter from her & one from Fred enclosed in it was a note from Mary they are all ailing from influenza, a universal complaint at present, Fred sent me two pieces of music — Mother wishes I was living with them, not more so than I do myself
[Sunday, 15 July 1860] 16th July 1860. Nice weather. Im happy to state Im getting strong & over my attack & with the exception of a cough — dont
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suffer from its effects. I went to work on
Monday morning, doing light jobs, about
the place — Froggart finding I can write
gave me some office work to do. I dont
think I should like to be stuck in an office
all my days. I would prefer robust labor
perhaps its through never being in one, I
went to see Ned yesterday, they did very
well last week, paid what they borrowed.
I had to go to work this morning at the Engine Shaft bailing water, from 11 am till 6. pm — I dont like working on Sunday its miserable seeing people going & coming from Chapel — & pleasuring Etc & have to stick at a windlass labouring away, but necessity knows no law — if the water was not kept down it would rise & distroy the shaft & it is costing about £20. perfoot to sink it, it is the finest shaft in Australia I hear or will be when its properly lined & finished — I suppose we shall get a days pay for our days work After tea I went to Hoopers, Minnie was there quiet & cool as ever. Mrs. H. told me that the reports I alluded to — had reached
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Hickeys ears, & he was grown quite jealous
of me — damn peoples prattling tongues
I wish Id the slitting of them
22nd Nice weather but far from a pleasent one for being on the night shift, all the week & still suffering from a severe cold. Ive taken a deal of physic lately, had I taken Shakespears advice & thrown it to the dogs — I believe I should have been better than I am I went to see Ned on Tuesday, he had a letter from Mother — all well — I wrote to my sister Mary to day & also to mother — After dinner I called at Hoopers had a long chat with the old man, upon the immortality of the soul — he has some strange notions about the subject that I could not entertain. On leaving him I went to Neds hut for a time, went into Sandhurst, called at Hamiltons had tea with them, Jim & his wife talked to me very seriously about Isa made it out I was doing her an injury by continuing my addresses to her — for it appears Isa has several admirers & I hear from them that one has proposed I met Isa this evening at Church, & I made her answer me if such was the
|
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case, she said Id no right to point her duty
out, if she had liked the man she would
have had him. Im very sorry I ever
knew her, she wont marry me in my
present circumstances & I told her I saw
no prospect of improving them & if she
wanted a home, not to think of me again
tho god knows it will be long ere her image &
my love for her is effaced from my heart
my love for her is such, that I would be happy
to see her so with another who could justly
appreciate her, as I do I would willingly
bear the sorrow, such an event would cause
me, without one pang of jealousy. Ive tried to
school my inclinations by reasoning upon
the absurdity of such a passion, but philosophy
stands a poor chance, when it comes in contact
with, Cupid. I walked home anything but a happy
man — the only way to break the charm that
binds us is absence — Ive thought so long, but
I & J. think Isa the same, lacks the firmness
Ive been reading my old favourite “Lallah Rook” this week — with sundry other such like matter that seems to add fuel to my flame Ill get some heavy works on scientific subjects & see if it wont prove in some way an antidote to my passion or folly.
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29th July 1860. Im still at work on the
Nelson Reef, the shaft is stopped, 12 hands
were discharged. I, of all the wages men, was
kept on, along with the blacksmith, Harvy
we get along first rate. Im getting quite
a "Smith" can make & mend most anything
in the iron line — I was very glad to be
kept on, for work is very hard to obtain
owing to so many of the public companies
turning out failures — Tuesday I went to
Sandhurst called at Hamiltons, met Isa
there purely by chance, they were all going
to hear a Fletcher, lecture. I was easily induced
to accompany them, but owing to Fletcher
being indisposed, the lecture was postponed
I returned with [them] & spent a pleasent evening
as usual, singing & reading. Jim has an
excellent library. I went to the new Theatre
at the Shamrock last night, finest place
on Bendigo opened with a good company
Ned was with me. I received a letter from
mother also, which I answered to day
& enclosed £1.0.0. Ned has been very ill
all last week but Im happy to state hes
got over it. I gave him £1.10s.0d to assist
him in paying off his debts. I went
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403
into Sandhurst this evening & gave Hamiltons a few
pounds towards paying off what I owe him
I got £1.0.0 from Cuddies partner, last
night, very unexpected. I dont suppose Ill
ever see the rest of what he owes me —
On leaving Hamiltons I walked into the township & who should I meet but Isa by chance — she was bound for Church, but instead of going, we took a long walk & found a nice little spot & with her cheek rested against mine, the hours slipped by so quickly, 11 when we parted, 12 when I got home, I feel no inclination for sleep
[Sunday, 12 August 1860] August 10th 1860. Twelve days since I continued my journal. Im still at the Nelson working hard as usual the Machine will soon be finished
I received several letters lately, one from my sister Mary that didnt please me — one Mr. Davis seems to be the leading idea that pervades in in it, no allusion made to mothers struggles & difficulties, or a particle of sympathy, poor girl, I must not be too hard, for she is very young & I must say thoughtless. I trust as she grows older, she will improve.
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I had the honour of recvg one from my
brother Fred, full of matter, but destitute
of sense, with the exception
of Jane Edelman & her doings — of
which he gives me in detail, & his
private opinion of Mr E. which is not
a very exalted one — Mother sent
me a long letter full of troubles, a
list of her debts & how she has been
pressed by Sutherland for his £5.0.0
Im bewildered to know how she is
to get out of her difficulties. I assist
her to the utmost of my power & can
do no more — my poor mothers
proud spirit is sadly humbled, having
to put up with so many humiliations
It was a most unfortunate event my
father leaving England & then to
abandon his family, as he has done &
God grant it may be for the best
his ways are inscrutable Last Saturday
night I went to Sandhurst, where
I met my brother Ned, he is doing
very well with the new machine
lately. I trust he will be more fortunate
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the coming week. We went to the Theatre
together, being very crowded & a very
indifferent company performing we did
not enjoy ourselves much. On Sunday
afternoon I had tea with him, Burchell
& I went to Church. I was disappointed
at not meeting Isa — we called on
Hamilton coming home remained with
him chatting until 10 pm — Isa had
paid them a visit the day before, she
was well & had enquired after me. It
seems a long time since we met, I
walked home alone — I enjoy my own
company sometimes, best, it is very pleasent
to commune with ones own thoughts,
on such occasions more ideas revolve
through my brain than at any other
I went to an amateur Concert on the night of Thursday week, they did some portions of the “Messiah” very well, but they were best up in the secular portion of the entertainment — a young man named Newton Clapham sang very well, he has one of the finest tenor voices I ever heard — I joined a Quadrille assembly this week, we are
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[to] meet twice aweek at Thorpes, it will
cost me about 5/. a month — they are
very sociable jolly affairs & knowing
everybody in the neighbourhood, who
attend it, makes them very pleasent
I went to see Hooper on Wednesday I fancy he is a little better, I went into Sandhurst last night, met Ned knocked about with him talking over our very brilliant prospects, untill 9.30 when I jumped into a cab & rode home did not get to bed till past 12 Mrs Drew had some friends visiting her & I was invited to join the party I rose early this morning (Sunday) & went to the hut 1½ miles from this found Ned & his mates sound asleep got some clean linen & returned spent the rest of the morning in writing & reading. I purpose after dinner visiting my friends, the working man[’s] visiting days on the diggins, a man has very little inclination for going about much during the week after returning from a hard days work.
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[page torn out]
Bendigo A c d bef af & w C & a v u ? e ? f ? of
?
?
?
?
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[Continuing Wednesday, 15 August 1860]
in sorrow, I more bewildered than ever & very much embittered at Mrs Hambles Hamblys conduct, I went to Kings the following night, [Monday] (the first time for many months) they made me very welcome, & Isa was delighted. We sat together in her little room for hours, chatting away & very happy, the clouds of the night previous had vanished and we lived in the present once more -. last night Tuesday we went to the Dancing Class for a few hours. [Sunday, 19 August 1860] 20/7/60.[19th Aug] Lovely weather, Summer beginning with its clear skies & sunny days, such as only can be experienced in Australia. Things were looking very dull where I am at work, but some three days back Mr Nicholls & I while examining an old drive in one of the claims found a little thin rim* of quartz, which on inspection turned out to be auriferous, we set in a drive & found it got thicker & in breaking down the stone found some splendid specimens, some of
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them fairly encrusted with gold. The
Manager has put on about 20 men
who are raising the stone, the proprietors
are in good spirits & are asking absurd
prices for shares. I pity the buyers,
for Im sure its only a small patch
Ive had too much experience in quartz
mining not to know the difference between
a spur & a Reef as it is generally supposed
to be. I received a long letter from Fred
on the 17th. all well, had a letter from
Father very little news in it, Mary did not
like the form of my last letter to her
I trust she has more sense than to
despise advice that I meant for her
good I answered Freds the following day
& enclosed a pound Stg in it for Mother
I had a visit from L.Frazer on
Thursday he left for Melbourne the next
morning & I sent a message to Mother
by him. I went to see Mr Hooper
last night poor old man he looks
very ill, Mrs Hickey with baby was
there, on leaving there I joined Smith
& Hazlitt spent the evening in my
tent, singing, joking, Etc had supper
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& seperated about 12 — 9 am this
morning when I arose, paid Edward a
visit, he had just recvd a letter from my
mother, & enclosed in it was one from
my father to her — nothing important
in either — Spent the afternoon at
Hamiltons had tea, Mrs. H. was very
civil, I did not forget to let her know that
her illnatured remarks had not escaped
my memory — she pleaded zeal for me
as an excuse — I let her know that
I cared little for anyone who meddles
in my affairs, my own judgement with
regard to my own feelings, I thought
sufficient for their guidance. After tea
I called at Kings Isa & I took a
short strool together, very quiet
arrived here at 9 Pm, tis now 12
[Sunday, 26 August 1860]
27/7/60 Nice weather on the whole
Sunday, what a blessing is the Sabbath
& yet how ill spent it generally is
by diggers, working & slaving all the
week their minds & bodies appear to
be worn out, its usually spent in
reading (Novels) smoking & lounging
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about, the married digger appears for the
sake of his family to be a little more
particular & goes to Chapel once a day at
least. Tuesday night Smith & I spent at
G.Fowlers, he has a pretty cottage, & possesses
an harmonica, & being a good musician he
is good company, he is a gentleman & is
liked by all who know him, we spent
a pleasent evening, learning a Duet, “What
are the Wild Waves Saying”). Thursday night
I accompanied Smith, Dowding & Hazlitt to
the Theatre to see Mr & Mrs C.Holt perform
a piece of their own, called “Court & Stage”
their acting was good, but his reputation
would not increase were he to depend upon
his dramatic productions — we hired a cab
to bring us home, & through kicking up
such a row, by singing laughing Etc
we frightened the horse & had a very
narrow escape for our lives — I recd
a letter from Fred on Friday all well at
home, informs me that mother (most
wonderful to relate) had recvd per mail
a draft for £8.0.0 from Father. It
assisted in lessening the debt, mother
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has incurred in Melbourne since his absence
Last night I went into Sandhurst & not meeting anyone I know I went into the Theatre & was rather surprised to see my brother Ned, setting in the Boxes as large & grand, with the Miss Kings. I soon joined them, enjoyed ourselves well, On leaving them at home I walked out with Ned, had some supper with him, 2. OC this morning when I got to my tent, Late when my bed & I parted company this morning. In the afternoon went to Neds, found a young man named Henry Dight there, who has just arrived from Melbourne, he is an acquaintance of Freds, & knows our folks well — he is a carpenter & has a long job on Bendigo before him, to assist in making the Sludge channel[1][2] from the White Hills to Huntly he seems a nice young fellow — I left about 4 pm & walked about Sandhurst till 6 –“- & called at Kings, accompanied Mr. King & Isa to Church, after the service, Isa & I took a pleasent walk together. Great excitement has been caused on Bendigo, by the report that the Exploring party consisting of 14 men
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& 26 Camels, bound from Victoria to the
Gulf of Carpentaria headed by Ohara Burke
was within a few miles of Bendigo (Lockwood)
nearly everybody that was able to raise a
vehicle or conveyance went to see them
but all were doomed to disappointment
for the said party are some 30 miles off in
quite another direction — I wrote to
my Mother this morning & enclosed £1.0.0
[Sunday, 2 September 1860]
Sept 3rd [2nd] 1860 Beautiful weather, but
rather warm. Still at work for the N. Reef
working underground in a shaft 200 ft
deep all the week, driving in some very
hard sandstone, with ironstone veins running
through it, have to work very hard to do
a fair show of work — there are three
of us in one drive, we manage to put in
about 6 shots a day, 2 of us use the hammer
while one turns the drill, & after a shot, one
man wheels the mullock to the mouth of
the Shaft, another squares up the drive
while the other usually climbs up the shaft
& heaves up the mullock to the surface.
Monday night I went to Sandhurst called for Isa & having an order for the Theatre, went to see "Ambition" playd
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Tuesday night I went to Hoopers, left
about 9. pm came home & dressed, for the Q
party, fine company there, wound up with
a good supper 3 OC next morning when
I left, felt very seedy next day.
Wednesday evening I walked into Sandhurst (3 miles no joke when ones tired) called at Hamiltons, met a Mrs. White there, an aunt of Mrs. H. (I met once before at Eldreds) I dont like her, her husband Mr W was one of the intimate friends of fathers who assisted in sending him to England she was pleasent to me, but I had an instinct feeling which told me it was assumed Jim & I left them & took a strool about Sandhurst, had a fine lark to- gether, went to Freemans Pastry Cook shop, flirted with a couple of waitresses most ardently, 12 oclock when I got home precious tired, through not having my proper quantity of sleep the night previous. Nature wont do to be abused, she makes one suffer for plunging into excesses, Thursday & Friday night remained at home reading a variety of stuff. Last night Saturday, Ned came over & had tea with me, & having a shilling
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or two each — left from our extravagance, we
walked into Bendigo & visited the Theatre
saw Holt in "Macbeth" I liked him
in the character, the Lady M was a
most miserable attempt, (Mrs. C.Holt)
she is just tolerable in Comedy & thats
all — Raining hard all day spent the
morning reading & writing, after dinner
Smith & I went to G.Fowlers, several
musicians dropped in & what with the
instrumental & vocal, we had a Concert
several there being the leading musical
men of Sandhurst, late when we
broke up — after spending a pleasent day
[Sunday, 23 September 1860] 25th [23rd] Sept 1860 Three weeks since I continued my journal want of inclination, for I cant complain of want of time for its not been so very much occupied after work hours. — Im beginning to look upon keeping such an uninteresting journal as mine is as pure waste of time, but having kept it so long Im loath to discontinue it, it serves me as a thing of reference — & a time may come when it may afford me pleasure to look over its pages, on looking over it now it brings up many associations that I would
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otherwise have forgotten, Sundays being
my “day" I shall commence by noting
how Ive spent, to a Professing Christian, not
well — but to me very pleasently, for
Ive spent them with her, who is as
dear to me as life itself, my own
sweet Isa, last Sunday not being well
she came out to see me. I showed her
over the Nelson Reef Works had a
pleasent walk about the ranges in
the neighbourhood, had tea together
in my tent provided so nicely by Mrs.
Drew — walked into Bendigo together
called at Hamiltons, rather late when
I got home, this morning I had a fine
walk through the Bush about 9
miles to the Whip Stick Scrub to
order a lot of sawn timber for
the Company, had I been on pleasure
I would have enjoyed myself, but being
on business, I did not, such is the
perversity of human nature — We
have been very busy on the Reef
lately, but had a holiday on Friday
in consequence of the ceremony of
christening the Engines. Mrs. F-
did the thing cleverly with a bottle
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of Champagne, one of the Engines is now
called the Trafalgar, the small one (16
horse power for winding purpose) the
Nile, Nelsons two great victories, its
generally admitted to be very appropriate
nearly everybody in the neighbourhood
got drunk, there being plenty of beer
& eatables provided, Mr F. gave me
preference of any job I liked about the
works. I chose the Crushing machine
feeding & washing out, the hours are very
long 12 hours a day & every alternate
week night shift. I fancy it will
be more healthy than working under
ground. Friday night a party of us
went to hear an old favourite of mine
Barlow the little wonder, he is the
most versatile genius I ever heard
of has an excellent voice, either for
comic or sentimental songs, can play
most every instrument, in fact
can produce music out of anything
Ive received 2 letters from mother since I last wrote, answered one seems days back & enclosed 30/. in it. Mrs. Drew was confined of a boy early in week
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[My] friend Frazer came from town a few
days ago & brought up a parcel from
mother & gave me a long a/c about
those at home — Etc I wrote to her
to day & sent her £1.0.0. Ned is not
doing much at the machine Im
afraid they will get into difficulties
if things dont mend with them
I gave Ned £1.0.0, so Im pretty
hard up myself just now, I paid
him a visit this afternoon & found
Isa & her brother John there, passed
the afternoon very pleasently, walked
into Sandhurst with them in the
evening, left them rather abruptly
in consequence of the coach for the
Gullies coming by at the time &
not feeling disposed to walk out
I jumped up — & so got home
early. I forgot to state I wrote to
my father last week, I wonder
if he will answer it, Query —
October 2nd [Sep 30] ]1860. Weather very unsettled Been raining hard all day, much to my annoyance & disgust, for being Sunday & a day I look forward to with so much
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pleasure. I had promised to meet Isa
& Ive been disappointed. I entered upon
my new job on Monday morning, &
have got sick of it already, what with
the long hours, & the attention & anxiety
attaching it, my very soul & body gets
weary, 12 hours work amid the din of
the Crushers, can’t hear myself speak
doesn't suit me — Im told I shall get ac-
customed to it. Im afraid not — I managed
to go into Sandhurst, Wednesday night, called
at Kings, Isa was alone, & what with
singing, reading some beautiful passages from
some poetical works she has, & delightful
conversation, such as only those that love
can understand I spent some
four hours — She gave me a splendid
portrait of herself (Batchelder took the
day — before) I never saw such a perfect
likeness of anyone as it is) wont I prize
it. It was 1 am next morning when I
got to my tent, I receivd a letter from
Mother, all well, she had, per favour of
a passenger X "Gt Britain" receivd a parcel
from my father, containing 12 *Sovereigns
some religious works, & drawing books
for my sisters. I must be thinking
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of going to bed (6 pm) for Ive to be
at work by 12 OC tonight, next week
being my night shift
October 7th Nice weather during the past week. Feel tired & knocked up, after my nightly labours. I cant get enough sleep in the day time, my nature seems to object to the unusual mode of making day into night. I did not go out of the Gully during the week, until yesterday afternoon, (after spending the whole of the morning in bed) when I went into Sandhurst partly on our Managers account & also to make some purchases for myself in the shape of a new Sunday Coat & hat & gloves) arrived back by 6.OC went on to work until 12 pm to finish my week. Rose this morning at 11. am after dinner, I went over to Neds hut, we walked into Bendigo, called at Kings, found nobody at home, at least none of the young ones, rather disappointed heard they had gone early in the morning with a large party (picnicing on a Sabbath rather objectionable) to Axe- dale, I dont think they will enjoy themselves for it has been a wretched
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day, drizzling rain & high winds —
We got wet through coming home going a considerable way towards cooling my passion, what with the rain & the disappointment of not seeing Isa, however Ive been spending the evening in the company of Gibbons in the shape of his "history" — its really splendid. Im passionately fond of Ancient history — I wrote to mother since my return & sent her £2.0.0 My brother Ned giving me 13/. towards the sum —
[Sunday, 14 October 1860] Oct 15th [14th] 1860. Wretched weather & to crown my misery a wet Sunday Tuesday night I went to the Kings met Ned there passed a jolly evening laughing over their last Sundays spree Wednesday night I spent at Hoopers the old man is worse — Friday night I went to the Theatre, met Fowler & Murdoch, after the performance we rambled about Market Square fell in with an old acquaintance a pretty woman, I used to know on Dunolly & Ararat, she used to be with or accompanied Madam Barre or take part in that ladys classical
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entertainments the "Poses Plastiques"
we had supper in a snug little parlour
of an Hotel, didnt get home till
3 am next morning — last night I
went to Happy Valley to assist Mr
Halley, our new Superintendant on
the Nelson Reef, to bring his things
to Mrs. Drews, where he is going to
take up his quarters, the little Ive
seen of him I like, however — being
tent mates, I shall know him better
ere long. I went into Sandhurst
this morning per invitation to dine at
Kings, had a fine dinner, after which
Isa & I took a walk out to Neds hut
he provided tea for us. I was obliged
to leave early & come home to try &
get a little sleep before going to work
at 12 oclock to night — I dont feel
inclined to sleep, but if I dont I shall
suffer before morning — I forgot to
mention that Ned received a letter
from father, I wonder if he intends
honoring me with one —
21st Oct 1860 Alive & kicking which means in polite parlance (I suppose that Im in the enjoyment of good health & spirits — George Drew (who takes the
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the opposite shift to me on the "Works")
& I have arranged the division of our
labour, different than formerly — we change
shifts at 12 OC. this past week — I went
on last Sunday night at 12 & worked till 12
Monday noon — George came on & worked till
12 at night & so on, by this means we
both get 6 hours of the night, the only
objection I have to the arrangement, is that
we only get one evening to ourselves in the
fortnight. Yesterday Saturday my week ended
at 12 (noon) Spent the afternoon in bed
so had the night to myself, I dont go on
to work till Monday at noon — Last night
I went into Sandhurst, visited the Theatre
left in disgust at the close of the first Act
met Ned &
Dight— & J.King, knocked about
till 1 this morning, honouring nearly every
place of amusement with our presence for
a short time, Dance rooms, Free & Easys &
Concert Rooms — Rose late this morning &
had a long chat with Mr. Halley (my new
tent mate) he is a clever man – was a
member of the Andersonian Institute (Glasgow
where he was in business as an Engineer
but through the failure of an extensive
Steamer firm, whose boats he had fitted
up, was the cause of his failure, there
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are several Engines in the Colony, made by
him, with his name on them) I may
consider myself very fortunate in thus
being so connected with such a man — he
is exceedingly modest in his manner & simple
in his habits — a true philosopher, but a
man who possesses a deal of energy &
perseverance — he has been very unfortunate
in the colonies, fitted up a large crushing
plant & extensive machinery on Blackwood
with Mr Froggart, which ruined them both
& now they are both engaged in conducting
the works of the Nelson on fixed salaries
rather a drop for them — Mr H. is
very kind to me always willing to
instruct me & in such a way that he
makes me feel Im doing him a favour, by
relieving him of a portion of his knowledge
After dinner I went into Sandhurst & called for Isa, took a cab & brought her out here, showed her over our works & the lions of the Gully, had tea together & had a pleasent walk afterwards to her house — after resting a little time we again sallied forth, sat down on an old favourite spot of ours in the Camp Reserve where we told our tale of love over again, 10 OC when we parted, 11 when I got home I received a letter from mother on Tuesday, in which she informed me she had received a legacy from England £17.0.0, it paid some of her debts) I wrote & sent her £1.0.0
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| 2/143 |
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California Gully Oct 1860 —
28th Nice weather, Summer setting in Monday morning I went to Mr Hoopers he is no better, went to work at 12 — & done nothing else since, except reading a little. I think it very hard we should have to work six, twelve hours a day, right through the week, while all the rest only work 10 & leave at 4 pm on Saturdays, one thing our work is not hard, but very tedious & monotonous & requires a deal of attention, we are also out of the sun & rain the machine we attend being under a large Shed — Im afraid I shall get deaf the Stampers make such an infernal noise, George Fowler called for me this morning, to go with him to the Church in Long Gully. Ive been several times before I did join the choir but had not time to attend the rehearsals — but whenever I go I usually enter it, George & I were the only males there this morning, so we had a fine opportunity of displaying our vocal powers some very nice young ladies there but have wretched voices. I intended going into Sandhurst this afternoon but the weather is not very agreeable & I was afraid If I went, I may be induced
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to remain, & having to go on to work
to night at 12, it wouldnt do to neglect
the sleep I require — 4 o'c now, so
into bed I purpose tumbling at once
My brother Ned & J King I see coming
along the road. Ive just told Mrs. Drew
to tell them Im asleep & must not be
disturbed, what a wretched way to pass
ones life —
Nov 4th 1860 Weather very hot my weeks works finished yesterday Saturday 12 O.C. so I dont go on till 12 tomorrow. Tuesday I received a long letter from Mother & also another from Fred full of Town talk, all well at home — my sister Mary quite got over her attack. I wrote to Mother this morning & sent her £2.0.0 I spent Tuesday evening at Kings, saw Isa she was glad to see me, we are trying (or Im doing so) to be but as ordinary friends towards each other tho’ somehow or another on making our adieus, our lips come in contact as by an irresistible impulse that recognises no law but that of inclination
I was introduced to a Mr. Edwards of whom Ive heard Isa speak about a young man that came from Scotland
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in the same ship with her & her father
(who came out alone, only lately tho not
Mrs K. & the rest of the family arrived)
& I believe they became attached to each
other, & would have been united, but he
led rather a dissolute life after his landing
she had not seen him for near 4 years
& now he springs up, I hear a reformed
man, he has a contract or is employed
by the Contractors for the New jail on
Sandhurst. I feel a little jealous, but
if he renews his addresses, I wont stand
in his way, for Isa & I broke our
engagement mutually, & I dont care
what she does, if she is rendered happy
My brother Ned has made his acquaintance & being room in his hut for another he has allowed Edwards to live with him I dont like the fellow somehow an instinct makes me think he is not what he would like people to think he is, I dont know what to call it (a want of sincerity, is the nearest definition I can think of. I could never think such a man could supplant me in Isas affections I went into Sandhurst yesterday evening, & called at Kings took Isa to the Theatre late when I got
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to Neds where I slept for the night
but came here to Breakfast, spent the
morning reading. In the afternoon
I went to Neds, J.King, & Isa
called immediately after, spent the
afternoon very pleasently, had tea there
& in the evening Isa & I took
a walk found ourselves at length
seated on our dear little spot in
the Camp Reserve, as loving together
as if we were to be married in the morning
making ourselves (this is on reflection)
more miserable than ever —
11 o'c when I got home, nearly
1 now, poor human nature how
weak & frail under temptation
after all our resolutions to again
be guilty of giving vent to passions
that under our circumstances should
be subdued. Its very fine old folks
talking, but where two young impassioned
natures meet, away flies philosophy
and reason in connection with the
hearts affections —
Nov 11th 1860 Lovely weather still at the Nelson Crushing Machine been a reduction in the wages but I am happy to state, not in mine
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Im getting 5/. per week more than the
other men on the ground, there being
more responsibility attached to my
situation, last week about 2,000 oz of
gold passed through my hands, we
are crushing for the public (not hav’g
stone of our own) we had some
stone from the Johnson Reef that
realized something like 40 oz per ton
I got away from work last night
at 7.30, instead of 12 pm, owing to
some derangement in the machinery
I went to see Mr. Hooper, poor old man he is much worse, his belly is getting a fearful size, owing to the tumour increasing — Minnie was there with her baby the prettiest child I ever saw. This morning I wrote to Fred — & read till dinner time. In the afternoon, I went to Hoopers had a chat for an hour with H. he speaks very despondingly, but thanks God for sparing his life so long, from there I went to Neds, Edwards was there & tolerably pleasent. We three went into Sandhurst
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& called at Kings, Edwards & I stayd
tea — from his manner towards
me seeing Isa prefer my conversation
to his, Im sure he hates me, at
times his features bore a most
malevolent expression, however I
took no notice of him or his looks
& spent a very pleasent evening, the
12 pm now, time for bed, if the
machine had been all right I
should have to go on to work
instead of going to bed, as it is, Im
to be there at 6 in the morning
Nov th. 18th.1860. Weather very warm summer set in, in all its intensity — Been hard at work, getting horribly disgusted with my job at the Machine such long hours & the work is so monotonous, not a soul to speak to for 12 hours, to one with a temp~ like mine, possessing an active mind & fond of excitement, such a life as Im leading would kill me soon Ive no time to go into company If I do its at a sacrifice of rest when I do go out that I dont derive much pleasure. For instance I left work at 12 on Friday, midday after 12 hours
|
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hours labour, & went to bed at one &
slept until 6, had my tea & went
into Bendigo & took Isa to hear
the Oratorio of the Creation (it was
done very credibly by some 50 per-
formers, all amateurs & I enjoyed
it very much), 11 pm
when it was over, had to make
a hasty adieu to Isa & walk home
3 miles, had 10 minutes to change
my clothes & get to work by 12 &
did 12 hours work — so where was
my pleasure! I was so sick & exhausted
on leaving work yesterday noon, I
threw myself down on the floor of
my tent, without waiting for any
thing to eat & slept till 6 pm
on rising I washed & dressed & then
walked 4 miles to Golden Square to
see Hamilton, (where he is at present
living) spent the evening with them
gave him £2.0.0 being the balance
of what I owed him, tho I shall
always consider myself in his debt
for the many kindnesses he has
shown me since our acquaintance
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he informs me he has sold his share
on the Redan, or Sophia Reef for £700
half cash the rest in 6 months, he
has long purposed visiting his fathers
home in Scotland, & now he has the
means, he intends leaving here in a
fortnights times, heaven prosper him
wherever he goes — I shall be very
sorry at his absence, especially, as
he thinks of remaining there — it
was 12 O.C when I arrived home
I wrote to Mother this morning & I enclosed £2.0.0 in the letter — After dinner I went to Neds, we went into Kings & in company *with Isa & Mary & there brother John took a cab & rode to Kangaroo Flat from there walked to Allens had some refreshments & visited the "Break 0 day Reef" & rambled about the ranges through the Scrub & Bush, not very pleasent travelling for ladies with extensive Crinolines, got back to Kings by 7, had tea & left at 9 pm — walked home, called at the hut & had a chat with Burchell
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Nov 26th.1860 Very hot weather all
the week, one comfort I work in the
shade, the greatest fault I have is
when I have to sleep in the day time
in the tent. I find it most oppressing
I left work at 12 Saturday night & slept until 10 am yesterday morn rose & dressed, went to the Long Gully Church, very poorly attended places of worship dont appear very attractive places out in the gullies verifying my general idea about Church goers. I think 19 out of 20 would not go but to see & to be seen the word of God & the salvation of souls is a very ordinary consideration with the majority. On leaving the Church I met my brother Ned & couzin Harry with their horses & drays just returning from the bush with a couple of loads of firewood (query, rather doubtful about the propriety of such Sabbath work the idea struck me & I moralized over it whilst accompanying them
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to their hut. I had dinner with
them which I prepared myself –
quite a novelty to be a cook again
after living at a Boarding house so
long — after dinner I went into Sand
& called at Kings, old folks out, no
one at home but Isa, I thought
her manner was not as it is usually
there appeared a want of consistency
about her which to me seemed unusual
& strange, sometimes full of her accustomed
enthusiasm & at other times distant & reserved
I was rather pained by her manner
Ned & Harry
Dight called & had
tea after which I left got home
by 7 pm went to bed, & rose at
12, not having slept a wink &
feeling wretched & tired, however I
had to go to work & have just returned,
waiting for dinner — ere
I turn into bed again, what a life
I received a letter from mother on
Saturday all well, tells me she is
just 50 years of age, my poor
mother, she has led a sad miserable
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life from a variety of causes. I would
I could render her declining years happier
4pm.
I called at Hoopers this afternoon, & I
heard there from Scoty that he had
met Isa my Isa with Edwards
nearly every night last week
what can I do or think of such a
thing, I was positively savage when
I heard it. I cannot believe she can
think seriously about him, tho’ now
I remember she always spoke most
compassionately of him, which I
ascribed to her charitable spirit
& I feel miserable, my very soul seems
torn from me — who can I blame
but myself. I must have sickened her
with my manner during the past
6 months. I ought to have been
prepared for this, yet I could never
realize the idea of losing her. I had
hoped something would have turned
up, that might have given me en
couragement to look forward for
a happy consummation of our love
I cursed her when I heard it. I ought
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to have cursed myself for being such
an idiot as to find myself on her
to have continued our intimacy, when
we first agreed to be nothing more
than friends. I feel ashamed of
permitting my passion getting the
better of my judgement, wont I
steel my heart, at least, in her presence
she shall never know the pang her
conduct has caused me — While she
was single I would never look at another
being, bearing the shape of woman
with affection, I dont wish to see
her again, but I will & tell her
what I think of her
December 2nd 1860. Lovely weather Went to work at 12 last Sunday night — Tuesday night I paid a man to work in my place & I went to Golden Square to bid Hamiltons Good bye — I was rather astonished to find Isa King there, who had being spending the day with them I was very cool towards her I could not conceal from her, that
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of Edwards attentions toward her &
what I thought about such behaviour
had it been anyone else I would
not have noticed it, for we have only
been as very dear friends to each other
the last few months, except at times
when we forgot ourselves, she wished
me to meet her the following night
but unfortunately or fortunately (is
a matter for after consideration) it
turned out very wet, & she was not
at the place appointed — being the
first time I ever knew her to break
an engagement. I had weighed as
I thought every consideration & had
come to the conclusion that if she
was agreeable we would get married
at once — I felt my very happiness
for life depended upon it, & was fully
determined to risk all consequences –
my wages are enough to support us
& my brother Ned is out of debt
& I think would be able to assist
mother, as I have hitherto done
But man proposes & God disposes
my feeling underwent a complete
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| 2/156 |
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revolution ere I returned home — I
met Ned about an hour after the
appointed time, who told me he had
just met Isa & Edwards together
going to the Theatre. I thought if
she could go there in the rain she
might have met me per promise
& my feelings were very bitter. Ned
& I went to the Theatre & saw them
she looked very pale & anxious I
thought, as if she had been guilty
of committing some crime & was afraid
she was being discovered — the play
did not interest me much that night
I got out in time to go to work
doing my work in a most mechanical
manner. I went to Church this
morning, after dinner called at
Neds went with him into
Sandhurst. Ned had to call at
Kings so I thought Id go in, found
Edwards there, I just spoke to
Isa, did not stay a minute –
took a cab & rode to Golden Square
called on Mr & Mrs Hamiltons
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| 2/157 |
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spent the afternoon & had tea with
them & bade them once more adieus
felt very sad at parting with them
for Jim is the only man I ever
met I feel a truly lasting sincere
regard for, & tho we may never
meet again, he will ever remain
fresh in my heart & memory, he
leaves on Wednesday for Melbourne)
I called at Kings (on leaving Jims) for
Ned (Isa & Eds, out for a strool) –
received consolation from Mr. K. &
Mary, such as its all your own
fault. Isa had told them we had
broken off our engagement, & that
I had no right to let her present
conduct, influence me – Etc — Etc.
I feel very lonely, sad & miserable
losing my best friend — & the only
being I think my soul will ever
yearn after – tho’ whatever may
turn up, I should never think
of Isa again as I have done
I would not marry her now if
it would save my life, tho I love her
still
|
| 2/158 |
441
I wrote to mother this morning &
sent her £2.0.0. I will post it tomorrow
9th. December 1860 Weather very unsettled the last few days, been hard at work, visited little, the only thing in the shape of pleasure Ive had, is Mr Halleys Company & Conversation, which I’ve stated before is very interesting. I learn something from him every day, "light my candle from his lamp" — called at Mr Hoopers on Tuesday morning. Old H. is worse, occasionally delirious — Minnie was there & several old neighbours who were very anxious to know when I was to be married. I had to submit to a severe ordeal, they little knew how every word pricked me — I forgive them they meant no harm, Minnie was the only one who seemed to know how things stood, she spared me — & turned the tables upon them — with a pleasent fire of raillery. Mr. Halley & I left the tent early this morning & took a long walk about the Gullys, looking at the Reefs & both being well known, we did not get home till tea time
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California Gully 1860 Dec
[Sunday, 30 December 1860]
29th.Decr.1860. Three weeks since I
continued my journal. Been working
away as usual, alternate night & day
shifts — passed my Christmas very
quietly, X mas day J.Hall, J.Barrow,
& I hired a horse & trap & drove down
to Huntly, after some refreshments we
started to drive through Sandhurst & to
Kangaroo Flat, stopping at every public
House on the road, the day was very
hot, my two companions were drunk
by the time we arrived back, after tea
I took a cab & went into Sandhurst
met Ned at Kings on passing,
(Isa out with Edds.) had a chat
with the old folks — (I was there
on Sunday, but did not speak to
Isa, its more than a month since
I spoke to her, how strange, who
would imagine that this unnatural
coolness could spring up between
two beings that professed to love
each other as we did, what an
incomprehensible thing is the human heart)
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Walked to the hut with Ned, he has
been very ill during the past fortnight
but Im happy to state he is now recovering
I wrote to mother a fortnight ago & sent her £1.0.0. I also wrote this morning & sent her £2.0.0. Ive recd 2 letters within this last 3 weeks they are all well at home, but they are disappointed by my not going to see them this X mas, the fact Ive neither time nor means, nobody in the Company’s employ could take my place without a weeks instruction & then would not do the work in a satisfactory manner, & what with my expenses & sending my mother money I find it impossible to save enough to visit them, as I should like to do — I long to see my dear mother & sisters it seems years since I had that pleasure This morning I called at Hoopers, found him still lingering, hardly knew me – on leaving there I went to the hut Burchell was the only one there, had a long chat with him, we went into Sandhurst together, visited the Church at the conclusion of the Service, I met
|
| 2/161 |
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Mrs Hickey (Minnie), I walked home
with her, we are very confidential to
each other, she tells me a deal of
sorrow & troubles (few pleasures poor
girl falls to her lot) & I tell her
some of mine I left her at her
mothers, got home here about 9 pm
nearly 12 Pm now, time for bed —
1st February 1861 A month since I wrote up my journal, getting very careless & neglectful Ive little inclination, the life Im leading is of such a character, that I find Ive little pleasure in noting how my time is spent. I feel ashamed sometimes on looking over these pages to what little purpose Im living for, if it wasnt for that bright star of our existence "Hope", what poor miserable wretches we should be Im still in the Companys employ but not at the same job. Im engaged now, as Banksman or Lander at the Engine Shaft, it is the only part of the works, where any work
|
| 2/162 |
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is being done at present. The capital
is getting low, & they wish to strike
the Reef that is supposed to exist
on the West side of the Shaft. I like
my present job much better than the
other I had, the work is not of such
a monotonous character, there is some
anxiety attached to it, the slightest mistake
in the signals might cause the death
of those below or injure the machine
I have to land the water & stuff as
it is hoisted up, assist in repairing
the tools & dress the timbers necessary
for securing the ground
I have heard from my mother twice once from my sister Mary — & was agreeably surprised at receiving a long [letter] from Jim Hamilton, (who I had fancied was ploughing the ocean near Cape Horn -) he informs me he is settled down in Swanston St. (Melbourne) where he has purchased the business of an "Ornithologist", his family & self are well — how I laughed to hear of Jim turning Bird fancier — Im afraid he wont be fortunate in his new profession, as in his old one he’ll dwindle his money away & then return
|
| 2/163 |
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1/2/1861 -
to old Bendigo again. I wrote him a
long letter full of my opinions & advice
I dont think he’ll thank me — I wrote
to Mother a fortnight ago & sent her
£2.0.0 wrote also yesterday & sent her
£1.0.0 My brother Ned is still unwell
was laid up a fortnight & managed
to get considerably into debt. I have
been unwell the past week, lost 2
days work, £1.0.0 out of my pocket
no joke these times. Ive been to
Church every Sabbath evening since I
last wrote, met the Kings but never
spoke to Isa, until last Sunday when
I met Mr. King who insisted upon
me going home to tea with him, Isa
presided at the table, & was very
affable & agreeable smiled as bright
& looked as lovely & pretty as ever — I
dare say to other eyes, but not in mine
I called her Miss King she called me
as usual, as if nothing had occurred
to distroy the feeling that used to exist
between us, what thoughts crowded
into my mind during the short time
I sat opposite her. I couldnt understand
her, she was as calm & selfpossessed
|
| 2/164 |
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met my eye as steady as a statue —
I enquired after Edwards & was told
he had not been there for a month
I had heard such was the case, & also
that his past professions of contrition for
past misdeeds was but assumed, —
after tea was over Mary informed
me that while on Bendigo, he had
saved up £40.0.0 with the intention
of getting married, he had left them
one evening & went to some Gambling
Saloon & lost every penny of it, & had
left Bendigo for a situation in Inglewood
She also told me, that some years ago
he was engaged to Isa, when she was a
mere child, that circumstances had
seperated them for years until they
met again on Bendigo, when finding
her disengaged, & professing repentance
for his past negligence, she was
induced to go with him again — Mr. King
has a large family & Isa is over 20 &
he thought or thinks it time she was
married, & knowing I wasnt in a
position to unite myself to her, he had
advised her to accept Edwards, Mary
told me that Isa had admitted to her
but a week ago, that she loved me
dearer than any object on earth — Mr. K.
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| 2/165 |
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knows nothing of Edwards late gamblings
& falling off in his promises to reform –
poor Isa she must be more wretched
than I am — her prospect of happiness
with such a being must be small
Mary told me that she heard Edwards
make Isa promise never to speak
to me — how unmanly of him & —
so accounts for her passing me without
scarcely recognising me — her heart is
fairly crushed, & her mind bewildered. Mary made
me promise never to breath a
word about our conversation. Isa would
never forgive her if she knew what
she had told me — I have Isa’s
portraits which I have long intended
to return to her — she has mine which I
purpose getting from her —
In one of my mothers letters, she informs me she had received a letter from father, & he was engaged as agent for some Coal Merchant in Lancashire – having given up business on his own account I hope he will be successful but Im rather doubtful, for he is so fond of changes never can persevere or stick to one thing I fancy his must be a wretched life so very far from his family, with no one
|
| 2/166 |
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[to] comfort him should he be sick or in
distress, no home — no sympathy, living
with strangers — Im sure there is no
one in our family that feels for him
as I do — & still Ive been accused of being
the most prejudiced against — him, with
the exception of my mother Ive have the
most to complain of from his treatment
but I forgive him as freely as it is possible
to do so — It grieves me to know & see how
my mother has had to struggle on against
so many adversities, working like any common
sempstress to support her family, she
with her fine mind, refined & cultivated
habits & manners & at her time of life
seems very hard — how comfortable we
might be if Ned & I were living with
them, what we earn would keep us very
comfortable. Ive no desire to see them
on the diggins — nor yet do I see how I
could live with them — in Melbourne — God
help me Ill try to act a sons part to
her, my mother —
Ive been to the Theatre twice since my last entry, once to see G.V.Brooke & Miss Avonia Jones play "Macbeth" the finest acting I ever witnessed in my life There has been another novelty — the March Troupe comprising a company of some 30 girls who play drama remarkably well —
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2/2/61
February 2nd 1861 My 22nd. Birthday –
how time flies. I dont appear to be getting
any better with increasing years, in a
worldly sense — Ive perhaps been a gainer
by the experiences Ive undergone — I went
to see Old Hooper, had a long chat with
him, his end is drawing near fast,
Minnie was there, she had been on a
visit to her mother the last month
we are very good friends & often have
a laugh over our sentimental days
10th February 1861. Another week nearer the grave — Been hard at work, regular slavery — just now at the shaft, a deal of wet. Ive been working below this week no joke — we are wet through before we get to the bottom of the shaft & then to have to work for 8 hours in water makes one very tired & unfit to go out visiting Etc afterwards — my week finished yesterday at 1 Pm (Saturday) after tea last evening, in company with a fellow workman named Joe Beale I went into Sandhurst, visited the Shamrock or Theatre Royal, saw the Marsh Troup
|
| 2/168 |
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play or perform the "Sea of Ice" a very
sensational drama — on leaving we visited
some friends of Joes — not very reputable
ones I fancy — didnt get home until 4
am this morning, after Breakfast I
went to see Mr. Hooper — he is still lingering
what a short step there is between the grave
& him, whenever I visit him I think it is
the last time. It ought to make one pause
in a wicked career & produce reflections
on the brevity of life & not to spend it
idly or in vain, but to be prepared for
that great trial we are sent into the
world to bear — Death — so that we
may live again in glory everlasting –
& not leave the saving of our souls for
lifes last moments. Its very seldom
such reflections cross my mind. Ive led
such a strange life & been thrown into
such a strange mixture of good & bad company
that Ive acquired habits of free thinking
that are not altogether orthodox I fear
I take up the Bible & read it sometimes
as I would a work of fiction, its truly
marvellous morality, I think is very
fine but rather Utopian — but still
|
| 2/169 |
452
a religion that all refined minds would
adapt to [than] that of any other Ive any
conception of. I fancy Christs comforting
angel was his own good conscience no Satan
tempted him but that which every man
carries in his own bosom, his evil passion
I think that in the worlds society there
are people far superior to others in moral
excellence — kind of moral pillars, which
I think Christ is the highest, he was one
who had conquered himself, which ought
& I believe is the object of professing
Christians that there was such a being
as Christ I dont doubt, & that he was a
man in whom was condensed all that
was good & elevated in mans nature
a kind of demigod who had conquered the
same passions we combat, that he
had his faults is very possible, but owing
to the partiality of his biographers, we
have not been shown them — perhaps
Ive not read or studied Theology sufficiently
to state or have opinions upon the subject
but such thoughts flash across my mind
until they form into substances — with
regard to happiness, I fancy from the
experience Ive had, that is to be
Completely changed my views on the subject, (J.H.W. 1870)
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| 2/170 |
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had on earth, we must look for it, not
in the world, or the things of the world
but within ourselves, in our temper –
& in our hearts, a kind of spiritualism
that I feel convinced belongs to the soul &
of divine origin, a feeling or sensation that
however depraved human nature may
become, will never be effaced —
In the afternoon I went to the Church in Long Gully heard Revd Haywood preach walked over to the hut had tea there then went to hear the Revd Fletcher who of all men or preachers on Bendigo I think I could profit under — if I could get over that unnatural spirit of contradiction that I possess — its a great blemish in any ones character to doubt & endeavour to turn & construe what is good & what in my heart I feel is true into ridicule. After the service I met Mr. King & Isa just shook hands with them & came home
March 10th 1861 Just a month since I wrote last — getting very negligent of late. Still at work on the Nelson Reef the last 3 weeks, all day work — I like it much better, enjoy better health – we have finished sinking the Engine Shaft
|
| 2/171 |
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220 ft deep. We left a well 8 ft deep &
put in a plat[e] & have set in two drives
or cross cuts in East the other West — I
trust we may soon strike the Reefs –
for the affairs of the Company are at a
low – ebb — the valuable Crushing plant
is standing idle, they purpose making
some improvements in it & commence
crushing for the Public again — so I
expect next week I will have to take my
old post again — & give up my present
one at the Shaft —
I recvd, much to my surprise a letter from my father, no family news in it but lots of advice, cautioning against the vices young men are so prone to indulge in, sensual enjoyment, smoking, drinking Etc & a long tirade against matrimony my brother Ned had informed him I was courting & so drew his conclusions I think it will be a long time till I think of such a thing as marrying — I got a letter from mother that made me uneasy, my little sister Bessie was dangerously ill, I answered it & sent her £2.0.0 afortnight [ago] Ive heard since from her, that she has quite recovered
|
| 2/172 |
455
I also wrote to her to day & sent her
£2.0.0 & as long as Im able Ill
endeavour to send her £1.0.0 per week
I heard from Fred sometime back, he sent me some pieces of music — I had a letter from Hamilton last week he & family are well — doesn't state how his business [is] in answering. Last Sunday Ned & I walked to Huntly (or 3 miles beyond there) to see Harrry Dight, — had dinner with him, had a look over the Steam Saw Mills, where he works — took a ramble in Bush shot some 20 parrots enjoyed ourselves very much walked back to Huntly, where Harry introduced us to a young lady, a friend of his, very pretty, & I fancy that is all can be said in her favour, she is evidently an adventuress & is making a fool of Harry, who she wants to erect her a place — she purposes opening a library, in connection with a shanty I advised him to cut her, the acquaintance will do him no good — she invited me dinner (next Sunday (to day)) but Ive had no intention of going too far for a joke — we were very tired when we got home, tho we rode half way —
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I went to a Ball three weeks ago
at the "White Horse Hotel" a grand affair
I went to the Theatre last night with
Joe Beale, did not come home till this
morning 9 am — This afternoon I
went to Hoopers, he is still alive, Mrs
H. was in great trouble, Scoty who lives
with them broke out on the spree again
& got into a deal of trouble, from there
I went to the hut, Ned away
had tea with Harry & Burchell, after
which I went to Church, called at King’s
to return a book Ive long had of Isa’s
I did not stay long, she looked very *nice
It would not do [to] visit there much I
am getting weaned of my passion for her
tho Im leading a very different life now
than I did when I used to keep her company
Company & scenes I frequent I dont care
about referring to in my journal, in
after days may be a reproach, tho
thought of them is sufficient, without
putting such things in character
I was very happy & far more virtuous
and morally inclined when she was
my only companion than now — Ive
somewhere heard or read that there
|
| 2/174 |
457
is nothing in human life more
amiable & respectable than the character
of a truly virtuous & lovely girl, as man
will acquire a better moral tone by
keeping such company, if he is so fortunate
in falling into such — I rode home
tis very late — when I commence to
write, I dont like to stop, sometimes)
[Sunday, 17 March 1861]
March 18:th 1861 Weather very hot during
the past week, the diggers are in great
want of water, many of puddling and
Crushing Machines, are stopped working
& many men out of work in Consequence
I have not been well this past week owing to a bad cold & working such irregular hours. We have been laying down the pumps in the Engine Shaft I went to work on Monday morning, left it at noon & slept during the afternoon, had to go on at 6 Pm & work all night & so on all the week, in the day time we get down the pipes, & at night have to bail the water out Tuesday I went to Hoopers — Im getting tired of going Mrs. H. quite bores me with her recitals of her sorrows — not but what I can sympathise with her, but she seems to have stored them up for my particular
|
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edification whenever I visit her.
I have received no letters since I last wrote — I commenced what will be a long letter to Father, which I intend to send by the next English Mail
My brother Ned paid me a visit this morning & remained to dinner, there machine is not very well, it cost them so much to have to hire 2 horses & dray they have bought a horse & cart of their own last week, its not quite paid for but they hope to be out of debt in a fortnights time. I went over to the hut to see the horse, he looks satisfactory
We went into Sandhurst, visited the baths had a bathe, met J.King, accompanied him home, Isa away on a visit had tea, Mary is getting a nice girl what a change there is in her since I first knew her — went to Church had a long chat about Isa — left her about 9. Pm took a cab & rode home.
April 7th. Three weeks since I last wrote up my journal, nothing particular to note — finished laying down the pumps so there will be no more night work for the Banksman — but unfortunately Ive lost that job, not through any
|
| 2/176 |
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fault on my part, but one of the
Engineers is to be dispensed with & he
wants employment & as he has not been
accustomed to any thing like mining, there
was no job he could take except the one
I had where the only qualities needed
is steadiness & a knowledge of preparing
timber, a kind of rough carpenter —
Im shall be engaged at the crushing machine
helping to prepare it for work.
Ive not been about much since my last, afortnight ago I went into Sandhurst, met Minnie & walked to her mothers with her. I went to see her father, he looks horrible, I never saw such an unnatural sight in my life, wasted to a skeleton & yet his belly is an enormous size presenting a shocking appearance
Last Sunday, Ned & I went to Huntly to see Dight — two other young men were there, friends of Harrys who had just come from Melbourne & were acquainted with my brother Fred, at least one of them Ned Rowitt — a smart little fast sort of a chap — who seems to have a vast amount of consequence I always play humble pie to suchlike
|
| 2/177 |
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beings. I make a harvest of fun out
of them by humouring their conceit &
vanity. I can say he’s a decent fellow
but having lived in a town all his life
I fancy from his manner, he looks upon
us country or bush bred youths, as somebody
to patronise. I like to meet there sort
a[nd] take a little of there arrogance out
of them in a quiet manner — late
when we left them, with a promise
to meet them last night at Abbotts
Theatre, or Dancing Saloon — we met
& spent about 5 hours in the most
reckless manner, in company of a
lot of the lowest characters on Bendigo
the place is well patronized by all
classes, Lawyers, Clerks, Tradesmen & diggers
mixing with the most abandoned beings
of both sexes — 12 OC when we parted
company 1 this morning when I got
home — felt disgusted with myself
this morning, headache from the
excitement & smoking cigars — I dont
know how those that drink must
feel next morning — I always feel
seedy after anything of an unusual
nature — Im fond of pleasure &
|
| 2/178 |
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amusement & generally get it in whatever
form I desire it — but I always avoid
excesses, most young men seem to plunge
headlong into it, distroying health & wealth
in the pursuit — Im wild & reckless
when frequenting such places as I was at
last night — but on leaving them Ive no
desire to return to them — many I know
are quite the reverse, the more they go
the more they want to go —
I wrote to Isa last week (& returned her portrait) I stated my object in doing so was that I had no desire to preserve anything of one, whom I had been so cruelly deceived in, that had professed such love & confidence in me — & not without cause — for I acknowledged she was the only being I ever loved or could love in this world with the same pure emotions, & I was sorry to find that she one whom I thought was peerless – could have abandoned herself to another in such an impromptu manner, was unworthy the love of an honorable man & from her conduct the last 3 months it was very evident her professions of regard for me, were but feigned I concluded by hoping we should be
|
| 2/179 |
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friends for the future to each other &
trusted that at any time if it was in my
power to be of service to her, she would
employ me – Etc — I wrote it on the impulse
of a moment, my heart seemed to go with
it. I would have given anything for the
likeness & better again — its contents must
have caused her sorrow for after con-
-sideration I dont think she deserved my
reproaches —
I received her reply next day – which I shall copy to the very letter —
Dear John Henry — I never fully realised that all was indeed at an end between us until my portrait was returned to me, it has been a severe trial to me, & none the easier to bear that I have in a great measure brought it upon myself, but while I own that I have been greatly to blame, still I am convinced that were you thoroughly acquainted with the combination of circumstances that have been the painful cause of our separation, you would think – I have been more sinned against than sinning — There is one portion of your note to me, which implies a doubt of my having ever entertained any affections for you — you seem to believe that while
|
| 2/180 |
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feigning a sincere love for you — my
affections in reality were bestowed upon
another; but in this you do me a
cruel injustice, from the commencement
of our acquaintance, until very very
recently, you possessed my undivided love
& never in all that time did I, in thought
word or deed, prove unfaithful to you
With regard to the party whose it is unnecessary to name — I have merely to state the fact that for more than two years previous to his/my arrival on Bendigo we were strangers to each other, in accordance with my Father & my own wish. I then ceased having any communication with him —
You will naturally expect me to return your portrait, in fact it was for me to take the initiating step in the matter but I had not the courage to do so I hope you will not insist upon having it returned, let it be a pledge of friendship between us. Should the time ever arrive for either of us, when to retain it would be a crime, I will then return it to you. I thank you for your friendly good wishes, it is the greatest consolation, that I can have under the circumstances, that I may
|
| 2/181 |
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still look upon you as a friend, I trust
that when circumstances will permit, you
may find one better calculated to make
you happy & more worthy than I
would have been to be your companion
through life — I find I have written
at greater length than I had first
intended & I will now conclude with
a hope that you will not become a stranger
to us, my father highly esteems you
& you will always be a welcome
visitor at our house with kindest
regards to you Dear Johnnie for the
present adieu, Isa —
Many would suppose this a very nice note, but oh! Isa it breathes of deceit, what can she mean by a combination of circumstances, a man whom she professed to abhor, & whenever he shows himself she rushes into his arms — & yet Ive heard they are parted for good again perhaps: to judge from a part of her note she wants me to renew the attack Ill go to there place while Im welcome but no more love passages, thats past
This morning I visited to see Ned In the afternoon I went with Hazlett to see the Devonshire Reef, where he has a share — came home by 3 O.C
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& wrote to mother sent her £2.0.0 did
the same a fortnight ago — no news from
father by the last mail. I received a
a letter the other day from Fred, giving me
an account of the pleasures he & others
enjoyed during the Easter holidays — he & my
sister went to the Volunteer Review at the
Werribee, a most amusing a/c he gave of
the affair, what with the rain & bad
railway accommodation & other inconveniences
April 14th 1861 Lovely weather — till to day when it commenced raining, wish it would cease. Been at work in the Smiths Shop all the week, making Cages (or helping) for the Engine Shaft. Tuesday night I went in company of several others to E.H. Gully with the intention of joining the Volunteers, however after reflection I came to the conclusion I had no time night & morning to walk a mile to be drilled so did not join — Its a very popular movement & reflects credit on the community for taking such an interest in it —
Wednesday evening I went to Sandhurst visited the Atheneum. I often go there a kind of a debating society. Last night I went to the Theatre, didnt get home
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till late. Spent the morning reading —
In the afternoon went into Sandhurst
to witness the Confirmation Ceremony –
some 60 people were confirmed (many in
my opinion confirmed sinners). I knew
several, Minnie was one, after the service
I met her & her brother Bob with Burchell
walked home with them, got wet through
April 21st Weather beautiful — Been erecting a "Whip" on one of the Shafts at the Nt end of the Claim, to hoist up stuff with — 7 hands were discharged last night, things looking blue, no sign of the Reef yet — Spent my evenings reading, with the exception of Tuesday when I witnessed the rehearsal of a drama, some very aspiring amateurs are going to produce at Thorpes. I went into Sandhurst as usual last night, called at Hoopers on my way, went to the Theatre & was surprised to see Mary & Isa King in company with Edwards come in take seats near me. I just bowed or returned their salutation, & at the close of the first Act — I shifted my
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quarters — 12 when I got home -
This afternoon, hearing there was to be a grand funeral in honor of a man who was killed on the Victoria Reef named Matthews — Hazlett & I went to the Cemetary (Long Gully) the deceased was an Oddfellow, a Forrestor & Freemason & to crown all was a Volunteer & being the first to die, he was buried with Military honors — 7000 people were supposed to be present I dont suppose 99 out of every 100 ever heard of the man before – the roads were like a fair vehicles & footpassengers crowding every where to see the show for such the procession was — while waiting for the funeral in the Cemetery, I saw one of the prettiest girls I ever saw in my life, doing what I termed to Hazlett, a meditation among the tombs, he left me with the intention of meeting the procession & while leaning over a fence, the girl came up & enquired if I could show her the foreigners Burying ground — rather a strange question, but I offered to ascertain for her — we walked about some time over the ground without finding out — the crowd
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began to increase, so I offered her my
arm which she accepted, found her far
more attractive than the show — She was
an Italian & so beautiful, she might
have sat to Murillo for an ideal –
Madonna — I pumped her but to no
purpose, I couldnt get out of her where
she lived or what her name was — our
parting was as strange as our meeting
we were walking very leisurely along
the road leading to the White Hills, when
a buggy passed by with a gentleman
in it, he stopped & just said "get up"
when before I could speak we shook hands
& she left me in a moment. I was
quite bewildered, I felt as if an angel
had left my side & disappointed & cross
I saw the vehicle drive away at a
rapid rate — immediately after, I met
Miss Sayars, (an Undertakers
daughter) a pretty girl, but oh what
a different style to the little foreigner
who had just left me — had
a chat with, & left her very abruptly
for standing by I saw Isa King & her
brother John — I spoke to them
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Isa was very affable & friendly —
the funeral being over, I got a cab &
we three went into Sandhurst, accepted
Isas invitation to tea — I dont know
what possessed me, that after what
has passed I could be so free & easy with
her — I met Ned there & after tea we
all went to Church, & returned to
their house, did not stay long — Isa & I
hadnt an opportunity of a quiet talk —
I wrote to Mother this morning & sent her £2.0.0 — Received a letter from Fred during the week, & enclosed in it was one from Mary —
April 28th.1861 Nice weather — At my old job "Banksman" again at the whip, tho I was engaged the fore part of the week on business, had to visit Sandhurst very often on behalf of the company — Mr Hooper departed this life last Sunday night the 21st. inst – a post mortem examination was held on the body, & it was stated that if the disease he died of had been properly treated he would have lived for many years — Cancer of the Liver he died of — I have
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been to see Mrs. H. whenever I had time
she is in a poor way, poor woman — I
was sorry I could not go to the funeral
but Mr Froggart could not spare me —
Hooper was an Oddfellow so he was
buried with some Ceremony, all the
funeral expenses paid, & she received £20.0.0
from the Lodge — Dave Hazlett & Hannon
Stewart & I went into Sandhurst last
night, knocked about Pall Mall, saw
everything worth seeing — then visited the
Theatre, came from there & went dancing
got home by 1 this morning
Last Monday night I went to an amateur performance at Thorpes — passed off very well — at the conclusion there was a ball & supper — to which I stay’d — I had only just time [to] change my clothes & swallow my breakfast before going to work Tuesday morning. I did not rise till late this morning, read till dinner time when Hazlett called & we went to the Anglo Reef to Stewart tent — he is a nice young fellow — Ive known him some time & we are very intimate Hennen is his proper name, but he
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came out a middy in some ship of Greens
& bolted away for the diggins on his arrival
& turned gold digger, he has not been a very
fortunate one — something like myself –
but he is vastly my superior in intellect
always studying, he purposes going in for
some profession, but first wants to get a
some money together, we passed a very
pleasent afternoon together, looking through
a microscope & stethoscope he possesses
he returned with us & had tea together
at Mrs Drews — after which we rode into
Sandhurst, went to Church met the Kings
introduced Stewart to them passed a pleast
evening at their house, Isa & I rather shy
time I was in bed – 12. OC.
May 5th 1861 Been nice weather the last week. Working very hard but for- -tunately all day work. Monday evening I attended a meeting at Thorps for the purpose of forming an amateur Dramatic Club — in connection with our Debating Society — about 20 young men joined — Thorpe promised to expend £30.0.0 on fitting up a stage & scenery in his large public Room — our object is for the
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the sake of amusement & to aid the Charitable
Institutions on Bendigo
Tuesday night Mr. Hally & I went to hear the Revd Dr Cairns, lecture of the Observance of the Sabbath. Its a subject that is causing much controversy among the clergy at present. A Melbourne minister Revd I. New has published a pamphlet in which he wishes to prove there is a differance between the Seventh & the Sabbath Dr C — is his opponent on the subject so the subject of the lecture was the basis of the argument I would like to know more of News side of the question, before being decided on either side. I left with a good opinion of the lecturer, as a good sound reasoner — Wednesday night Dave Hazlitt & I went to a Temperance Meeting, heard some good addresses on the subject delivered by members of the T. Society
Thursday night I paid Mr. & Mrs Welstead a visit spent a pleasent evening there singing Etc, Mrs W. plays the cornet well Mrs. W. is one of the jolliest women I ever met with, there was a very pretty girl there to whom I was introduced
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— Miss Lay — rather affected in her
way, thinks women dont get half eno[ugh]
attention paid them, as they are entitled to
I intend having some fun with her, when
I have cultivated her acquaintance more
Welstead made me a present of Two
pretty songs — which I purpose learning
Friday night I paid my brother a visit, he had just received a letter from Mother — enclosed in it was one from Father. I have not read it yet Ned having it in his possession, nothing fresh — the same old story — all well —
Saturday on leaving work I went into Sandhurst, met by chance my Cemetary acquaintance, had a long chat with her she would not allow me to follow her or accompany her home — I would have done the former, but some acquaintances came up at the time & I could not shake them off — one of them once was a clerk in a large house of business here who knew the girl I had been speaking to he seemed surprised that I knew her, & it was only with some trouble I got out of him what he knew concerning her which rather surprised me — his old employer was a Wine & Spirit Merchant
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& speculated considerably in vine growing
in the colony, he went to Europe & brought
out with him a man who understood
the management of such things — the
man had a daughter, this very girl –
who ere they landed in Victoria was an
orphan — her father having died on the
passage — leaving her an easy prey to
their patron, who turned out to be a pattern
of everything unmanly, for after seducing
her he abandoned her, or next thing to
it, he set her up in a small Cigar shop
in View Place, Sandhurst — & while keeping
it was confined of a child, that
died some weeks back — he doesn't know
what she is doing at present, but thinks
she is being kept by her seducer again
who I know well — he is a Justice of
the Peace in the neighbourhood of Bendigo
& a member of the Presbyterian Church
& is married — I believe that tale for
the man in the buggy that she left me
to join — was no other than the J.P.
After making a few purchases in the clothing line I returned home early &
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what is very extraordinary without
visiting a place of amusement — with the
exception of calling into the Albion to
have a glass of something — where I
met Warden Anderson, (a nephew
of Sir Henry Barkly the Governor of
Victoria) with whom I made acquaintance
in a singular manner, reflecting
very little credit on either of us — he
is a young man, a wild reckless dare
devil that will come to no good, unless
he changes —
Sunday. I went to Eagle Hawk Gully this morning to hear the Revd Mr Henderson one of greatest humbugs I ever knew & to crown my dislike of him & his church while feeling for the smallest coin I could find in my pockets to put into the "plate" I lost a pound note — did not miss it till I got home — I remember seeing a piece of old paper on the floor of the pew, but I never dreamt about it being my lost money. I at once returned, but could not find it – somebody had taken it up — I was very much annoyed, for I wrote to my mother this afternoon & as usual I
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send £2.0.0 — but I had to borrow a
pound from Ned to do so (who can ill
spare it, being in debt & having to meet
a Bill shortly) stayd tea at Neds
where I found Harrry
Dight & several
other acquaintances — Went to Church
(in Sandhurst) & heard Mr. R.Fletcher
on the conclusion of the service I
met Isa King alone — had not much
difficulty in getting her to take a
short walk — sat down on our old
spot in the Camp Reserve, talked
about old times, but avoided the future
it was a melancholy pleasure to be
thus thrown together again, she
would not permit me to make
any freedom with *her, our lips just
met at parting — I can write no more
whenever I allude to her I get into a
peculiar train of thought & feeling that
unfits me for anything else —
[Sunday, 12 May 1861] May 13th.1861. Nice weather up to friday night, when it came on to rain & blow & no signs of it abating. Hard at work on the Reef
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nearly losing the number of my mess
on Tuesday. We had put in a shot
at the face of the drive & fired the fuse
& stood in the shaft waiting for it
to go off — no signs of it going I entered
the drive to see the cause — when just
as I got near it it exploded blowing
out great lumps of rock, which had
they struck me who killed me at once
[but] with the exception of a few bruises &
losing my hearing for two days — I got
off very well, it was looked upon as
one of the most extraordinary escapes
that ever occurred, in mining — by those
who have been miners all their lives,
my fellow workman was sure I was
killed & before venturing into the drive
had climbed up the Shaft & got quite
a crowd down — I was quite stupid
when they found me, it is an awful
feeling to be so close to death, never
shall I forget the agony I experienced
for a moment on finding the fuse
burning so close to the powder & not
have time to turn round —
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Monday night, I attended our first
rehearsal, we have a drama called
"Still Waters Run Deep”. I would only
only venture in a very light character
where I say some dozen lines, & have
to do a little pantomime business
Tuesday night, tho’ rather sore &
bruised & went to E.H. Gully to hear
Mrs. Warne deliver a lecture — I have
alluded to her before — I was introduced
to two of her daughters, very different
beings from the mother — light & very
frivolous in the manners & conversation
would not have the slightest objection
to go to a Ball or the Theatre if they
only had the chance & were allowed
how often is it we find clever peoples
children usually very unintellectual
I think the mind is exhausted in their
progenitors or else they devote so
much of their time to the public
& their own minds advancements that
they are overlooked or neglected —
Wednesday attended Rehearsal again Thursday night, I went into Sandhurst met several acquaintances, was induced
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to go to the "Royal" saw the Marsh
Troupe in their farewell piece –
coming home, (with some neighbour-)
we visited the Quartz Miners Arms
where there was some dancing going
on, & meeting some more we knew
we were tempted to remain till 3 am
Friday morning — felt very loath to go
to work next morning — Saturday
night raining heavy did not go
anywhere, spent the evening with Mr
Halley reading & conversing — This
morning I paid Hoopers a visit
found Mrs. H. ill in bed, did not stay
long, read all the afternoon — & after
tea, went to the Wesley Chapel at
the back of the tent — just came home
[Sunday, 19 May 1861] May 20th.1861 Lovely weather after the rain. — Im working at the North claim again "landing” a billet — I like the work is not very hard, & being near the roadside I see everybody passing, so Im always in company. Monday night I went to Thorps — assisted in enlarging the Stage & doing other things connected with the production of "Still Waters" —
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Tuesday I went to Bendigo for a
walk called at several tents on my way home
Wednesday. I went into Kings where I
had promised to meet my friend Burchell
(who left Bendigo enroute for England)
his relations at home hearing of his ill luck
in Australia have sent money for him to
return — he purposes studying for the
Medical profession, he has an Uncle in
practice near London. Im sorry he is
going in one sense, for I always found him
a sincere kind, good natured friend & companion
the only acquaintance I had since Hamilton
left, that when I was in sorrow or low
spirited I could open my heart to in confidence
Some 20 persons came to bid him adieu
12 oc when we parted — he left Bendigo next
morning by the 6 am Coach for Melbourne
Thursday evening I spent with H
Dight
he went to Melbourne (where his parents reside)
on Friday morning, wanted me to go with
him but I cant well afford the time
or money, tho I know the change would
do me a deal of good —
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Friday night — the amateurs met, when it
was resolved to put off the play, until the
29 inst. in consequence of the illness of
Mr. Thorpe & the difficulty we have had in
procuring lady professionals, the Bendigo ones
are under engagements, we have sent to Inglewood
40 miles distance for two, it will be rather
expensive, but the public mustnt be disappointed
Saturday (pay day) I went into
Sandhurst in the afternoon, made a few
purchases — called at Kings for Ned — (who is
always to be found there) spent 2 hours
there, very pleasently, left & went to Abbots
had some coffee, then walked home —
This morning I went to hear Mr Henderson in E.Gully, (didnt hear anything of my lost pound) tho, he preached about the talents. In the afternoon in company with Mrs. Hooper & Scoty — I went to the Cemetery to see Mr. Hs grave — left her there & Scoty & I went to see some friends at the "White Hills" & had tea there I had to hurry back — as I had promised Mr. Halley (the Engineer of the Nelson) who was away to get up steam & start
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the Engine for him, after putting on
a good fire I went to Sandhurst — met
Isa coming out of Church, she
walked out some distance with me when
we parted, she told me she was
engaged to Edwards, a long time
previous to our acquaintance, but
she had a presentiment she would
never be married to him, or if so
would ever be unhappy. I left her
very abruptly promising to meet her
early next week — I feel Im not acting
honorably in thus renewing an intimacy
fraught with so much unpleasentness —
11 pm I have just returned from the Engine
having pumped the Shaft dry, so as to
allow the men to go to their work
below — the Shift commences at 12 O.C-
26 May 1861 Fine weather — Been hard at work, not only on the earth, but on the Stage — Our Dramatics Manager is a strange card — we pay him a Salary of £3.0.0 per week simply for 3 lessons a week on
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Elocution & to instruct us in the business
of the stage — he offered to take the leading
character in the coming performance, & now
just at the last moment he refuses for
some trifling reason to play — and as the
public expects great things from our performance
it will make us look so ridiculous to make
a mess of it, not one of the
company would undertake to learn
the part at such a short notice, from
Friday night to Wednesday, I was induced
to try it — it was 11 pm when I got it
& before I went to my bed I had committed
to memory nearly perfect 100 lines. I
had a rehearsal this
afternoon & went through 2 Acts perfect
its no joke for an amateur to learn the
language of the principal character of a
3 Act play in such a short notice —
I hope the fellow will return & take
the part — I may learn the words, but
alas! for the acting, it will be a Burlesque
I wrote to mother last Monday & sent her £2.0.0 I went into Sandhurst last night, called at Kings, for Ned he is like one of their family) I went
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from there to the “Lyceum Theatre“ & heard
the Lyster Opera Troupe perform “The
Bohemian Girl“ its a lovely opera & the
two leading singers Squires & Escott sang
most beautifully. “Remember Me” by the former
was rendered most exquisitely, his voice
being a light sweet tenor, not great range
but his falsetto is the sweetest & best
cultivated I ever heard — Madam E.
has a fine powerful voice (sophano)
& sings with great taste & feeling –
they are not well supported — their
Bass, Farquhason not being well
was unable to appear — I walked
home with a friend named Howard a
nice fellow & very clever — he was one
of the French commissioners at the Exhibition
of ’50 — Remained in the tent this
morning studying my part — afternoon
had a rehearsal — This evening I
went to Mr. Croxtons Church (Sandhurst)
met Isa — we took a long walk
together — 10.O.C when we parted —
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California Gully 1861
June 2nd 1861 — Weather very changeable, plenty of rain the fore part of the week.
Monday and Tuesday evening, had a rehearsal of "Still Waters”. I had learnt the piece allotted me, knew it perfect when the fellow, returned at the last moment very repentant & offered to play the character of the Captain I danced with joy, tho knowing it, I was sure I would make a bungle of it — Wednesday night the affair came off with great Eclat, under the patronage of the E.H. Volunteers who came full dressed in marching order, with the band, every thing went off first rate, not a hitch or error made during the whole piece, the place was crowded & after its conclusion the forms & Benches were cleared away & we danced till day light — Isa & Mary King were there, so I spent a happy night. The performance was for the Benefit of the hospital, we met on Friday night to settle up, found the expenses far heavier than we had any idea of, so little left after everything
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was paid up, we were half ashamed to
send the balance in for fear of it being
published. Saturday night I went
into Sandhurst, met Isa King in Pall
Mall & persuaded her to visit the Theatre
heard the Lyster Opera Troupe do
“Traviata”. there is some lovely music in
it, but the two principal vocalists are
ill supported, however they did their best.
It was 1.am this morning when I
got home, & had to rise again at
4.am & assist Mr Halley to make
some alterations in the machinery &
execute a few repairs, that could only
be done while the engine was stopped
We finished by 8.am & after Breakfast
went to bed & slept — 10.30, walked
over to E.H. met the people coming
out of Church, walked home with
Mrs. & Miss Lay. In the afternoon I
went to Neds, had tea with him
went to Church (Sandhurst) met my
friend J Stewart (or Hannan) after
the service, we walked home with
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the Kings, remained there about an hour
got home by 9½30 pm Jim has just gone
what a melancholy fellow he is sometimes
& at others mad with excitement
I wrote Mother to day and sent her £2.0.0 — so now to bed —
June 9th.1861. Fine weather, during the week, rather cold in the morning. The weather does not affect me much my work being under ground or Shed — The Stone we are raising I think will pay –
The Bendigo Garrick Club sent our club a requisition inviting us to assist them in a piece they wish to produce next week at the Theatre Royal, we agreed. Im to play a part in "Ways & Means", we had our first rehearsal in the drawing Room of the "Shamrock". I dont think much of the Club we are to assist, with the exception of one or two — I never met such a lot of duffers, one fellow who is to take a leading character, sniffles thro' his nose after the most approved Yankee style, another puppy of a chap, who wishes to be thought particularly clever goes about boasting he doesn't know a line of his piece, nor does he think he
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requires to do so until the last moment
I was thoroughly disgusted & am very
sorry Im connected with the affair. Last
night I went into Sandhurst called at Kings
found Ned there, we left together & went
to see "Neil Warner" in "W.Tell" I like
his acting even better than G.V.Brookes in
some characters, "Hamlet for instance"
Thursday night I went to a party at Welsteads. Mrs W. & I exchanged clothes in the course of evening, I with the aid of a veil & while dancing outside passed of as a woman. I danced with Murdoch & others who did not discover the counterfeit until I had recovered my regular costume when on mentioning some of the compliments I had been paid, they looked uncommonly uncomfortable & ill pleased — Spent this afternoon reading & writing — In the evening Hazlett, Stuart & Smith & I went into Sandhurst, visited the Church, not falling in with anything we knew in the lady line we took a walk about Sandhurst till late, 12 oc now, time for bed —
June 16th.1861 Weather very unsettled & disagreeable with plenty of rain, making it unpleasent at work scarcely a day occurs but what I dont come home wet through & truly wretched & the work Im doing
|
| 2/206 |
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must be done whether it rains or no
Monday night I went into Sandhurst had a rehearsal of “Ways & Means" in the Shamrock, after it was over I went to Abbotts Lyceum heard Thatcher sing some of his local songs — 12 when I got home
Tuesday afternoon I took a holiday, the performance taking place that evening & we had to attend a stage rehearsal. I was rather amused at the appearance of some of the ladies (who were all professionals) some whom I had always imagined were so beautiful. I was quite disgusted with them, with one exception, Rose Edouin who is really one of the most charming girls I ever met — I had a long chat with her, got very friendly — she indulged in some fun at our expense (amateurs are always looked upon with such contempt by most professionals) It was amusing to hear one fellow doing the sentimental, with the strong nasal organ in such a matter of fact style — he is supposed to be in love with Nelly (R.Edouin) & tells her he loves her but in such a manner we all burst out laughing, she told him to to throw more feeling & pathos in his language towards her (professionally) & in his attempt to conform to her ideas proved so ridiculous that our merriment was increased tenfold, the rehearsal over
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by 4.30. pm, I took a strool, saw the
Sandhurst Volunteers for the first time, going
through a parade to the great delight
of all the children & loafers who had turned
out to witness them go through their
evolutions, this volunteering as become
quite an institution every where — tho
a novelty on Bendigo, being but a
short time organised — I met Mr. King
who insisted upon me having tea at
his house — I agreed, met the girls, who
purposed going to the Theatre to witness
our performance & as they stated to have
a laugh at the amateurs, (which they
had to their hearts contents) I left them
& began to dress for my character at seven
I laughed at the changes produced with the
application of paint, rouge & false hair Etc
I was talking to Wilson for quarter of an
hour before I knew who he was, the per-
formance wont bear any comment, those
who took some of the principal characters were
very bad, did not know their parts, & were
not well enough up in stage business
to discern the audience, the members
of our club if not such good actors
were better up in their parts & but
with one exception, never made an error
|
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or mistake, at the conclusion of the first
part I washed & went into the house
joined Miss Lay & the Welsteads, when it was
over we took a cab & I came home with them,
my arm being round Miss Lay waist
all the way, the cab being crowded she had
to sit in my lap, she is pretty but
a little fool & I fear would become an
an easy virtue to any one inclined to do
her wrong it shant be me — Ive enough
sins on my head — The papers spoke
very highly of our attempt, but I think
the proceeds being so much more than
was anticipated prompted the
flattering critique. I went into Sandhurst
last night, went to the Theatre for a
short time, 2 O.C this morning when I
got home — the reason it is so late when I
get here after being to the Theatre is the
distance I have to walk home — for I cant
always afford to pay for cab — had to go
down the Engine Shaft this morning to
repair the valve in the lower lift of
the pump, 11. am when I finished. In the
afternoon I went to Neds — found my old
mate Bill Freer there, who tried to poison
himself some 12 months ago he has
wandered all over Australia since then
|
| 2/209 |
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feeling as he informed me like an outcast
& a "Cain" continually haunted with feelings
of remorse for the idea sticks to him he was
the cause of Mrs. Cuddies death, he will
soon kill himself with drink, not
having resolution enough to withstand
its degrading influence, he returned to Bendigo
last night nearly starving, met Ned who
offered him work at the "Machine".
I wrote to Mother this morning & sent her £2.0.0. I received a long note from Fred during the week, who informs me all at home are well, & that he had received a letter from father, full of good advice, suasians Etc —
June 23rd.1861. Miserable weather must expect it this time of the year, the middle of winter — Im working the whip on one of the North Shafts, getting out quartz for the Machine, which has not been at work for a long time now Mr Froggart purposes starting it again shortly, when I suppose I shall again have to resume my old billet at it — Im informed to day that our wages are to be reduced after next week — Im only getting £3.0.0 per week now, &
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that is 5/. per week more than the other
men employed on the works get, so if
they are reduced to £2.10.0 mine will be
£2.15.0. I dont know what to think
about it, Im not confidence sufficient
to try & get into some house of business
store or anything in that line — there
is a prejudice against diggers being em-
ployed in the way of business, & my knowledge
of it is so limited that I should not know
how to commence — I bought some days
ago Chambers System of Book Keeping, by single
& double entry — on looking over it, I cant
understand it. Dr. & Cr. & other technicalities
was Greek to me until I had them explained
however I intend mastering the principle of
it — when a man gets to be 22 years of age
& after leading a life as mine as been, its
very hard to have to commence something
so very opposite to what Ive been accus-
tomed — Monday night the Amateur
Club met — & it was agreed to produce
“All that Glitters is not Gold” Friday night
we had a rehearsal I think it will be
a success — Our Debating Society met at
the same time — I had the honor of
receiving the congratulations of the members
|
| 2/211 |
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with a considerable amount of undeserved praise
for my essay "on the prospects of the
Working Men of Victoria” Wednesday
night I went to see Ned found him away
& his mates hard at work by moonlight
employing a mill of dirt a very
customary plan, but one that if I
had was working with them would
object to, I think 10 or 12 hours a day
quite enough to work, & if it would
not pay at that Id give it up. I think
it is paying very well, they have
2 horses & drays, with a nice cottage &
stables & everything comfortable & out
of debt. Ned seldom lets me know
what he makes & Im afraid from what
Ive been told he has an inclination
to be wild, he is fond of the Bowling
Alley & frequenters of such places always
get rid of a deal of money, I have
spoken to him about it, but he pooh poohs
what I say to him on the subject. Im
afraid if he does not give such practices
as he is addicted to he will get a
confirmed gambler. If I had not
broken it off suddenly & been most
determined on my resolution, I should
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have become one many years ago — I used
to think nothing of playing poker –
Vantone — Cribbage Etc nightly, sometimes
winning £20. & at others losing through
sharpers a greater sum — Its a passion
that after a certain time becomes
incurable — God grant Ned never may
come under its influence. Last evening I
went into Sandhurst called at Kings in
company with Hannan Stewart. Isa
has been away on a visit to Castlemaine
for a considerable time, & while I was
there Edwards rode up to the house
having just arrived from Inglewood. I
heard from Mrs. K. that Isa & he
never correspond, so he met with quite
a dissappointment at not meeting her
the old folks were very cool to him, he
did not remain long, didnt seemed pleasd
to find me on good terms with the
family again — I dont like the fellow
something so very sinister about him —
On leaving them I went to the Theatre
saw “Kenilworth” (Burlesque) with
[left blank] as Queen Elizabeth, he is the finest –
Burlesque Actor in the colony — This
morning I had to go down the Shaft as
usual to let out the air from the column
in the pipes. Went to Church this evening
came home & started the Engine, been writing
this in the Engine house, to while away time
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There has been a splendid comet the last
fortnight to be seen in the East, it appears
very bright about 4. am.
June 30th.1861 Miserable weather, as I expected my wages have been reduced to £2.15.0 per week, it is not only the Nelson Reef Co but every one on Bendigo have reduced the wages. I shall feel the difference for after sending my mother £1 per week & paying 25/. per week for board Ive not much left for clothes & other necessary expenses — I feel it very hard that it should be my duty to have to send so much of my earnings home. I would not mind it if I lived at home & enjoyed its comforts but to do so as I have done knock about the bush & live in a cheerless tent & in such a wretched manner, tends to make me very dissatisfied — I think it a shame my father should have abandoned his family, whatever excuse he may make, that its for our ultimate benefit he went
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home to England. I have very little hope
of ever being benefitted by relations there
if he had never inculcated such ideas
into our heads & given us trades
or tried to educate us & put us in the
way of living in a respectable way
we should have been in very different
circumstances than we are now, my
thoughts are bitter sometimes on this
subject, but I usually end by being
ashamed of them — I am sorry Ive
referred to it in these pages — & will
for the future guard against doing
so — Our Club met one night, had
a rehearsal, I spent a jolly evening
at Welsteads on Monday — Last
night I went into Sandhurst, called
at Kings. Isa is still at Castlemaine
met Ned who gave me a ticket for
the Theatre, late when I got home
Wednesday night I went to a Concert
at the White Horse Hotel — for the
benefit of a family in the gully, it
was a poor affair, something like
the Free & Easys we used to have
on Ararat & Donolly — I have
been very uneasy respecting a letter
with £2.0.0 in it, I sent a fortnight
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ago, mother usually answers my letters
immediately on receipt of mine, & it is
this makes me doubtful about it. I
gave it to Ned to post, & he informs
me he did so — I wrote to Mary
to day & enclosed in it another £2.0.0
I trust it will go all right — I spent
this morning reading & writing. In the
afternoon went to Church (Long Gully)
from there to Neds hut, & had tea
as usual found it crowded with mighty
laughing, joking, card playing & trying
to perform Gymnastic feats — I
protested against spending the Sunday
in such a manner & got laughed at
for when I used to have a place of
mine own — I was as bad as any
of them, after tea H.
Dight & I
went into Sandhurst Church — he came
part of the way home with me —
July 7th. 1861 Weather very unsettled Been very busy getting the Crushing Machine into Working order, purpose to commence Crushing next week, so I will have more night work. We have two Rehearsals of our new piece during the week being determined to keep our character for being the best dramatic club on Bendigo
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I am sorry to state my tent mate Mr
Hally has left me, having purchased a
cottage on the Companys Ground & is living a
solitary life — I regret his leaving much — he
is such a well informed man I feel Ive been
greatly benefited, intellectually by residing with
him. I went into Sandhurst last night, did
not go as usual to any place of amusement
with the exception of visiting Mr. Batchelder
a photographer, an old friend of Hamiltons
he has a fine exhibition of photographic
pictures, that are seen to advantage through
stereoscopes. I received a letter from Jim
yesterday, he was on the point of leaving
Melbourne for England, having given up the
Bird shop, not before losing a considerable
sum of money) met my brother Ned
walked to his hut with him, on arriving
home I was informed a sad
accident had happened in our main shaft
the men on the last shift, whilst putting
in a shot — & using a steel tamping rod
which striking the fire caught the powder
causing an explosion that blew the two
men out of the drive, burning them fright-
fully, they were conveyed to the hospital at
once Im afraid one of them wont recover
poor fellows Im very sorry for them, one
of them is married & has a large family
of young children — I often wonder such
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accidents are not of more frequent occurrence
I spent this morning reading. In the afternoon went to the Church in Long Gully met Mrs. & Miss Lay walked home with After I went to Sandhurst Church, after the service met a friend of mine with two young ladies who I also know, & much to his delight relieved him of one, took a pleasent walk till 9 pm, 10 when I got home, changed my clothes & went to the Engine, to start it & pump the shaft dry for the men to go down at 12, found Mr Halley there & cross because I had not come sooner, we had some words both of us being cross at having to come to work on a Sunday evening —
14th.July 1861 Wretched weather — Working at the Crushing machine. Im getting to hate it, the continual noise & clatter for 12 hours a day is enough to drive a man mad, such is the noise that one cannot speak to a person, if alongside of any. I am nearly deaf for hours after work Ive a drumming in my ears that is far from pleasent. We had a rehearsal of All that Glitters Etc last Monday night when we were introduced to the ladies who take the female characters, the one who is to play Martha is a woman
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about 35 and anything but prepossessing
in her appearance — Im supposed to make
desperate love to her — & while doing so
I was so struck with the absurdity of
the whole thing that I actually burst
out laughing in her face, a proceeding
very ungallant & ill-bred on my part, &
one that caused her much offence –
so much so that she was for cutting
our connection. Im such an ass if
anything tickles me as being ludicrous
I must laugh — Ive no power to control
it. I saw her home to Sandhurst & we
got good friends — found her a regular
woman of the world, fine company
being an old actress — was full of
amusing anecdotes about eminent pro-
-fessionals in the same line — her moral
principles & such like I found rather low
called at Neds on Friday — not at home)
Saturday night went to the Theatre
Raining hard all day so I spent it in
reading a variety of literature —
[1861-07-21-Sunday] July 20th.1861. Raining nearly every day more or less, making things more wretched than they are. Monday night had a rehearsal, Tuesday night the
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16th. our performance came off before a
crowded audience firstrate for amateurs
at the conclusion of the first piece, my
name being on the programme to sing
a solo, I did so, singing a song from
the “Opera of Maratana” “Let me like a soldier fall-” very few had heard it before
& being (fortunately) in good voice, I was
encored. I began another, but the house
was so clamorous for the same one over
again, that I had to sing it. I found it very
hard to put the spirit into it as I did at
first — at the conclusion of the entertainment
the place was cleared & we finished with
a Ball some 150 people being invited
we broke up at daylight. Friday night
I went to see Ned he had received a long
letter from father full of good advice, but
little family news — I wrote to Mother
last Monday & sent her £2.0.0. Last
night I went into Sandhurst, called at
Kings found Isa away — met Ned &
J.King & we all went to the Theatre –
knocked about afterwards, 2 am this
morning when I got home — Been
raining all day did not go out any
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where, until 9 pm when as usual had
to go to the Engine & assist Mr Halley
in getting the machinery in working order
for the nightmen — I took a short
walk in the afternoon for an hour to see
Ned, he was away (at Kings of course)
[Sunday, 28 July 1861] July 27th.1861 Fine weather during the week everything looks so nice & pleasent after the late rains. Our Club met last Monday night to settle up the accounts of the last performance, we made the “Sick Club” a present of £6.0.0 from the balance — there was a Quadrille party at Thorpes same night. I remained till 2. O.C Wednesday night I went per invitation to a party at Mr Reynolds, Victoria Reef (a well to do Reefer) about 50 present. I knew most of them, & I managed to spend one of the jolliest nights of my life there what with music, singing, & dancing Etc Mr. R. had engaged the large room of the British & American Hotel for dancing in it was near 4 am when we broke up I was very loath to go to my work next morning being tired and knocked up — Thursday night I spent at Lays — they showed me some very beautiful curiosities they brought with them from Africa
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among them & what pleased me most were
some lovely paintings, done on a kind of
substance resembling isinglass. I had to
go again on Friday night for something
I had lent them, I dont intend going
there often, people are coupling my
name & Miss L together in a manner
that doesn't please me — I meet her very
often at Balls & places of amusement
where I sometimes pay her attention
but far from being marked — she is a
a light frivolus thing that would
soon disgust me — nothing pleases
her so much as when indulging in a
a little scandel (disgusting to me). It
was very late when I left work last
night, did not go any where, spent the
evening with Andrew Smith the Chemist
This morning did not rise till late read till dinner after which I paid Mrs. Hooper a visit found her quite well, got a good blowing up for being so long visiting her from there I went to Neds found him away — had a long chat with my couzin Harry about Ned & family matters he tells me Ned is very extravagant &
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ought to have been out of debt long ago,
he still owes a small sum about
£6.0.0 Harry tells me they could
get £60.0.0 each for their share in
the machine & Horses Etc. Ned thinks
of selling out, 12 months ago they
commenced without a penny & now they
are earning good wages & possess a good plant
Ned has sent very little or done much
to assist me in helping mother —
I wrote to her yesterday & sent her £1
Ned giving me another to make up
for I am in want of several necessaries
& was obliged to keep some money by me
[Sunday, 4 August 1861] August 3rd [4th] 1861. Pleasent weather — Ive been unwell lately suffering from a a severe cold, working so much in the rain & perspiring freely afterwards with wet clothes on Etc. Monday night our Club met had a long discussion on a a paltry subject some idiot had started & left in disgust. Wednesday night I went to see Ned, as usual, away, my couzin Harry informs me Ned in one of his queer fits sold his interest in plant for £40.0.0. I think he was foolish in doing so he could have got far more if he had tried —
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I dont know what he purposes doing
I wished he had kept it, for he could
earn wages at it & have assisted my
mother, I want to cut my present
kind of life. I fancy Im capable
of taking a different position than I
at present occupy or likely to do
if I continue much longer a miner
Ive learnt to get tired & in fact disgusted
with the kind of company Im obliged
to mingle with in my present occupation
what I use to delight in rowdy low company
low scenes & places Etc. Im sick of &
wish to be something different — I must
wait my time I suppose — Friday
night I went to my Club, it was
proposed to give another D. entertainment
we selected a piece “Sink or Swim”. I
think we will be able to produce
it in our usual style. Last night
I went to see an acquaintance of mine
Fred James — he with some others are
getting up an amateur Concert in the
shape of a “Negro Band”. I was pressed
to join & have selected a couple of
songs to sing on the occasion & others
of the party dropping in we had
an impromptu rehearsal. I was
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rather astonished to find such excellent
talent in the neighbourhood. James is a
host in himself, plays the English cornet
& the Banjo & possesses a good rich
tenor robusto voice. I think it will
be a success, the object being for a
charitable purpose it ought to be — I
trust my cold will be better before it
takes place — Went to chapel this morning
In the afternoon went over to Neds he had just concluded a bargain with H.Inniss one of the Share holders in the machine Ned sold out of — Harry wishing to leave offered Ned the share for £40.0.0 which he bought, so he was a gainer by the transaction, a good more by which means they got rid a partner they could not agree with — We took a walk into Bendigo, went to Church met Mary King. Isa had her kind regards to me from Castlemaine where she still is — on leaving her I fell in with John & Joe Falder some neighbours of mine & very respectable young men walked home together, went to the Engine & got all ready, time for bed after 12 oC —
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[Sunday, 11 August 1861]
August 10th [11th] 1861. Fine weather the fore
part of the week rained the last two days
Monday & Friday nights I devoted to the
D. Club, The other 3 nights to political
meetings, being on the eve of a general
election. I voted yesterday for Donovan
the popular member who was returned
by a majority of 400 votes, I went
to James on Thursday night sang our
pieces, for the coming concert. The
members of the Club I belong to object to
my singing at the affair which is to
be held at Alexanders Assembly Room
a rival of Thorpes where we meet
& perform, it comes off on Wednesday
while our club performs on the
ensuing Monday & it is supposed to
[be] an opposition to injure the one
I legitimately belong to. I received
a letter from mother yesterday, she
informs me that while [at] the Theatre
Royal last Sunday to hear a clever
preacher named J Taylor that on
leaving by some back way she fell
as I understand down some trap
or stairs, injuring & bruising her
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very much, I am sadly grieved at
the accident but am thankful God
in his mercy preserved her as he did
from being killed, having had a most
narrow escape — Been raining all
day. Spent the afternoon at Falders
the evening at Welsteads — I am
now going to do my customary
Sunday night work — set the engine pumps to work — 10 pm —
18th August 1861 Nice weather during the week. Still at the Crushing Machine detest it more than ever Been at rehearsals 3 times during the week. The concert came off on Wednesday night, with great eclat every thing went on firstrate — tho I must confess, I was not in such good voice as I usually am — & whenever I fail to please myself I think I dont please others — after the performance there was a Ball, at which I remained till daylight did appear enjoyed myself very much met S- there we were rather surprised at meeting I thought her in Melbourne & she thought or heard I had left Bendigo, since the eventful night we last met, she’s been married to a very respectable man at Tarrangower,
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who knows nothing of her previous life
so she hoped I would confine my knowledge
of her to myself I went into Sandhurst
last night visited the Theatre Royal —
met several acquaintances, among the number
Mary Lace, walked home to Long Gully with
her. Spent this morning reading. In the afternoon
walked into Bendigo, met Edward & H.
Dight
rambled about, went into the Shamrock for
a while had tea there — then went to
Kings, vainly hoping to see Isa, she is
still at Castlemaine, came up during the
week & only stay’d at home for a day —
Went to hear Revd Mr Fletcher preach came home alone — what an uninteresting week Another uninteresting week passed. I really dont know how its passed, with the exception that I have had to work very hard compensated by a slight share of pleasure tho under circumstances I ought not to complain plenty I know dont enjoy life as I do — I must be possessed of a miserable discontented disposition, nothing seems to gratify & yield me that amount of satisfaction that I desire even the attainment of my wishes. I think it would be different if I was otherwise occupied. I feel I am cast into a path of life Im not suited or fitted for — suffering
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under a species of thraldom I feel it very difficult
to seperate myself from the associations
connected with my occupation & the life Ive led &
am leading are becoming hateful to me —
A diggers life was all very well some years back
when times were good & a man had a chance
of doing well — but now its downright slavery
for an existence, without the pale of society –
with no prospect of social advancement –
circumstances compel me to remain so — but I hope
(but for it what wretched mortals we should be)
that something will turn up & change the present
order of things in my case —
Our performance came off on Monday night but owing to the inclemency of the weather with but moderate success, the audience being more select than numerous — wound up as usual with a Ball — some very nice people being there — spent my spare time reading — I got hold of a volume of Lockes celebrated Essay on the Human Understanding — I never read anything so clear & simple & yet so profound — If Im ever in a position Ill buy his works —
Last night, Saturday) I went into Sandhurst visited the Theatre for a short time, after the performance I saw Mary Lace, in company with some man — immediately on seeing me she left him in the most unceremonious manner — & asked me to see her home, very flattering to my vanity, but I was near
|
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suffering for preference for he suffering from
a sudden attack of rage & jealousy rushed at
me & made a blow at me with a riding
whip that would have killed me, but for my
agility, there were several near me that Im
acquainted with, fellow workmen Etc — with
whom Im on good terms & would do any
thing for me, put a stop to his murderous
intentions by giving him & his gang a good licking
I dont intend for the future making myself a
convenience for any girl again — I saw her home
she is very pretty but a most arrant flirt, & yet
is not chary of her favours where she
is prepossessed in ones favour. I wrote to my
mother this morning & sent her £2.0.0 In
the afternoon I went into Sandhurst, & heard a
Mr. Burtt, deliver an excellent Temperance Lecture
at concluding I went to Kings didnt remain long
came home & after tea went to Robinsons for an
hour —
[Sunday, 25 August 1861]
28 August 1861 Another week passed as
usual with little variety, with the exception
of one event that I was rather unprepared
for, the departure of my Brother Edward
for the province of Otago New Zealand —
News arrived a short time back from
there of the discovery of a new gold field reported
very rich immense numbers of people are
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leaving Victoria for there, Ned made up his mind
to go on Monday (he sold his share to my couzin
Henry in the puddling machine for £45.0.0 half
the money down the rest in three months time)
& informed me of his intention. I went into Sandhurst
with him spent the evening together at Kings, &
slept there all night & left for Melbourne at
6 am the following morning. I feel very low spirited
at his leaving, he is so very headstrong & so
very easy to lead, that I feel uneasy respecting
his future course, I always exercised a control
over him when on Bendigo that acted as a
check to him — I pray God he may be successful
& kept out of harms way — Ive not heard
from him yet, I believe he will remain at Mothers
for a few days prior to his departure —
Tuesday I went to a party at Thorpes enjoyed myself very much, Wednesday night I went to a lecture at the Wesley School Room
Saturday night, I went to Bendigo called at Kings met Dight, took a strool about Pall Mall, met many friends, who are leaving Bendigo for NZ next week — we went to the Theatre to hear the Biancas in the Opera of “Il Trovatore”. Went afterwards to a free & easy left it in disgust, reached the Hut at 1 am this morning, & turned into Neds deserted bed — came home to Breakfast spent the morning reading. In the afternoon my
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friend Hannan Stewart & I went into Sandhurst
spent a pleasent afternoon there had tea & afterwards
went to Church with them, took a pleasent
walk afterwards, did a little courting by proxy
on my brother Neds a/c with Mary King but
with no success. I think there is somebody else
she thinks more about. Time & absence will
soon cure him of his fit, on leaving them
I fell in with about half a dozen acquaintances
who are all bound for New Zealand next
week, the brothers Falder, & A.Smith leave
in the morning. I long to go if only for the change.
[Sunday, 29 September 1861]
September. A month since I continued
my journal, nothing particular having occurred
to break the usual routine of my every day
life — I am still at the Nelson Reef Co — at
the Crushing Machine, we have commenced
the night shift system again, 12 hours on
& 12 hours off, every alternate week the night
shift, I do detest it — I heard from Mother
a fortnight ago, who informed me that
Edward, on reaching town, heard bad news
from N.Z. thought he would wait, until
he heard more news from there — he acted
very imprudently, spent all his money in a
lot of mock jewellery, & at length when he
made up his mind to leave, he could only
|
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and very barely raise his passage money, he
left in a ship called the “Giants Causeway" in
company with Lockey Frazer, the accounts are
very conflicting from there, it appears to be a
miserable inhospitable climate & quite destitute
of firewood, where the diggers are — there is no
doubt about there being gold, for Ive seen letters
the last week from there from old Victorians
who are doing very well. Last Sunday I
took a delightful walk through the bush to
Huntly to see H.
Dight he made me very
welcome had dinner with him, looked over
the Sawing Mill he is connected with, left
about 4 pm, got home very tired at 9. pm.
Monday night I had an agreeable surprise
on going over to see my cousin Henry, who should
I find but my coz Lizzie (Henrys sister) who has
just come over from Launceston & purposes
remaining here to keep house for her brother –
it is five years since I saw her last in Adelaide
a little girl, she has grown into a very nice
ladylike young woman, we were very glad
to see each — other having of course a great deal
to talk about, it was late when I left them
I had heard she was in Melbourne staying
with mother, but I did not expect her here so
soon. Wednesday night we gave the last
of our amateur performances, a benefit
for the manager, Robinson — the Club being
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having become defunct or next, thing owing to
so many going away to N.Z. The attendance
was poor owing to the same reason, things appear
at a regular standstill, claims abandoned
tents, huts & stores closed in every direction —
I have been to the Theatre several times lately owing to the rather unusual attraction of witnessing a live baronet, transformed into a disciple of Thespis. Sir W & Lady Don he is a low comedian, I have seen many much better. Lady Don is a splendid ballad singer, & is a fine looking woman, Burlesque appears to be their forte. I have been to the Kings several times, Isa returned last week I have only seen her once & then it was in company with others. Lizzie & I called there last night, but everyone was out except Mr King, who h as usual made me welcome —
I had dinner at Harrys to day after which Liz & I took a walk & introduced her to Mrs. Hooper & Mrs. Hickey, we had tea with them & then went into Sandhurst to Church with her. I ought to have been in bed instead done me more good than walking & then sitting down to write, it is now 11 pm & I have to go to work at 12 & dont leave till 6.am in the morning —
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[1861-10-06 Sunday]
1861 California Gully Bendigo, Victoria
Been on the night shift all this week feel worn out for want of sleep, some folks can sleep at any time, but it is a most difficult thing for me to get about 3 hours of it in the day time, & that is not enough to have to work 12 hours through the night upon. I received a long letter from mother on Friday, she had just recvd a letter from my father in reply to one she sent him requesting him for assistance to keep her home together & educate her daughters, he plainly informs her it is not in his power, that he has eno’ to do to keep himself (I think the main reason of his leaving his family was to shun his duty as a parent, I sincerely trust it was not but I should be ashamed to acknowledge [him] as a father in such a case, but it looks like it) poor mother is in sad spirits at what she considers his negligence. It put me in a poor way for I see no way out of continued poverty. Im naturally sanguine but I feel to have no hope in this respect – of materially improving our position, my brothers & self appear to me to be kind of outcasts in society, not one of us pursuing any defined course. Oh how wrong it is to bring up boys without some settled calling or trade or education, especially in a country
|
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like this. I felt low spirited & went into
Sandhurst, called at Kings, thought it would
enliven me, they appeared very cool toward
me, perhaps it arose from my own morbid
state of mind, I want a change Ive had a
long spell of hard work with no rest or
holiday, but I dare not think of it. I must
work on, ever work, humanitys bondage —
I have been to see Liz several times. I went to Bendigo last night, met H.Dight, we went to hear Lady Don — she playd & sang with her usual grace & spirit, on coming home we called at Harrys, Liz made us up a bed & we stopped there for the night, had breakfast this morning with them, came home read a little, after dinner I returned & took Liz for a walk to the Back Creek Cemetary, situated in a very pretty place (for Bendigo) & a fashionable Sunday afternoon promenade, we were rather unfortunate in choosing the day for visiting it, windy & frightfully dusty, we were very tired & dirty on reaching Long Gully, felt all right after a good tea. I was sadly grieved on Monday by a visit from Mrs. Bostock (my old friend Faithey) begging money to bury her children, she has lost three within the last
|
| 2/236 |
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three weeks from Diptheria, her husband is very
ill. I gave her all I could spare, in fact more –
& collected her a little sum from my fellow work
man — poor Faith, she has known nothing but
sorrow all her life, she was married at fifteen
& is now 22 & had 5 children, her husband has
been very unfortunate, sickness & want of
employment. I think Im very wrong in con-
stantly repining at my own lot, when I have
but to look abroad & see so much misery
around me. Scarcely a day passes without
coming in contact with a beggar of some
description, this should not be the case in
such a country as Australia, the Golden Land
there is something radically wrong existing some
where — bad government, bad rulers. I often
think the misery there is at present is a kind
of judgement on the people for their willful
extravagance & debauchery in the early days
of gold digging. God grant there may be a change
for the better soon — I wrote to mother to
day & enclosed £2.0.0. The news from N.Z.
are of a most conflicting nature, extremely so. You
meet one person who has received very good news, & from
another the reverse. I suppose I shall hear from
Ned in a week or two. Last Thursday was
a holiday for those that could afford to take one.
A Volunteer Review was held at Huntly, came off
with great eclat. I heard many funny tales, in connection
with it —
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[Sunday, 13 October 1861]
October 14th.[13th] 1861 Pleasent weather. Still at
the Crushing Machine working most irregular
hours, night & day, crushing for the public
Had a holiday Thursday afternoon, owing to a receiving a visit from for the Governor, Sir Henry Barkley, he paid the Johnsons Reef Co plant a visit, where I saw him & his lady he is a tall thin man about 50 years of age, with a very kindly disposed countenance his lady is a young woman about 21 I should say he seemed pleased with everything he witnessed —
Wednesday night on leaving work at 12 pm I changed my clothes & went to a Ball at the White Horse Assembly Rooms, danced till day break
I did not go to work yesterday. In the afternoon I paid Mrs. Hooper a visit, from there went to Lizzies, took her into Sandhurst for a walk called at Kings. Isa & Edwards were there, the latter having just come in from Tarrangower — I believe they have broken off their engagement stayed tea there, Liz walked home, I went to the Theatre, met my quandary acquaintance Mary Lace, she lives in Long Gully, so I walked home with her — I stood talking with her near her mothers tent, when that lady, hearing our voices came out, & abused us frightfully, she didnt know me in the dark. I beat a retreat after expostulating with her for some time to no purpose — I vowed the last time I saw her
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it should be the last for I always get into
trouble whenever I meet her — she called at my
tent several times lately, so Mrs. Drew informed
me — but fortunately I was always out. Nearly
3 am this morning when I got home, did not
rise till 10.am, read till dinner time, after
which I went to Mrs. Hoopers had tea there
her boy Bobby & I with my couzin Liz went
to the Wesleyan Chapel, C. Gully, heard a decent
sermon, a funeral one, for a man that was
killed on the Redan, one time a fellow worker
of mine (Antrewather) he left a widow & three
children, a subscription was got up in the
neighbourhood & a considerable sum collected
to enable her to open a small place of business –
at the close of the service, Bob saw Liz home
I met Miss Lay & took a walk about the
ranges with her. I dont much like her she is
a most affected bundle of charms, she was born
in India, where her father held a good position
he is now a Reefer — the Mother & daughter
Keep a school, the usual recourse for broken
down gentility
[Sunday, 20 October 1861] October 21st.1861. Weather been hot, Summer set in — Been on day work the past week tho’ I worked half a shift last night for my mate (Watson) besides doing my own 12 hours — 18 hours work, right off, is no joke, with no rest between & such hard work
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on getting home I fell asleep & did not
awake till 10. am this morning. I went over
to Couzins twice during the week. Harry has
his mates share in the Machine, so he owns
the whole of it now. I dont think he can
make it pay for the ground is nearly worked
out. I received a short note from Ned yesterday
he arrived all right after a quick passage
landed without a penny, had to sponge on
others, until he arrived on the Tuepeka or
Gabriels Gully, where the gold is found — he gave
a fearful description of the place, very mountainous
& cold, & no firewood within miles, provisions at
famine prices, he says great numbers of the
Victorians cant stand it, & are returning,
he thinks there is plenty of gold getting, & hopes
to get some himself very shortly. There must
be a deal of gold getting by some, for the
escort returns are very high. This afternoon
I spent at Lizzies, Dight was there) stayd
tea, & we all came over to Chapel in the evening
I did not return with them, but came home at
the close of the service, I purpose trying to
sleep for a couple of hours, I have to go to
work at 12, my night shift next week
I dont feel well, had a bad headache — I wrote
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to mother this morning I sent her as usual
£2.0s.0d — I had a long letter from her some
days back, she is very anxious on Neds account
[Sunday, 27 October 1861] October 28th.1861 Weather hot & sultry & being on the night shift, I have to sleep in in the day time, my tent is like an oven with the heat & what with the noise of passing vehicles, children playing, & a Butchers (Mr. Field) pigs squeaking, renders it next to impossible to get any sleep. I dont think I have had more than 18 hours sleep during the week & for a man who is engaged in hard physical labour, for 12 hours out of 24, it is too little to enjoy ones health & strength — I feel fagged & worn out — I was pleased at receiving another letter from my brother Ned, informing me that he is in way of doing well he is mates with Lockey Frazer & another man, he is getting £7.10.0 per week wages in a claim, which keeps the three of them in vituals the other two are prospecting, for a claim, he thinks any one if they will stick to work & make up their minds to put up with the hardships may do well — the weather is improving, Summer setting in. Im very glad to hear it, & trust he will make hay while the sun shines, for generally it is the first at a rush that do well — the next 6
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months will be the most prosperous for Otago &
those in it. Things are very dear there it costs them
£2.0.0 prweek to live & then have nothing but
Biscuits & Mutton. I wish I had gone with
him, for many reasons. I think Ill go when
I get the money that I am to receive from my
cousin Harry in November. I have time yet
to think about it. I went to chapel this
morning. In the afternoon I went to hear a
Mr Lloyd from Geelong, deliver an open air
address on Temperance, he spoke & reasoned well
& I trust to some purpose, for many that
were present wanted talking to on the subject
I had tea at Fawcetts, from there walked into Sandhurst, went to Church, met Isa, saw her home, spent a comfortable two hours with her, talking over a variety of subjects, both of us avoiding the subject nearest our hearts — she did not deny that whatever there had been between Edwards & her, was at an end — [Sunday, 3 November 1861]
November 5th [3rd].1861 Pleasent weather, but rather hot. Been on the day shift this week I go on to night at 12, so Ive not much time being 10.30 now. Tuesday night I went to the Theatre, heard two very fine musicians, named Possard & Dewery, one plays the violinello the other the violin. I never listened to anything more exquisite I think Possard plays equally as well as
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Miska Hauser, the great violinist, that visited
Australia, some years ago — Thursday evening
I spent with my couzins, very pleasently.
Last night I went into Sandhurst, called
at Frazers, found a letter there from Mother
all well at home — she had received a letter
from Ned, of a similar tenor as mine –
made a few purchases, went to the Theatre
met my foreign lady friend, looking as
charming as ever, she was very glad to see
me & made some apologies to me for her
strange behaviour, on our last interview
she was in company with a gentleman
whom she introduced to me as her husband
a quiet looking man, in a government billet
late when I got home — I went to Chapel
this morning, heard a good sermon, spent
the afternoon at Welsteads. In the evening
I went to Chapel, met my couzin Liz &
Miss Piggott there, walked home with the
latter. Mr. P. looked rather blue at me
I thought & was only just civil, the old
blaguard he ought to feel honored, at his
daughter receiving attention from any respectable
young man. A report has been prevailing
about Bendigo to day, that the Exploring
party headed by Burke & Wells has met
with a most disastrous termination –
a relief party was sent after them (but too
late) to render assistance if necessary, on
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its arrival at Coopers Creek, they found
one survivor named King (he was nearly
dead) who informed them that Burke &
Wells, with two men, Gray & King had left
Coopers Creek, & crossed the continent to the
Gulf of Carpentaria & their provisions falling
short on their return they had endured great
hardships. Gray died, (tis said from the effects
of ill usage by Burke, who from all accounts
was a very unfit person to have command of
such an expedition) the rest reached Coopers
Creek, in a most exhausted state. I can
imagine their misery on finding the party
they had left in charge of the depot, had
but the same morning abandoned & returned
for the settled districts on the "Darling River"
the three poor fellows nearly starved to death
found in a “cache” a little rice & a paper
stating, they thought they must be dead or had
returned by way of Queensland they were too
tired to follow, & after a consultation it was
agreed to turn south for South Australia
there camels died, there food was soon finished
& sick, weak, & spiritless they lived a short
time with the natives, but the food the
natives lived upon, gave the Europeans no
nourishment, fish & a kind of seed called
“Nardoo” which satisfies the appetite but
contains little nutrients, even then was
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scarce. Burke died first, then Wells, King
lived with the natives, who seemed to pity
him in his desolateness he could not
have survived much longer. It is a most
heartrending story, & will long be remembered
in this country — great blame is attached to
the party leaving Coopers Creek so soon –
but perhaps when the particulars come
to light, the blame will rest on others
shoulders -- Many attempts have
been made to cross the continent, this
King is the first that has returned alive
from the undertaking —
I wrote to mother to day & sent her
£2.0.0
November 10th.1861. Weather frightfully hot, been 110º in the shade two days Been on the night shift, wretched work could get very little sleep. Im a stone lighter than I was one month ago, such is the effect of hard work in hot weather without a proper quantity of sleep, been nowhere during the week, except one visit I paid Lizzie, she is not very well got a severe cold. I went to Chapel this morning. In the afternoon I went about visiting the charitably disposed, with a subscription list towards the erection of a School for Fawcett. He is a cripple & a very intelligent young fellow I like him well — I was not so successful as I anticipated, it is really astonishing what
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an amount of poverty a person discovers
exists in peoples dwellings when solicited for
assistance towards a charitable institution
I should have had no difficulty in selling
a lot of tickets for a Ball or any other
pleasure entertainment. In the evening I
walked into Sandhurst, went to Church
after the service called at Kings (I cannot
resist the temptation whenever I have
the opportunity) saw Isa, as usual,
very friendly & agreeable, we appear to
understand each other very well — I seldom
experience any thing like embarrassment
in her company even when left alone. We
read & sing Etc — as of old — after 10
when I left them had a pleasent walk
home —
November 17th.1861 Another horrible week reminding one of the regions “infernal”
This has been a week of dissipation to me — Monday night I spent at Fawcetts very pleasently. Liz Fawcett is a very pretty girl & possesses a fine contralto voice, we had lots of singing (ditto Friday night) Tuesday night I went to Kings, the old folks being away, we had some fine fun dancing & singing 12 pm when I left Wednesday night I went to the Quadrille party at Thorpes, nearly all the ladies
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in the neighbourhood were there, one half of
their husbands being in N.Z. they didnt seem
[to] feel any restraints, every body enjoyed them
selves, flirting, courting & dancing Etc — Its
disgusting sometimes, even to me, to see the
levity displayed by women, with families –
in such places — seem to possess no sense of
shame — Ive seen women dancing, regular
attendants at these kind of weekly reunions
having their infants brought them by their
husbands to be suckled, in the dressing room
it was 4 am next morning when I left the
gay & festive scene. Thursday I was too
tired to go any where, went to bed early —
Saturday evening I called to see Lizzie, she had just returned from a visit of 3 days to Mrs. Hickey (Minnie) Myers Flat, she seemed quite pleased with the change – from there, I went into Sandhurst, visited the Theatre — met H.Dight, left early & went to a low dancing room, left in disgust with what I saw (tho nothing new) I fancy my feelings must be becoming more refined — for these kind of places had once a peculiar attraction. I delighted in a wild frolic, ending with what I used to call a jolly row, (but I think it is now one one [of] the most revolting sights to visit such a place as I went into last night to see beautiful, lovely girls about, Im
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sure some of them not more than 16
years of age, splendidly dressed & maudling
drunk, becoming desperately enamoured with
men at first sight. Its really astounding
the heights prostitution is carried to in
this colony. Melbourne teems with them
preachers & ministers exclaim against
it in every pulpit, but to no purpose
I fancy it arises from the state
society is in, the diggins are populated
with so many single men & Melbourne
contains an excess of women, with
very little profitable work for those who are willing
to work. I stopped all night with H
Dight, he is salesman in Amos Iron & Wood
Yard, View Place, rose early, & walked
over to my couzins, where I had breakfast
Spent the afternoon reading & writing. I
wrote to Mother & enclosed, but 30/. this
time having had some expenses that left
me very short of money. In the evening
I walked into Sandhurst, met Mary &
Isa King, we took a walk to Lizzies to
gether, stay’d about an hour, then went
back with them again —
November 24th 1861. Very hot weather Been on the night shift, but Friday night owing to an accident, that nearly
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sent us to “Kingdom Come” we did not
work last night. Went into Sandhurst
called at Kings (I can go nowhere else)
stayd till 9 pm, when I left & went
to the Lyceum Theatre, it was frightfully
crowded, owing to King the Survivor
of the E.Expedition having arrived yesterday
evening from Swan Hill enroute to
Melbourne, being present, in company
with the Mayor (Strickland) he appeared
to be very weak, tho only 23 years of age
he looked 30, he has been a soldier & is
a fine well built smart looking chap –
but one, (according to the doctors) was the
most unlikely to survive much hardship
poor fellow what misery he must have endured
I pitied him his ordeal last night
far more attention was paid him than
was to the performance — This morning
I took a walk to J.Hannon Stewarts on
the “Shellback” he is a particular favorite
of mine, he showed me a lot of beautiful
photographs & stereoscophic views, & we
spent a few hours contemplating minute
nature through the medium of a powerful
microscope, the best I believe on Bendigo
Spent the afternoon with him visiting our
acquaintances, laughed & joked at “James”
looked very serious at Fawcetts, went to
my couzins had tea with them, from
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[there] went to Church, met Mary & Lizzie King
the latter is getting quite a woman — took
a long walk together. Mary tells me
a gentleman named Enniss is a constant
visitor at their house & professes a great
liking for Isa — hang his impudence, an
old man with a daughter just married
I believe her parents desire her to marry
him
[Monday, 2 December 1861]
December 2nd 1861 Weather very unsettled, one day
exceedingly close & sultry & next rain & so forth —
I received a long letter from my brother Ned, he is
still working in Gabriels Gully, & doing pretty well, he
states he has 6 oz of gold & £20.0.0 in money by him
very good I think for the time he has been there, 6 weeks.
I trust he may continue to do as well & at the same
time be kept out of temptation, he does not
advise me to go there, but thinks I might do
much better there, than where I am, leaves it to
my own judgement he doesnt deny having to put
up with many hardships, his mate Lockey
returned from N.Z this week, being rather delicate
he could not stand the hardships & privations having
always been accustomed to a good home & comforts
he speaks in glowing terms of the gold fields
there, thinks there will be some more golden districts
discovered before long. I have made up my mind
to try my fortune there. I am heartily weary &
sick of my present life, long hours, night
shifts, hard work, & of a description that
would soon make an old man of me, my only
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regret is that I am leaving a certainty for an
uncertainty. I would not much care for my own
part but In my present situation I could always
send mother something to assist in keeping a home
but I could not keep it up long were I to remain
& there is no chance of improving my social position
My sole object in taking this step will be in the hope of realizing a lump sum of money that I may be enabled to enter into some other pursuit than Ive been engaged in so unprofitably for such a number of years. I do hope providence will prove kind to me in my undertaking. I know many that are making what I would look upon as a fortune over there — why may not I be as fortunate If work & energy will bring it, I shall be successful
I wrote to Ned to day telling him not to be surprised if he should see me shortly — I wrote also to my old friend Hamilton (Stirling, Scotland) This week as been one of the hardest In the shape of work I ever experienced — the machinery became deranged & we have had to work night & day to get it in working order again. I worked for 35 hours without intermission except to go to my meals I felt very tired and sore from the effects of my over tasked labours, getting 5/- per week more than the other men Im expected always to be at hand, we got every thing in working order by Saturday at noon. I spent one day in the Boiler repairing a valve — I never spent such a day in my life. Im sure I lost half a stone in weight — however I feel quite elated at the bare prospect of a change — I visited my couzins three evenings of past week. Saturday night Liz & I went into Sandhurst, did some shopping
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after which we called at Kings where we stayd till 11 o.c
very tired when I got home thro' the want of proper
rest lately. Sunday morning I went to Chapel, after
dinner, I called upon my friend J.Hannan Stuart &
we took a strool together, found ourselves at my couzins
by tea time, tea. I left early having to go on to
work at 12 P.m. last night, looked into the Chapel
heard the end of a sermon, met the Fawcetts, went
into their place for a short time, got home by nine
changed my clothes, & went into the Engine House
where I slept till the Engineer came & roused me
got home this morning at 7.am, slept till 2 pm,
went to see couzin Harry who has promised to let
me have the Bill that falls due tomorrow —
I have just spoken to Mr Froggart about leaving, he
was very sorry to part with me, & offered me 5/-
per week more wages if I would remain, he also
promised if I am unfortunate in N.Z. & want a
billet on my return he will, if in his power — put
me in one, very kind of him, & some satisfaction
to feel & know that Ive been appreciated. I have
promised to continue my work till Tuesday night. I
purpose leaving Bendigo on Wednesday if possible
I hear our Engine whistle calling me to work
Im on the night shift, commence at 6 pm leave at
6.am the following morning —
7.
[Thursday, 5 December 1861]
December 5th.1861. Thursday afternoon — I leave
Bendigo, where so many years of my life had
been spent, where I have formed so many pleasent
friendships & am endeared to by so many associations,
to morrow — my spare time the last few days Ive
spent in making my adieus, many I perhaps
may never see again, some of them strange
odd characters, some very dear to me, &
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that I shall ever regret parting with, others I
cannot respect enough, to experience much pain at
parting with, however every one I visited tendered
me their best wishes for my success in future –
those that know me well, advise me to take the
step, they think if Im fortunate, Im one that will
turn it to account, many of my friends have a very
exalted opinion about me, they think Im fit for something
better than leading a diggers laborious life — tho I
shall always be in their memories known as
Gentleman Jack — & sundry other such like *patronizines.
I received £22.10.0 on Tuesday from my couzin Harry, being the balance due on the machine & horses Ned sold him — I shall leave with about £20.0.0 Harry Dight & I are going to N.Z. in company he unfortunately cannot leave Bendigo for some days so I purpose waiting for him in Melbourne I am not sorry in one respect, for I wish to spend a fortnight in town with my family — This is the last I may ever write in Bendigo. Ive packed up my things I purpose taking with me — my books & with* others things, I have given them away to friends — I shall spend to night in Sandhurst with the Kings where several friends have promised to call & see me I feel half sorry at the step Im taking arising from the great love of locality I possess. I never left but one place in my life with regret & that was Pleasent Creek some 200 miles West of Bendigo where I spent the most wretched portion of my life — & I think I never went to a place in such good spirits & sanguine of success as there —
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Melbourne Decr. 1861
Decr.10th. Once more at home in the bosom of those I have so longed & loved to see & live with Home Sweet home, how few but those who have not known but little of its joys & pleasures can appreciate it, it is so nice & happy to live with those you know are sincere in their sympathy & love than among strangers who cannot enter into the state of ones feelings when in trouble & sorrow is experienced a feeling or suspicion of a want of true sympathy
The evening of the 5th. I spent at Kings, tho I fear Isa monopolised my entire attention, she took my leaving very much to heart. I was more affected than I liked to show, never shall I meet another girl whose love I shall prize like hers or one I think I could live so happy with as a companion for life, she is warm, true & affectionate in her nature & possesses a fine mind, no promises passed between us, but if Im *prosper[ous] I shall certainly renew the friendship, she wishes me to be happy & made me promise to seek some lady in society, I should learn to like, or in other words bid me flirt as much as possible & she says Ill learn to laugh that I could ever have loved a being like her — my couzins and several others were there to whom I bade adieu Slept at the Shamrock for the night, roused up at 5 am next morning, left by a coach drawn by 4 horses, found myself sitting beside a fat old lady & a clerical looking being, we did not exchange a word, all the way to Castlemaine where we reached about 9.am, had breakfast & started again in half an hour — nothing very
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particular occurring on the road so far. I was
struck with the immense amount of labour, in
connection with the Railway works, all the cuttings
from the Big Hill to Castlemaine are through
Granite Beds, my astonishment was increased on
getting nearer the more advanced portions of the
line, the aqueduct of Taradale & Malmsbury
are fine pieces of work, scarcely a spot on the
road but what did not bring up some recollection
of bygone days before their was a road of any
sort for vehicles, when it used to take a month
& 6 weeks to perform the journey of 100 miles
the times Ive trudged along tired & weary in wet
weather & in the mid of winter & the heat of summer
& camped out, with heavens canopy for a cover
& the stars to light me — the good old days
before people used to ride & coach it, new
chums little know what the earlier pioneers
diggers & bushmen had to endure — forests stood
where towns are now, surrounded with all the
accessories of wealth. On reaching Woodend I
found our journey by coach was at an end, the Rly
being completed to there -(40 miles from Melbourne)
4 pm when we left, arrived in town at 6.P.m
took a cab to my mothers, it is needless to state
she was glad to see me as were my sisters &
Fred — I fancy mother is looking much older
Mary is growing a nice young woman, Bessy is
much taller — I suppose we shall have her
in long dresses soon & a consequence she’ll
be! Saturday afternoon I took Mother to see
the Exhibition of Colonial productions, which
are to be sent to London for the Great Exhibition
that takes place next year — I never saw
such
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538
a magnificent sight, such displays of wealth &
commerce & colonial manufactured goods I
noticed of latter, a deal of cabinet work such
as elegant pieces or furniture made from
Colonial woods, endless would be my task
were I to attempt to discribe what I witnessed
the principal feature in the building appeared
to be a gilded column reaching to the roof
supposed to represent the bulk of gold obtained
from the Vic. Gold fields, nearly every
branch of industry was well represented —
It was the last day, the place was
closed in the evening by a Concert given
by the Philharmonic Society, the singing was
pretty good but the place was so crowded
it was impossible to enjoy it. Fred & I
left early rambled up Bourke St. visited
several places, tried my strength lifted 525 lbs
not so bad for a little chap. I met my
old rival Edwards, we were rather surprised
at meeting, he told me about Isa cutting
him, said it was all his own fault. I
gave him all particulars concerning the Kings
late when we parted. Sunday morning I
went to St. Peters. In the afternoon Mary &
I took a walk, met Edwards again, got
fairly tired of him, harping on the same subject.
Fred & I took a long walk after tea about
town. This afternoon I visited the
Museum at the University spent a few
hours very rationally & I believe profitably
|
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539
It contains models of every description of
Machinery used in Farming & Mining pursuits
a vast quantity of stuffed & Skeletons, specimens
of Zoology & Ornothology & other
natural curiosities too numerous to allude to
On leaving there I went to the Public Library & was disappointed to find it closed for some days in consequence of some alterations
Tuesday, I spent walking about town saw a great deal to interest me, many new buildings gone up since my last visit I noticed a great many diggers in the streets, bound for N.Z. they are easily told, sauntering along gaping into shop windows Etc so different from the quick brisk step of the business men of town — In the evening I went with Mary & to the philharmonic rehearsal (she is a member of the Society) we called for a friend of hers Miss Rekowskie, a charming little girl, (a daughter of a Polish gentleman a fine jolly old fellow,) with nice quiet winning manners that are irresistibly attractive — Harry Dight called on me to day he arrived from Bendigo last night
Wednesday. Spent the morning at home reading. Harry called about 11 Pm. & informed me he had fallen in with an old fellow apprentice of his named Thos Downs whose father is an old seafaring man on this coast for upwards of 30 years, he is engaged at present in fitting up a small schooner called the Sarah & Esther, at present lying in
|
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the Yarra for Otago N.Z. She will be ready for
sea in a few days. Harry has promised to go
with them providing I am agreeable. I did not
like the idea having had too much experience
of small vessels — in former times — however I
accompanied him down to the vessel found her a
flat bottomed little craft about 30 tons
looked very old & weatherbeaten, she had just
received a coat of tar & a few new ropes
looking like an old man spruced up for a
season — I was introduced to Captain Downs
an old bluff looking fellow with a deal of forced
politeness but an expression in his face I did
not like, a man I would not depend upon except
perhaps in his profession — his son Tom, seems
an easy, good natured sort of chap, nothing
particular about him either personally or intellectually
to specially recommend him to notice, three others
(diggers) but formerly sailors, who are working
their passage, form the whole set who are
going to tempt providence in this old dingy
I remonstrated with Harry about the folly
of going in such a craft & at the same time
paying as much for our passage as if we
went in a first class ship — but to no purpose
not having any experience in nautical matters
he sees no danger. I after anything but willingly
consented to go with them. On arriving
home I found my sister Mary had gone to spend
the evening at Mr James, Hoddle St. so I
had to go for her was introduced to a nice
|
| 2/258 |
541
lot of people, spent a couple of hours in
a most agreeable manner — home by 10 pm
Thursday. Cruising about town in company with Harry, visiting every place we think of interest, smoking Cigars & drinking lemonade & enjoying sundry other luxuries only enjoyed during this hot weather — Wrote to Edward & also to Mr. Halley, after tea in company with some friends of Harrys I knocked about town mingling in all kind of company (not altogether creditable) & places — 12 Pm when I got home
Friday. Went this morning with Henry down to the schooner, had a good look at her was not any the better pleased with the inspection, made the acquaintance of all on board, the cabin is a small box of a place about 6 ft x 10 fitted up with two bunks large enough to hold 2 in each (in close quarters). In the evening Miss James called & spent it with us, she is a fine jolly girl, time passed very quick but pleasently, she is full of life & fun — I enjoyed the walk home with her.
Saturday. Spent the day until 4 pm (reading & doing little jobs about the house) when Mary & I went to the Public Baths, paid 6d each, optional hot or cold & every necessary supplied, called at Rekowskis on our way home, no one in but Mrs. R.
In the evening a friend called, J.Sutherland, Mary & I accompanied him for a strool about town until 9Pm. I went out alone called on an acquaintance stay’d till 11 pm —
|
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[Sunday, 15 December 1861]
Sunday Dec 16th.1861. After breakfast, two
friends of Harry Dights called, took a walk round
the gardens, called at Dights, found the old folks
nice homely people, came home alone to dinner
after which we were fairly stormed with visitors
among the number Geo. Johnson, Mr. & the two Miss
Rekowskies, the old gentleman did not remain long,
Mary & his daughters & I took a pleasent walk together
came home early & had some singing, my sisters
voice has greatly improved, after we went to
St Marks Church, at the close of the service we
took another pleasent strool. I fancy if I was
thrown in Miss R. way much I should begin to
get soft about her, she persuaded me to remain
in Melb. thinks it very strange I should prefer
a rough diggers life to a life in town with all
its pleasures & comforts. (I entertain the same idea
but what can I do, I am not qualified for an
office or a mercantile life & people dont like
to engage a novice. I feel bitterly, my position –
& inability to improve it at present, no! Ill go to
N.Z & if I can make a few hundred pounds, Ill
never dig again) We met a gentleman named Clark
an acquaintance of Marys to whom she introduced
me to, he left us on arriving at Rekowskies
we did not remain long there, on coming home
found Harry here, after we settled the business he
called about he left. The English Mail arrived
last night, no news from our relatives I
fancy father forgets he has a family — I
received a long letter from my old friend
Burchell, quite well, he has commenced his studies
for a surgeon —
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[Monday, 16 December 1861]
Monday 17th Been very busy to day, purchasing
necessaries for my voyage, buying Blankets, Boots
Flannel shirts & trousers. Harry & I took a
ramble in the evening met some Bendigonians
bound like ourselves for N.Z. Im sorry we did
not take our passages in some other craft
for judging from appearances it will be some
days ere we are ready to sail
[Tuesday, 17 December 1861]
18th Decr.1861 Harry called with a cab this
morning, took our things on board the schooner
found all hands very busy loading her cargo, which
consists of a lot of damaged timber, this evening
I went to the Philharmonic Society in company
with Mary & Agnes Rekowski, heard them
rehearsing something that gave me an idea of the
confounding of tongues at "Babel" called at R. on our
way home spent about an hour very pleasently at
their house
[Wednesday, 18 December 1861]
19th. Still in town "Sarah & Esther" sails
tomorrow. Harry called this morning, went out
together, visited several places, rambled about
till we got tired, came home about 4 pm. –
expected the Rekowskies who had promised to spend
the evening with us, was disappointed, little
Dalia called to say her sister would be unable
to come through some unforeseen circumstance —
I feel very sad at the idea of leaving home
once more — the more I see of home the greater
my desire is to remain — God grant I may be
prosperous & soon return
[Thursday, 19 December 1861] 20th.[19th] Bid good bye to all at home this morning called at Rekowskis & one or two other places & made
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my adieus. I called for Harry & we went to Emerald
Hill, where we were to meet Captain Downs & his son
& go on board the schooner, which is lying off the
Williamstown Battery. Capt. informed us she
would not sail till tomorrow, & could return
home again — we were not sorry. I felt as if I
would willingly break my leg or arm so as to have
an excuse for not going in such a wretched craft
we spent several hours at Downs (Mrs D. is a nice
person — & very interesting company, having been
in the colony upwards of 25 years — she loves to talk
about old times.) had dinner & tea with them
during the afternoon I & Fred went to see Mrs. Crapper
(who lives on E. Hill) my old nurse, she was very
glad to see us, wished me luck Etc. & bade her
adieu. Came home to Mother, much to her surprise
& delight about 6 pm, my sisters were out,
they came home with Mr Clark about 10 pm
spent a very happy evening together, perhaps
my last. I am more sad than ever — having to
make another adieu in the morning (11 am)
[Friday, 20 December 1861] 21st. Another painful parting this morning. Harry came & breakfasted with us, left home early. Fred accompanied us to Emerald Hill where we parted, found old Capt quarrelling with his wife I believe he is an old vagabond, & they live very unhappily together, however when things got settled we left for Sandridge about 1 pm - (tis 9 years ago since I was there before, what a
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On Board the Sara and Esther 1860-12-20
change, at that time there was but one Hotel in it
& now its a bustling seaport town two long jettys
crowded with some of the largest ships afloat-), we
found the boat waiting for us, when just as we were
embarking, I met Miss Sayers on the pier, had a
chat for a few minutes with her — she had come from
Bendigo to see some friends off to N.Z. we reached the
S&E all right — found our cabin anything but clean or
comfortable, being a small Box of a place about 6 x 10 ft it
originally intended to accommodate two persons, four of
us are to exist in it now, we put things in order the
best way we could — & as the wind was fair & no
signs of it changing, Harry & I took the boat &
went on Shore at Williams town. Harry has an
aunt living there so we called upon her, found her
a jolly old woman who made us very welcome
there is an old soldier living with her a
Yorkshireman, who we found very interesting, he is
at present engaged as Drill Instructor to the W.T.
Volunteers — we staid tea & then returned on board
I feel sorry I did not go home by the railway
for I dont think from what I can hear we
shall sail until late tomorrow, been spending the
evening on deck, being a lovely night, its very pretty
to watch the ships at anchor, & see the lights of a
large town in the distance where everything seems
so quiet & still & to know there is so much life &
bustle but such a short distance away —
[Saturday, 21 December 1861] 21nd Decr.1861 Still at anchor waiting for a fair wind to carry us out of the bay. I hate this dallying away of time, if we had left Melb. as I wanted in the Aldinga on Wednesday we should have been half way on our journey, patience, in some cases, is a virtue I cannot boast of.
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1860-12-22, On Board the Sara and Esther Bound for New Zealand
Harry & one [of] the sailors Tom Downs & I went on shore
this morning for a short time cruised about
the “village” on Board by 2 Pm, when the
Clearance Officer came to have a look at us &
give us permission to proceed on our voyage –
so the S&E 37 tons Capt Downs & 6 others
from Melb. are only waiting for a fair wind to
convey us to the Eldorado of our desires –
the Capt has gone on shore — his son Tom hopes
he wont get drunk & get into the watchhouse,
very consoling, to have to place dependence on such
a character —
-(copied from a pencilled journal-) [Sunday, 22 December 1861] 22nd Dec 1861 About 2 am this morning Harry & [I] were roused up by a great uproar, which we found on turning out to proceed from some one quarrelling It appears the capt. took 2 of the men ashore, with him, & requested them to wait an hour for him, they did so, & he not coming they went into a public house & got drunk while there, the Capt. found them & he being drunk they began to abuse each other, however they found the boat & came on board, bringing with them a tall old man named Beirtt or Brett, 70 yrs of age an old friend of Downs who in a drunken fit formed an impromptu idea of going to N.Z. he was the Bellman or Public Crier of W.Town & a strange looking mortal he appeared on my first inspection of him, dressed in a crooked hat & Red Coat with Brass Buttons & ringing a large Hand Bell they got quieted at last, & we put them all to bed X(*but not)X without some trouble, we soon fell asleep
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547
On Board the Sara and Esther Bound for New Zealand
& were awake about 6 am, when we went on deck
& assisted in heaving the anchor & setting the sails
the day was very hot & sultry & every appearance
of an approaching change, the wind was light &
very variable, we reached the heads about 2 pm
saw the remains of the Ship "Empress of the Seas"
that was burnt about 3 days ago - on getting out
side of the Bay the wind began to rise, until it
blew a regular gale, our tackle which
was old began to snap like packthread nearly every
rope we hauled upon gave way - impeding us
very much in reducing sail & the deck being
covered with timber made it awkward to work
we were in a great state of confusion, whilst
getting in our foretopsail, we had it cleared up
& some of us going aloft to take it in when a sudden
puff snapped off our topmast, the sea was
running very high, rendering it impossible in
the state we were in to get rid of the broken
spars & rigging, all we could do under the
circumstances was to let her run before the wind
the seas running over her washing us sometimes
off our feet, making it very dangerous, having
nothing but a life line along the vessels side
however by about 12 pm with a deal of trouble
we got the broken rigging cut adrift, we
lost the spar but saved the sail, being full of
rents it is not of much use, by this time
we had nothing set but the foresail, & as
the wind was fair we kept our course, we
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On Board the Sara and Esther
were off Cape Schanck at the time of the accident - I
was in anything but an amiable humour, at my folly
in coming to sea in such a cursed old craft
that had been a Lighter on the Yarra for 11
years, the owners are trying to float her over to
Otago & there she is to resume her old duties -
Old Brett annoys me, he is an infernal old
croaker, prophesises we are all bound for Hell, I
do hate these croakers. I believe in making the
best of a bad bargain. I wont sink if I can
help it, but if it is my lot to be lost Im
quite reconciled, but no croaking - I could go
down with my arms folded if I saw no
chance of escape - Harry & I turned in about
1 pm & slept as sound as tops, our Cabin
being half full of water, made it anything
but pleasent
[Monday, 23 December 1861] 23rd./12/61 - Was roused out early this morning by finding the water rising in the cabin, got up feeling very seasick, our first job on getting up was to bail out the Cabin. We found the wind had abated a little, but I never looked upon such a wild scene - the sea was running mountains high & our old boat looked like a wreck upon the water all on board seemed dull & lowspirited at such a stormy commencement of our voyage with the exception Harry & I the rest had not had any sleep during the night. After breakfasting of Biscuit & Salt Beef which
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On Board the Sara and Esther: Swan Island
appears to be the only fare on board we made
the startling discovery that our vessel was
sinking, from the fact of the water rising
in the cabin through the floor - we got the
pump to work & found that by taking
shifts of 2 hours each alternately we could
keep the water down allayed our fears. In
the afternoon it came on to blow great guns
had to close off our foresail & keep her before
the wind, she sails well with the wind aft
being flat bottomed she rides over the waves like
a duck, at times the waves rise, as if they
were going to overwhelm us, when she
rises with the swell beautifully, we sighted
Wilsons Promontory about 9 pm - the most
Southern part of Australia - Being loaded
with dry deals & closely packed we feel most
danger in the water rising, & swelling the
timber & so open the seams, we think it
is from that cause she makes so much
water at present - I feel very tired having
worked hard all day & not a dry stitch
on me - Ill try & get a few hours sleep -
[Tuesday, 24 December 1861] 24th/12/1861. Roused up early to take our turn at the pumps, found everything looking as wild as ever - Downs very anxious, hoping to make the lee of the Swan Island by night the hurricane had ceased into a blustering gale, the sea looking more rough & angry than ever, as if it felt wrath
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On Board the Sara and Esther: Swan Island
& disappointment at not getting our craft with
its cargo for its prey, we felt anxious until
we sighted our haven, which on doing, relieved
us of our anxiety a little, we let go our
anchor - & had taken in our sail, when it
began to blow such a hurricane as few in
our vessel say they never experienced before
we had to let go our other anchor, while doing
this another craft & a steamer ("City of Hobart"
from N.Z.) came in for shelter during the
night, we made all right & bailed our cabin
dry when we had a chat & I took what I
never remember taking before a glass
of spirits. I really felt the better for it
I wished to know what Downs intention was
we could not think of proceeding on our voyage
in our present plight. I could get no
satisfaction from him, so I turned in reckles
of consequences - consoling myself with the
notion I had fellows in distress
[Wednesday, 25 December 1861] 25th.Decr.1861 Christmas Day. What a strange place & under what unpleasent circumstances to be placed in, on such a day. The sun that we had not seen for some time burst forth in all its glory making us reconciled to our position with its gladding influence than we otherwise would have been, the gale abated a little, but there is still a heavy sea & strong wind, rendering us unable to go ashore – in fact whatever our desire was in that respect we had to forego it, in the performance of necessary duties, such as pumping out our
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Christmas on Board the Sara and Esther: Swan Island
floating cullender & arranging our wreck & also in
making preparations to run up a new topmast
fortunately for us my mate Harry Dight, being
a carpenter & having his tool chest aboard we
are in a position if we can get a spar fit for
the purpose ashore to put it up, we are lying
about two miles from the shore in Banks Straits,
to the south some 5 miles, we can see the N.E. coast of
Tasmania, an uninhabited part of that island
Peter (one of the men) who acts as cook prepared
what to us was nice dinner, consisting of a
plum pudding & the skeleton of two ducks, that Brett
brought on board. I brought forth a large Cake my
mother gave me on leaving Melb - Im afraid our
good things are all finished, for our vitualling depart
is like everything else, not much account, we have a
Cask of Salt Beef a few Bags of Potatoes a
Fifty pound Bag of Flour, 6 lbs of Butter & one
Bottle of pickles with salt & pepper - a carcase of a
sheep comprised our Store list on leaving Melb
the fresh meat is already finished so salt junk
& Biscuits with potatoes is our only food for the
future, towards evening we had to up anchor &
shift our quarters to the other side of the island
from where we can see several other isles –
the largest being Flinders - & Waterhouse, which
our Capt. informs me are inhabited
[Thursday, 26 December 1861] 26 Decr.1861. Lovely day, sea gone down & looks calm & unruffled reminding me of its treacherous character when thinking of the appearance it presented to us during the past three days, after breakfast that was a better one than ordinary, having caught a fine Barracoota, a fish that frequents these waters
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On Board the Sara and Esther: Swan Island Lighthouse
in great quantities - We got out our Boat (a most
dilapidated article) Capt. Harry & one of the men & myself
forming the crew went to shore, after some trouble
we found a small sandy cove we pulled into & landed
found the island to be very small about 3 miles long
by one broad, very low & sandy the only vegetation
being some low set scrub & tea tree bush, at the East
End of the Island there is a fine Lighthouse, which
a walk of five minutes brought us to, we found
there the only persons living on the isle, viz,
Morgan the head Keeper with his wife & family & two
other men, with a half caste Maori, a fine looking
chap possessing as I found enormous strength, the
children ran screaming in doors at our approach & we
were unable to make friends of them during our stay
Morgan invited us inside treated us to some home
brewed Beer & currant damper, & after a chat for
an hour during *which time, our Capt bought a
spar for our topmast, giving 30/- for it -
Harry & I, having expressed a desire to ascend the
Lighthouse, the men accompanying us we made
the ascent, we were rather "puffed" before we reached
the top, however we were well repaid for our trouble
a more gorgeous sight I never witnessed than when
we got inside the Room containing the reflectors
the sun shining brightly upon the glasses, producing
all the varied colors of the rainbow, it reminded me
of the descriptions of Enchanted grottoes & abodes
I had read about in "Arabian Nights" & Oriental love -
I was struck with admiration at its beauty &
also with the mechanism connected the lamp & the
revolver. We had a fine view of the sea &
ships in the distance, our time was beguiled by
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Christmas on Board the Sara and Esther: Swan Island
our friends detailing to us their life among the Islands
they frequently visit. The Maori they inform me
has a boat about 4 tons, he thinks nothing of going
twice a year to Launceston in, alone & he informed
me himself he purposed venturing to N.Z. in it, as
soon as his engagement with Morgan is completed
in the course of three months - They showed me some
curiosities in conchology, splendid strings & necklaces
of the most minute but pretty shells. I should have
purchased one but not having much money & having
an uncertain future ‘fore me I could not afford to
gratify my desire - this comprises their principal
pastime, with hunting snakes found in great
numbers on the isle of a most venomous description
Morgan showed us a large snake he had killed
the day before, which had sprung at him like an
infuriated dog fortunately he had long sea boots on
at the time which doubtless saved his life, on bidding
our friends adieu on the beach after getting a cask
of fresh water in the Boat & lashing our spar
astern we pulled back to our vessel about 3 pm
passing a wreck that had taken place some weeks
previous, our spar being formerly one of its yard arms
got everything on Board all right, & commenced at
once with Adzes to dress the spar for a topmast
there was a deal of work to be done to it which Im
happy to state was finished by dark, the other
chaps have made everything ready aloft to ship it
in its place in the morning. Harry & his tools
being the most important feature in the work
about sundown we were visited by the Maori & one
[of] the Light house men, in their boat, we having presented
them a "nobbler" & tobacco pipe, things very
difficult to obtain - I was near forgetting to state
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On Board the Sara and Esther: Swan Island
that (the Old Croaker as we call him) Brett returned
on shore where he purposes to remain until he has
an opportunity of returning to Victoria. Harry & I sent
a note each to our homes by him, should he return
Im glad he is out of the ship, he made me miserable
he called me aside yesterday & told me in a most
prophetic tone to leave the ship, for anybody in
company with Downs was sure to meet with a
sad fate - he informed me he has known Downs for
nearly 30 years & that he his one of the vilest characters
alive & finished by telling me some strange stories
concerning him & among the category his having
murdered a man in Hobart Town some years
ago, all of which I firmly believe having had hints
given me by Peter & Harry about him, but I did
not care about listening to, thank God Im in no
way superstitious. If we go down we do so & there’s
an end of this world, whatever the next is, our
ship hasn't leaked so much this two days. I dont
care when we are ready to sail, three days with
a fair wind will carry us over to the South end of
N.Z., two more ought to take us to Otago & there
Hurra for the diggins that are more in my
line than this cursed ship business.
[Friday, 27 December 1861] 27th.Decr 1861 Fine day, wind changd this morning we had to up anchor & get at the other side of the Island with the straits again, where there is a current that runs at the rate of 6 knots the hour, plenty of pelicans & albatross flying about, caught another barracoota, made a good dinner for all hands. Worked very hard to day helping with the topmast, got everything
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On Board the Sara and Esther: Swan Island
finished at last, tomorrow we intend trying to get on
the yards & sails - spent the evening playing at
Cribbage - & yarning, made a discovery, Old Downs
knows my friend Hamiltons wifes father & all her
relatives, a bad lot according to his account,
however he shall never hear what Ive had told
me concerning them - he has taken her away
from all connection with them, so who or whatever
they are cannot affect him much - so long
as man & wife agree & live happy together &
in themselves who they are & where they belong
to is or should be of no consequence to anyone
[Saturday, 28 December 1861] 28th Decr.1861. Still at anchor, blowing a gale of wind, sea very rough, but much worse round the Island - we have both anchors out Capt. hopes they wont drag, so do all on Board, our chance of saving our lives under the circumstances would be very slight. Could not do much work to day aloft so all hands with one exception (myself) have been busy patching & repairing sails we are getting uneasy, for there is not more than a fortnights provisions on board & if our voyage is very long we shall have to submit ourselves quietly to "hard times" not pleasent to contemplate in an old, leaky, unseaworthy craft
[Sunday, 29 December 1861] 29th.Decr.1861. Wind went down in the night left a rough sea, we heaved the anchor this morning at 7 am, got under weigh with a light puffy breeze from the N.W. carried us along at the rate of 3 knots an hour, the men working aloft all day, got every thing in its place sail set & tackle & gear all right
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On Board the Sara and Esther
we have a better fore top rigging than when we left port
our topmast is better at all events. We were astonished
at the quantity of Mutton Birds that
have flown past us to day for hours without
ceasing, myriads bound toward the coast of Tasmania
(that has been in sight all day) having the appearance
of a low cloud. Capt. prognosticates from the
heavy weather, I think we've had enough to
please the most stormy inclined. In the evening
H.Dight brought forth his bible out of which holy
but much neglected work he read aloud some very
comforting chapters, he read about Christ walking
on the sea to his disciples assistance -
Sun went down very solemnly, heavy looking clouds
& very low [swell] around us wind beginning to rise &
other signs of rough weather. Im going to
turn in, there will be more pumping to do ere long
[Monday, 30 December 1861] 30th. Horrible rough weather. Blowing great guns, nothing set but our foresail all day the sea running mountains high as if ambitious & soaring to reach the skies, at times our boat seemed buried in a nightly gulf & then rises to a pinnacle when we seem to pause & hold our breath as if it was our last before we were cast into unfathomable depths. Im getting so accustomed to the sublimity of it, that I would soon lose taste for the sublime & desire to the ridiculous by losing appeciation for the grandeur of such sights. Poets & writers may blather away about
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On Board the Sara and Esther
"the sea" the sea & all its splendour, if such like
were to take a voyage in the "Sarah & Esther"
they wouldnt relish the subject, but wish for
the quiet homely pastoral scene, that I shall in
future look with more complacency upon -
Ive been abominably sea sick to day & things
around me are not likely to cure it - I wonder
Im not accustomed to the motion ere now. I wasnt
sick in the least the first 2 days, owing perhaps
to the excitement - Our vessel poor thirsty
thing, has been making a deal of water, to day
had to spell at the pump every two
hours. Tom Downs is very ill with dysentry
took bad while at Swan Island, he is getting
very weak & we have nothing on board fit
for him to eat, a few pounds of flour is the
only luxury we [have, we] give it [to] him made up
like paste with sugar, poor fellow Im
very sorry for him, he is a nice easy going
good natured young chap, so different in every
respect from his father, who is the vilest
old Jonah ever lived, when he was a young
man he used to be in a Slaver off the
coast of Africa & the stories he relates
accompanied with blood, & Crime astonishes
me, providence hasn't cooked his goose ere
now -
[Tuesday, 31 December 1861]
31st.Decr.1861. All on board very low &
dispirited, owing to the rough weather, hard
work & harder fare. Blowing very hard all
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On Board the Sara and Esther
day, nothing but the jib & closed reefed foresail set
I wouldnt care much if I could only feel confidence
in our ship, but such an infernal "cullender" to have
to trust ones life in, is enough to make one wild
"Old Skipper" is always at the Helm, I dont know
how he stands it but there he sticks, singing an
old dirge, the only words of which I can catch are
Damn the weather Across the heather Or at the tiller On the billow
I fancy theres a nice hot place for him prepared in another world where there wont be too much water to cool him as at the present. Pumping I find is fine exercise, as Bob (who acts as chief mate) says, it developes the muscles & reduces the stomach, unfortunately there are none on board but whose muscles have been developed long ere this & dont care for the service, however we all work pretty well under the circumstances, the wind tho’ rough is fair at present -
January 1st.1862. News Years Day, heaven preserve us, what a stormy beginning. Wind abated a little in the morning, set our topsail, had to take it in about 10 am, when it came on more furious than ever. I thought we could never outlive such a gale, sometimes a gust would come & we’d look about for each other, scarcely expecting to see one left on deck. It struck me to day as being very fortunate we have no bulwarks, for the weight of water we occasionally ship, must sink her if not got rid of immediately, it is very dangerous being about the deck with nothing
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On Board the Sara and Esther
but a life line along the sides. Old Skipper is
a fine sailor, he watches every billow, like a cat at a mouse
seldom we ship a sea when he’s steering. We lay to
about 4 pm. rather a dangerous experiment, but
she acts better than was anticipated
2nd. Wind abated (or gale I should say) about daylight, leaving the sea like a moving mass or range of mountains, some of the waves appeared to meet the skies whilst we lay at rest for a moment in a deep trough, such a sea as very few have looked upon, our little dingy rolled fearfully we got our topsail set in the afternoon, & so we are proceeding on our course, which is some consolation Skipper treated us all to a glass of whisky, the old blaguard. I was lying in my bunk & I saw him take a bottle & half empty it, then fill it up with water & so served it out remarking to me there is nothing like combining policy with economy, he had but a 1 doz case on board on leaving Melb. so he means to spin it out
3rd. Sea still rough with little wind making very little headway, poor Tom, very ill. Im afraid if we have much longer, such weather, we shall have to throw him over- board - I have had a long chat with him to day, he is fond of his mother & likes to talk about her & his home -
4th. No change, heavy sea, making very little headway, Tom very ill. H.Dight found in his box a small Bottle of very good Bdy. that his mother had put there for medicinal purposes, he burnt
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On Board the Sara and Esther
some & mixing some herbs he found with it, made an
excellent concoction which Tom took some hours ago
Im happy to state he feels much better. God grant
it may prove effacacious. We are sorry Harry did not
know of it ere now. I pity Tom, it is the first time
he ever left home & feels our present want of
luxuries or necessaries far more than any
of us
5th. Sunday. Making very little difference to us we have to work at the pump as usual & attend to other duties, Harry & I are supposed to be passengers but we are from necessity compelled to work like the rest, with the exception that we dont do any night watch, once or twice we have tumbled out when anything extra has occurred. The sea has been less rough to day, but the wind very unfavourable being S.S.W. our course being S.S.E. We expect to see Stewarts Island to morrow, if the wind changes Harry got out his Bible to day & we have read a few beautiful Psalms & some Chapters of Christs life & works from "Luke"
6th. Monday Old Boreas at it again, in a deuce of a rage. Ulyses Voyage home from Troy is likely to rank second to ours, in having the fates against us, on coming on deck about 4 am this morning (Day Break) & after a most pleasent dream where I had met Isa King after a quarrel & made friends again with sundry other things how quick the illusion was dispelled, by the wild scene that presented itself to me, the wind howling & driving dark masses of cloud along, which seemed to touch the water, being so low, the sea very rough & angry & our
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On Board the Sara and Esther; Pigasa Point, New Zealand
vessel rocking fearfully, with nothing set but our
jib & foresail, a wretched day we passed. Capt. couldnt
take the sun so towards evening, looking hazy ahead, he
thought it advisable to lay too for the night, a miserable
night we are likely to pass, ship like a log on the water at
the mercy of every wave & billow - Tom is much better in
health & spirits
New Zealand
7th. Jany 1862. Somewhat mistaken in our idea yesterday about the proximity of Stewarts Island. We put sail on this morning, weather being much fairer, sighted land about noon. Pigasa Point the most Southern point of N.Z. rounded it about 11 Pm. being a fine moonlight night we can see the shore from the deck very plain, the Island I believe is very mountainous, but abounds with good timber there are a few Inhabitants at the Nt end of it, who make a living sawing timber - it formerly was a whaling station. Our Skipper has visited the place & discribed it to me he has visited every part of Australia, N.Z. Tasmania & the Islands - abounds with anecdotes of sea & land in which he figures not very creditably, one, by observation, may pick up a deal of information from him, but must be careful not to take the chaff with the grain. On our rounding the Island we found a fine fair breeze to run us up the coast, if it will only continue we may arrive at our destination in another two days easily the distance being under 200 miles from this point
8th. The breeze continued all night & the best part of to day until 4 pm - when it died away, (6 more hours of it would have done us). We kept near the coast all day, which looks the most inhospitable ever I saw being high & rockbound, looking dark & frowning, when the wind left us we were opposite Tyre Bay (or what seemed to me nothing but an open roadstead) where
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562
On Board the Sara and Esther
we saw a Brig & a Cutter laying at anchor in the mouth
of the River Clutha or Molyneaux, the country seemed level
& wore a more inviting aspect from this point, though
later in the evening we fell in with the same old rough
& rocky walls similar to what we passed in the morning
we expect to be near Port Chalmers by day break thank
God, for our provisions are nearly done, & so are the men
what with bad fare & hard work in our leaky vessel
Jany 9th. 1862. Without exception, this has been
the most eventful day of my life at least incidents
have occurred that will never be effaced from my memory
About 1.am a head wind drove us out to sea, the
wind changing a few points more favourably, we were enabled
to "beat" back to Cape Saunders (distance but 8 miles from
Port Chalmers) by about 3.pm. it had been a very hot
close, sultry, day, not a breath of wind after noon - all
nature seemed hushed, our sails hung heavy against the
mast, the sea looked like a field of glass, the sky
very cloudy, all hands on board appeared to be weighed
down as if with "ennui." I spoke to Downs concerning
the appearance, things presented, he seemed very anxious
& regretted having beat up so near land at this time
not above ¼ of a mile distance - we were in the cabin
when we observed the mercury on the weather glass sink very suddenly
he rushed on deck, ordered sail to be taken in, we got
the topgallant sail furled, the Mainsheet cleared up,
when we heard a rush of wind coming down upon us from
the land, accompanied with some claps of thunder
We were engaged hoisting on the peak halyards. I
was letting adrift the slack to leeward, Dave Magher
(the smartest young chap on board) was standing on
the galley (situated at the foot or against the
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563
On Board the Sara and Esther- Lightning Strike
mizen mast) hauling, Mike & Bob were on deck
weather side of the galley, H.Dight was taking in the
slack around a belaying pin, hauling together, when our
mast was struck by lightning, the electric fluid passing
down the Rope that we were hauling upon, the noise
was terrific, more loud & startling than a myriad
of cannons fired at once. Would that this were all –
but alas! such was not the case - I was knocked or
thrown off my feet by the shock, on regaining my
senses which were in rather a paralised state, I sprang
or climbed to windward, for what with the shock &
the squall, our vessel was on her beam
ends. I shall never forget the sight which presented
itself, huddled together, & kept from rolling overboard
by the galley keeping its position, I saw Dave, Mike
& Bob, apparently dead, my friend Harry was more
stunned than hurt. I called to him to rouse himself
& assist in helping to save ourselves. I got him up at
last by gently administering some curses at what
I considered his stupidity. Old Capt was at the
helm & seeing us, looking at the bodies, he coolly told
us he believed they were dead, on looking around at
our situation, we found the squall passing over
as rapidly as it came, our Mainsheet was lying
in the water, holding a great bulk of that element
with about an hours hard work in clearing the mast
of the sail & bracing round our fore yard to catch
the wind full in the fore sail, our vessel slowly
righted to our great joy. The excitement of these
circumstances seemed to inspire us with twofold strength
on getting things to right a little, & steering away for
Port Chalmers, we looked after the unfortunate wretches
who were suffering from the lightning. Mike & Bob
were severely burned, the former had the hair of one
side of his head singed off, his neck & shoulders
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564
On Board the Sara and Esther; Port Chalmers
very much burnt. We found him insensible got him with
Bob (who was not so severely burnt, but whose nervous
system seems most affected) into the Cabin - poor Dave
we found insensible & I fear will ever remain so, he
looks horrible, on stripping him, we found the Electric fluid
had first reached his wrist ran along his arm, the
right side of his body & down his leg, carrying or
burning of the flesh (the smell being most offensive)
his flannel & drawers next the skin were burnt to
cinder as if by fire, on getting them into the Cabin
where we left them, we having to work the vessel
at this time entering Port Chalmers, by a narrow
irregular channel, bounded by sandy shoals, which
were only avoided by great care, there being no wind –
the tide brought us into port, where we found some
fine vessels anchored in what appeared to be a basin
with no visible outlet, surrounded at the sides by
very high hills covered with trees & dense undergrowth
rising nearly perpendicular out of the water, we could
see a few huts here & there, where there appeared to be
a level terrace, it was just dark when we dropped our
anchor, but not before another incident occurred worth
noting, the tide drifted us against a ship called the
"Alma", bound for Melbourne, in the morning, with a
number of passengers (a rough looking lot of diggers)
who seeing our little craft bumping against theirs, with
only Harry & I on deck & the old man at the wheel
presenting anything but a nautical appearance, we were
saluted with imprecations, & coarse remarks, which
under different circumstances we could have replied to
in the same spirit, but we were too sad to indulge -
in getting clear of her, our topmast (the new one)
fell foul of their spritsail yard, causing some confusion.
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565
On Board the Sara and Esther; Port Chalmers
On dropping anchor we were paid a visit by their
Captain a blustering German Yankee, who on our
explaining our position sent his crew on shore for a
Doctor who dressed our sufferers burns. Harry & I
went on shore with him, found a small township
with about 100 abodes in it, situated between high hills
with a small wooden jetty for boats to land - we bought
a loaf of bread & some butter, & returned on board, where
we discussed our luxuries, being a lovely moonlight
night the sight was beautiful, the surrounding
woods buried in gloom, but the summits of the hills
seemed crowned with a halo, all this I observed while
furling the topsail & mainsail, a job of no inconsiderable
difficulty, the sail being torn & our rigging broken
however thank God our voyage is over, Im sure I
ought to feel grateful, for not one on board but has
suffered severely in some shape or form, but myself,
we have had a deal to put up with, but Im so accustomed
to hardships I cease to think much of them afterwards
Tom Downs is much better, very weak but able to
walk about, we shall sleep on deck to night, our bunks
being occupied by the unfortunates. Mike is much
better after his burns were dressed, he was able to get
on deck, it will be some time before he & Bob
are able to do much for themselves poor Dave, the
Doctor thinks he wont live & if he does will be a
miserable cripple for the rest of his existence, his
arm, right ribs & thigh are bare of flesh to the bone
I helped to dress him & never shall I forget the
horrible spectacle & the offensive smell connected
with it. We are within a cables length of the "City of
Hobart" S.S. She leaves for here for Melb. in a couple of days
we saw her last at Swan Isle bound for Melb. where she
loaded & landed passengers & cargo here, in the mean while
how annoying to us
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566
Port Chalmers, trekking to Dunedin
Otago, New Zealand 1862
10th.Jany 1862 Lovely day. Rose early, cleared things a bit on board. Harry & I thought of going up to Dunedin by a Ply Steamer, but not coming within hail, we agreed with Tom Downs & the Capt. to go on shore & walk to Dunedin a distance of 8 miles leaving orders to Mike & Bob & a man sent on board – to have the craft towed up the inner Bay of Otago to Dunedin, we promising to come on board the next day for our "swags". So accordingly, we landed about 9.a.m. & commenced our walk by ascending a very high hill, covered with the most dense forest I ever saw our road was but a track, but we found groups of men at work cutting down the timber previous to making a road in contemplation, it was frightful hard work climbing over fallen trees, with a moist spongy wet soil underneath. On reaching the top of the hill, one of the grandest views I recollect ever seeing burst on our sight, at our feet behind we could see Port Chalmers to our left the bay of Otago whose waters wash the skirts of the town of Dunedin away to the West ranges of mountains rose one above the other until lost in the clouds, to the East the wide Pacific Ocean like a sea of silver with the noon day sun reflected upon it. On leaving this spot we descended into a pretty valley where we found a good metal road running in its centre, on both sides were small farms, gardens Etc & a few very decent looking dwelling houses, following the road which opened into a flat we found the houses getting more plentiful until we reached
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567
Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand
the city of Dunedin, situated at the head of the Bay
the business portion of town is on a narrow Flat, but
the residents are principally situated on the sides of
very steep hills which surrounds & rises abruptly out
of the town. We found many large & commodious places
public houses, all built of wood, buildings going up
in every direction, every thing looked busy & brisk
but as usual in such mushroom places, thousands
of men walking about looking for work, afraid to
venture on the diggins. I spoke to many & I at length
got disgusted with the tales they tell of hardships
to be endured Etc - towards evening the S & Esther not
making her appearance, we thought we'd stop the night
but where, was the question, if we had had our blankets
we would have camped out, however in rambling about
we saw three men sitting on their swags, against a
wall in whom I recognised, my old friends John &
Joe Falder & Andrew Smith. We were glad to meet
each other, they had just come down from the diggins
where they had been three months, & had cleared
about £120.0.0 each in that time, they seemed to
think I have come too late, the best ground being
taken up & worked out, but they advised me to try
my luck, being dark we went into the Royal Hotel &
asked for a bed, none to be had, but were told they
would make us up a shakedown on the floor of
the taproom for 2/. each to which we agreed,
the place was full of men drunk & getting drunk
gambling, cursing & swearing, at 12 oclock the
police cleared the place, our beds were made & we
turned in, tired & exhausted with my late exertions
11th. Rose at 6 Am. anything but refreshed after our nights rest, after Breakfast for which we paid
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568
Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand
3/. each, we wandered down to the beach, where we found
the Sarah & Esther just being cast off with other crafts
from a tug, being a strong breeze from the East, she was
run right up the beach high & dry, with her nose
into the town, however the tide rising we had to take
a boat to get on board, we found poor Dave Magher
suffering severely but perfectly consious, the other two
were walking about, apparently well - with a deal of
trouble we put Dave in the boat & pulled on shore
landed near the jail, being the nearest spot to the
hospital, on landing we had to run all over the
town in search of a hand cart, at length being
successful we got him into it & soon wheeled him
to the hospital, a small wooden place prettily situated
but answering various purposes, being a lunatic asylum
& a Benevolent Asylum, on leaving him, we returned to
town, pencilled a note to Mother, which I sent by
John Falder, who left for Melb. by the "City of Hobart"
Joe Falder & Smith intend remaining another week or so
here. We rambled about town all the rest of the afternoon
Harry met many he knew, being a carpenter & having
his tools with him, he had no difficulty in procuring work
he doesn't intend to try Gold digging until better accounts
are current concerning them than at present. Ill follow
his example tomorrow, & if I can get a decent billet
Ill take it, until I hear from Ned, if he would advise
me to go. We came on board this evening, to sleep, Capt
in consideration of our valuable services has promised to let
us remain on board as long as we are in town.
Sunday. On rising this morning & finding it likely to be a lovely day, I packed up my swag determined to start at once for the diggins, had a good breakfast & bade all hands on board good bye, with the exception
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569
Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand
of one all came ashore with me where we parted with
their good wishes for my success, on reaching Princes Street
I met Joe Falder who said if I would wait for
him until tomorrow he would accompany me & become
"mates" he promised to pay for my board at the hotel he
was staying at until he was ready. I thought it would
be the best thing, for its not pleasent travelling in a
strange place alone - & he having been on the road
before, knew where the best camping places were Etc
I left my swag at the Royal & we rambled about
until we found ourselves at the door of Dr Burns' (a
nephew of Bobby Burns the immortal) Church, where we
stood at the Porch & heard him preach an excellent
sermon. I did not hear the text, but it was something
about Girding up ones loins in whatever we undertake, but more
particularly in Christs cause - he is a venerable looking
old man & I believe is very much respected in this
decidedly Scotch province. After dinner we went on board
the hands came on shore & accompanied us to the hospital
to see poor Dave - on returning, I met John Nevin
& Jesse Mollison, very well dressed she recognised me
& I believe wanted to speak but John who always was
jealous of me, didnt take the slightest notice of me –
& so we parted - she is the Belle of Dunedin - I found
her greatly improved since I last met her upwards of
3 years ago, her parents came here before the gold was
discovered & are in good circumstances. I understand
now why John gave up a good situation to come here
he was very fond of her, what fun I used to have
with them both on old Bendigo. Im sorry we met
for I looked, being in company with a lot of ill dressed
sailors & myself in diggers costume, anything but
a respectable member of society - the days in
summer here are very long, not being dark till 9 pm
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570
Otago, on the road once more
[1862-01-13]
Monday. Rose at 6.am, Breakfast not being ready
till 8, I went down to the Schooner, found all hands
at work unloading the craft, found Harry picking
out some tools from his chest into a carpenters basket
prior to commencing the job he has got. After another
cordial adieu we parted! with regret that Harry was
not coming with me, for he is one of the few people
I have met that I thoroughly like, he is upright
& manly - very good-natured & a sincere friend –
went on shore had breakfast. Joe having some
business to transact which kept him till 11 am
made it late when we left town to proceed on our
journey. A.Smith accompanied us about 2 miles
when the road commenced to being very mountainous, he
left us & returned - our road for 5 miles lay on a high
range, where some attempt has been made to form a
road by cutting in a zigzag manner the sides of the
hills, we came to a small river or creek, near its
exit into the ocean, called "Green Island" where we lit a
fire with some reeds, & boiled our Billy & eat some
Biscuits & Butter started again about 2Pm, the sun
being very hot, our road for some 3 miles led us over
a very high hill, with not a stick of wood growing
upon it, nor could we see the signs of any ahead
on descending from the hill, we found ourselves in what
are termed the Tairai Plains, but what I should
call a Valley which runs between some high hills
averaging I should think 2 miles broad & some forty
miles in length, this portion of Otago being the only
track of country fit for agriculture, some parts
of it are very fertile, but not adapted for raising
good grain (except oats). We followed the road along the W side of
|
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571
Waihola Lake
the valley, most of it being farmed in & partially
cultivated. (the landowners I found & I hear are without
exception Scotch in fact everything that meets the
eye, seems Caledonian, the country is very hilly & bleak
in winter must truly be wretched, it is well watered
but ill wooded, the hills are quite barren of timber
but covered with good alluvium, yet too steep ever to be
brought under cultivation, will do to run sheep upon),
until we reached the junction of Waihola Lake &
River Tiera about sundown, the river runs into the
sea & is navigable to this point. The lake is little
more than a swamp running about 7 miles up the
plains by about one mile in breadth, fed by small
perennial streams. We had to cross [by] a ferry paying
1/. each found a small township, with an hotel for
its centre of attraction, where we purposed putting
up for the night. We had come about 22 miles, not
so bad for we had very heavy swags, mine weighs
46 lbs a good load to carry all day long. We found
everything very dear 2/6 for our tea, consisting of tea
cold meat & bread, our beds appear tolerable, but
I dont know how we are to sleep, the house is a
wooden one & immediately beneath is the tap room
full of drunken diggers, swearing & gambling & singing
praises to their God Bacchus. Joe left our billy
below. I went down to get it, but found it vanished
very annoying, for it was filled with tea & sugar -
[1862-01-14]
Tuesday. Lovely day. Left the Ferry 6.am.
after buying some Biscuits & Bacon at a store we walked
alongside of the Lake for some seven miles the borders
of which are under cultivation, with here & there
a decent looking farmhouse, met a pretty Maori
girl
|
| 2/289 |
572
Tokomairiro (Milton),
full of fun sat down for a few minutes & had a gossip
with her, her brother lived in a lot nearby & cultivated
about 2 acres, she gave us some milk, I never met
such a little lump of vanity, she didnt hesitate when I
asked her how many beaus she had to inform me she
might have any young man in N.Z. we bade her
good bye bursting out laughing in her face at the
interesting piece of impudence, by 1 pm we made a
scattered village called "Tokoinuira" situated on
the plains & surrounded by a good agricultural
district, the sun being hot we camped & rested for
two hours, & made some inquiries about the road
to the different "diggings" - hearing we were only 10
miles from the "Woolshed diggings" & having heard
our old friend Fowler was there, we determined
on paying the place a visit tho’ some miles out
of our road for "Tuapeka" - our road for some
4 miles brought us to an opening or narrow gully
between some very steep hills, with a large creek
running in its centre, our path up the gully led
us to cross it several times, found the water very
cold, this kind of travelling soon made us very tired
we at length got to the end of where any work was
going on without hearing anything of our friends
it seems a miserable hole, about 300 people at work
sluicing in the bed of the creek, a new kind of
gold washing, I never saw in Victoria, darkness
coming on, we went into a store kept by an old
Scotchman named Dickson, of whom we bought
some Biscuits & Bacon, he was very kind & invited us
into his back apparently cut out of the side of the
hill. We spent the evening with him & seeing we had
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573
Waitahuna, Gabriels Gully
no tent & likely to be a wet night he introduced
us to a young man who lived in a hut alongside
who allowed us to sleep with him, he had a lot of
dry grass in a corner which we spread on the ground
& soon made our bed - We playd a few games of
cribbage together, discovered him to be a shipmate
of my brother Ned in the "Giants Causeway" from
Victoria & formerly a stockdriver on a station near
Pleasent Creek when I was located in that neighbourhood
years ago - he advised us not to remain there, for
very few were making more than their "tucker"
[Wednesday, 15 January 1862.] 13th.[15th] On rising this morning found it raining hard we waited till 10 am when it ceased, & commenced our walk for Teupeka, our road lay over a very high steep mountain which we toiled over for hours reached Waitahuna about 3.pm when we camped & had something to eat, did not stay long, but pushed on through a very hilly rough country until about dusk when we reached a large flat where we found a number of tents, on enquiring for the celebrated Gabriels Gully we were pointed out a narrow gully running between some more high barren looking hills, we found the gully full of tents & bearing every appearance of a large rush - the diggings being confined to the edge & centre of the gully, on following it up for about a mile we came to what is termed the township, a long string of calico stores, Billiard Rooms & Shantys called Restaurants, the best of the latter called the Cosmopolitan & kept by a lot of Jews we entered, having been informed my brother Ned was to be found there. I was disappointed in not
|
| 2/291 |
574
Ned Watmuff at Gabriels Gully
not meeting him. We were told to wait, after tea Ned
always making it a rule to call, knowing I was coming,
every evening. We sat in a back room where was
congregated a lot of fellows, gambling, the table being
covered with baize so as to create no noise with
the dice. I should think over a thousand pounds
Stg changed hands the two or three hours we were
waiting. Ned at length came, we were very glad
to see each other, he looks very well, in spite of
the climate & hardships he must have experienced
at the commencement of the rush. I was grieved to
find him on such intimate terms with the
fellows I had witnessed gambling. I was more
hurt when I heard he had been very successful
digging, but had spent what he had so hardly
earned with these fellows gambling & associating
with similar characters. It appears from what
he tells me, he joined a party one of them named
Signor Catebeni an Italian, a man who I should
imagine had lived by his wits. Ned appears to be very
fond of him & when there claim was wrought out
they took a Billiard Room in a gully called
Wetherstones 2 miles from this, on the other side
of the range, they are paying £20. per week for it
as yet they are uncertain how it will pay, having
only just opened it, after incurring a deal of
expense - I have as quietly as possible given him
my opinion about it, which I trust will be the means of
him abandoning such a low lifed calling, by curing
him now he may eventually be led from taking
pleasure in such pursuits, gambling is a passion
that once takes possession of the soul, is never cast off
|
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575
Wetherstones
[Thursday, 16 January 1862]
14th.[16th] Jan 1862. Rose at 8. Breakfasted at
Silverbergs Cosmopolitan, after which started over the hills
for "Wetherstones" the latest scenes of attraction in N.Z.
here we found, as is supposed 20,000 people, the digging
having spread over an extensive piece of ground, gold
being found in the strangest looking places I ever saw it
obtained from, the flat is well worked but not to
advantage, being wet ground & no timber to be had for
securing the earth properly, the depth running from
10 ft to 20 ft deep the spurs of the hills have proved
the richest places. I met a great many people
I know from Victoria, some of them that came over
some months back have done very well, they tell me Ive come
too late, very consoling I must say, after wandering
about for several hours visiting the different hills &
Gullies at work, meeting & speaking to a great many
we knew, we entered Wetherstones township, a bustling
busy place where all the signs of a large rush
are to be found, the township is half a mile long
being but one street formed of Calico stores, Drinking
& Billiard Booths termed Public Houses, found
Neds place, on entering it, found it full of loafers
& hangers on, lucky & unlucky diggers Etc, I was
introduced to Catebena who was playing a match
for £5.0.0 aside, with some other professional players
he is a fine looking intelligent man, rather melancholy
looking with a most engaging manner, at the con-
clusion of his game, we had a long conversation
together upon various subjects. I let him know I
did not approve of Neds present occupation & induced
him to persuade him against continuing in it, he
admitted the passion for gambling had possessed him
|
| 2/293 |
576
Wetherstones
long & had led to the loss of wealth, friends & position
his father is a titled Italian nobleman, his brother
who lived in Melb. a short time ago in Bourke St. had
gone home & at present was one of Garibaldi "aides
de camps" he is very fond of Ned & has often told
him never to take to such courses as he seems
inclined at present to follow. I trust he will be
induced to come with me & endeavour to make
something in a more legitimate manner. We
returned to "Gabriels" about 9.pm spent a few hours
at Silverbergs, watching the card & dice players
win & lose, one "pigeon" was to my amusement
most innovently plucked to the tune of 4 lbs of gold
& some notes he had with him, he had worked hard
for 3 months & was on the point of returning to
Victoria, where he intended commencing business on
Castlemaine, poor devil he may wait long before he
earns the price of his passage money, we left for
Neds tent where we sleep, about 12 pm.
[Friday, 17 January 1862] 15th.[17th] Jany 1862 Been raining hard all day Joe & I took a strool up Gabriels about noon could find no ground likely to yield us anything so we purpose taking our things over to Wetherstones tomorrow & set into work there, spent the day in writing up my journal from my pocket book where Ive kept it since leaving Dunedin, had our meals in the Cosmopolitan 3/. ameal - In the evening being privileged in consideration of Ned, were allowed into the back room & witnessed another scene of quiet sharping. Ned didnt come home at all to day I suppose they keep open all night
[Saturday, 18 January 1862] 16th.[18th] Jany 1862. Rose early, being a fine day, I
|
| 2/294 |
577
Wetherstones Gully
believe an unusual thing in this part of the world - after
breakfast we pulled down the tent & packed up a big
load each, which we brought over, pitched our tent
in a little gully at the back of the township in a
at the foot of a high mountain, after erecting it
we returned for the rest of the things, put our
stretchers up & have made things as comfortable
as possible, the tent is 8 ft x 10 ft not much room
with three bunks & a small table in it. We were very
tired, the hill from Gabriels being like a house roof or
steeper, some splendid views of the surrounding
country are to be obtained at its summit. My mind
gets bewildered with the immensity of the scenes presented
the country around looks like a sea of immense billows
rolling one oer the other, towards the West are to be
seen some lofty ranges covered eternally with snow
the first Ive seen since leaving England, this is the
middle of summer & I could find some within 5 miles
of this place - In the evening Joe & I went down
the town, heard a splendid harpist the best I ever
heard in my life. I saw an awful lot of drinking
going on, visited several places of amusement
Free & Easy sort of places, where the company
volunteers to sing, dancing rooms I found, on
entering three I only saw 4 women & those
drunk & of the vilest sort, women are scarce here
two arrived with their husbands & families this after
noon & pitched their camp near us, causing a
great sensation in the neighbourhood -
[Sunday, 19 January 1862] 17th.[19th] Jany 1862. Fine morning, a sure sign Im told of a wet afternoon, & so it turned out We went over to Gabriels Gully for the balance of Neds tools, came on to rain just as we had them packed up, & starting, I shall never forget
|
| 2/295 |
578
Wetherstones Gully
the labour we had in ascending the path up the
hill, the rain made it very slippery. We were both
in bad temper, more especially Joe, who on our
way from Wetherstones had been victimised by an
old man on the path side out of a £1.0.0, a great
many travel along this path, the old man had a
small piece of Board with a pea & three thimbles
Joe had never seen the thing before & much
against my wish, he risked a pound making
sure he knew which thimble the pea was under
I could not help laughing to see the astonished look of Joe
on loosing his money, for he is very fond of money
& thinks there is none could dupe him, what a
gambler (professional) terms a "fly flat" - We were
wet through on reaching our tent, & we began
to experience the difficulties of life in such a country
as this, the cold was intense, & no firewood to be
had for miles, & the road to it over steep slippery
hills. We gave 6/. for a small bundle of thin
dry looking whipsticks, its extraordinary
the great dearth of wood in this colony, we are very
economical with it as soon as our vituals are cooked
the fire is put out, every chip & shaving is preserved
bones, old shoes, tufts of grass are all saved past,
for fuel I dont know what we are to do in
winter, everyone I speak to that have the means
intend leaving when it sets in - on changing my
clothes, I tumbled into the blankets & read & did a
little of my back journal, finished it up to night
so purpose returning to the old plan of writing
it weekly, its too much useless labour, & not
very interesting to go into details so much as Ive
done lately, sufficient they are stamped on my memory
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Wetherstones Gully
I’m not compiling this journal for other eyes –
simply for pleasure & as a thing of reference, my
life has not been a happy or prosperous one, but
a succession of struggles for existence, a time may
come when I may be in different circumstances
that the varied events Ive related may from their
novelty prove a source of pleasure in recurring
to them occasionally
[Sunday, 26 January 1862] 24 [26th] Jany 1862. Beginning to get a little settled in my new abode, cant say I like returning to my old tent life so well as I did in Victoria the climate even at this time of the year being anything but pleasent one day scorching hot the next bitter cold, & strong winds. Monday Tuesday & Wednesday we went prospecting, sank several holes & fossicked about without coming across anything likely to pay, on Thursday we went into an old hole, & getting a fair prospect we set to & cleaned it out it hardly paid us for our labour, for on washing up yesterday, we only had 1 oz of gold, between us. I suppose we mustnt grumble. One thing Im happy to state – Ive persuaded Ned to leave Catebena & he is now living & working with Joe & I - I find him very much altered, & not for the better, since I worked last with him – our evenings we spend as jolly as it is possible we are surrounded by tents, & most of their inmates are Bendigo men, that Ive known for years, some of whom Ive been
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Wetherstones Gully. 1862
long intimate with, our tent is crowded every
evening & we sing, & chat, & play cards Etc. but
I must admit, the general character of conversation
& manners would shock too refined minds, it is
always the case, when men live together, bound
by no social restraints such as the softening
influence of female society Etc that the intellectual
part of mans nature degenerates & sink into
the animal. Ive knocked about the township
a great deal in the evenings, visiting all kinds
of places, dancing rooms, where is to be seen
some fiddler playing jigs & reels. Gambling
hells & Billiard Rooms where are to [be] found the
usual "hawks" whose faces are as familiar
to me from old associations as possible, well
known by their long lank fingers & yellow faces
a new rush is always the resort of the
most infamous characters, blacklegs &
fighting men, muster strong. There are one or
two singing rooms. Ive heard some very good
amateurs sing in them, there is a man in
one plays the violin exquisitely, he digs by
day & I hear has made a good "rise" & earns
30/. anight fiddling, everything is very orderly
& considering the state things are in, very
little crime of a glaring nature is com-
-mitted. I spent this morning writing to
Mother & having £6.0.0 by me I sent
her £5.0.0 of it, so I must work & exert
myself now for everything is very dear
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Wetherstones Gully
I wrote to Dight, also - my old "Boss," Nicolls
head underground manager on the "Nelson Reef"
paid me a visit to day, he came here some 3
months ago & has done very well, he is living
about 3 miles from here in Munroes Gully
I walked after tea with him a part of his way
calling on Mr. Brown one of the Directors of the
"Nelson Reef", who is trying his luck here, like
the rest of us, he is not doing much, regrets
having come. I like him well, one of the best
informed men & nicest mannered I ever knew
I shall cultivate his acquaintance. Im writing
this with the tent full of people, laughing
& talking all manner of nonsense -
February 2nd 1862. My 23rd Birthday & a poorer man than on my 13th. (my first in Victoria, which I spent on the night in an empty Boiler on Coles Wharf) What scenes & adventures Ive had since then in search of bright alluring gold, the worship of it being mans curse, every noble impulse, lofty as- -piration, principles, feelings, all that constitutes the noblest part of man is sacrificed at its shrine. We have worked very hard this week sank several holes cleaned out & tried others, in dirty wet ground, but to very little purpose, we only got 11 dwts to divide between three of us. We bought a tub for washing our dirt in cost us £1.0.0 being one half of a Hogd every thing is very dear 4/. per pound for salt Butter 4/. the 4 lb loaf 1/. lb for mutton 1/3 & 1/6 for Beef
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Wetherstones Gully
it costs us a great deal & we dont indulge in
anything but the very plainest food. Friday we sank
a hole, bottomed in the evening & washed out a
good prospect, putting us all in good spirits, when
it came on to rain during the night, on looking
for our hole next morning we found it regularly
swamped with the flood caused by the rains, such is
a very common episode in a NZ diggers life, can place
no dependence on the weather its too severe for
Europeans to live God knows what it must be in
winter. I wrote to my sister Mary on Thursday
night & enclosed £1.0.0. leaving myself with £1.2.0
all the money Ive got in this world, before leaving
Victoria I promised to send Agnes Rakowski, a valentine
from N.Z. not being able to procure one, I composed
one, very like what an enthusiastic lover might write
to his mistress, which I enclosed in Marys letter
forgetting Miss R.s address. I trust she will take
it as its meant, tho’ in rather an indirect form
I hope she has sense enough not to take any notice
of it, tho’ I would like, or am anxious to know
if she thinks anything of me. Oh! vanity. Im ashamed
of the small quantity I possess, & yet Id sooner hear
or see Isa King for an hour, than live a month
with Miss R. Ive spent my evenings in anything
but a rational manner, a tent is a wretched
place in wet weather, & being without fire is
doubly so, so I go from one place of amusement
to another, Free & Easies & Dancing Rooms associating
with all kinds of company of a
questionable character. A new Concert Room
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Wetherstones Gully
was opened last night, several acquaintance of mine
knowing I sing insisted upon my giving a song in
the place & being in a daredevil kind of mood I assented
I sang "My Village Home" a magnificent Harpist
accompanying me on the harp. I was in excellent voice &
made quite a sensation. I sang for an encore
"In Happy Moments," the proprietor called me oneside
& offered me board & lodging if I would consent to sing
2 songs a night, I declined, tho I was pronounced a fool
by my mates, there are two other amateurs that have
the finest voices Ive heard, one a "tenor" & the other "tenor
robusto" quite a treat to hear them, they live near by.
I wrote this afternoon to Mr Halley giving him an account of my journey here & a description of the place & my opinions respecting its prospects Etc
9th.Feby 1862. Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday we tried to bail out the claim we sank last week, after working late & early up to our waist sometimes in water, we had to give in without getting to the bottom, we were rather disheartened, in the evening we consulted together to try Wetherstone Flat, a kind of a basin composing about 400 acres of ground surrounded by high hills & situated at the foot of several gullys that have yielded a deal of gold, it is about 10 ft deep, soft sinking but very wet there are several claims taken up & I believe some of them are paying very well, some friends of mine the Beales party are among the number, all the money we could raise (I had none) that is Joe Falder & Ned was £6.5s it would take £4.10s0d for a tin pump, without which we could not attempt to try the place, & the balance we bought a "long tom" with. Thursday we took up a claim & Friday we began a paddock about 8 x 12 square. We found the water too strong to keep
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Wetherstones Gully
down, so we took in another mate, a young chap, named
Bill Hodson (from California Gully) by night we just
touched the bottom by keeping the pump going all day
I think from the prospect we got it will pay, if we
can get to work it fairly. Saturday morning got to
work by 4 a.m. after 3 hours work pumping, &
bailing with buckets we found we couldnt beat it
so had to get two more mates to assist us, these
two were half of a party who are intending to take
up the next claim if ours turns out pay able, we
by dinner time got the water out & "lifted" the bottom
about 100 Buckets of wash dirt, which yielded
us 1 oz of gold only, tho’ if the water was not so
strong I fancy we should have got as much again for
the gold is fine & in lifting the dirt out of the water
a deal of the gold must be lost. We intend trying
it again, we spread a report it turned out 12 oz
instead of one, so as to induce other parties to take
up the surrounding ground, when the water will be
much diminished, 1 oz among 6 of us gave us 12/-
each, on paying our expenses we had but 2/. between
the 3 of us "bright times" to be hard up in such a
damned miserable country, the last God ever created
& left it unfinished is the verdict pronounced by all
Victorians. I wrote to Mr King (of Sandhurst) this
afternoon. I borrowed a book to day, the first Ive
seen for some time been devouring its contents, a party
leaving for Melbourne, gave me an old concertina he
had, which amuses us a little
[Sunday, 16 February 1862]
14th [16th] Feby 1862. We (Falder, Hobson, Ned & I)
set into work early on Monday morning,
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the other two who assisted us last week, wouldnt try
it again. We sank a paddock, not so deep by 18 inches
as the other, making it easier to work. Tuesday we
sank another. Wednesday morning we washed the dirt
out of them turned out 1 oz 3 dwts, so poor it quite
disheartened us after working up to our knees in
water nearly 13 hours a day, sinking, However in
the afternoon we thought we'd try another paddock, got
it down as deep as the others without touching bottom
found we had got into what is termed a "dip" or hollow
in the ground. Wherever these occur on the flat, the
water is always strong, & so it proved we were unable
with the pump & one man beside bailing hard with a
bucket to lessen the water an inch, we shovelled away
more than 2 ft down the water, & could get fine gold
on every shovel full we lifted. I & Bill were in the hole
Joe & Ned bailing, when the sides of the paddock
from the water undermining them slipped in
tons upon tons caved in, we with the greatest difficulty
managed to escape being buried alive, fagged & weary
we gave up nearly dark when we got to the tent, came
on to rain firewood wet had a job to get a fire light
nearly 10 when we had our tea, every rag of clothes
wet, my blankets being dry I stripped & turned into bed
so nice, next morning to put on wet clothes, walked
down the "flat" had a look at the claim & not liking
its appearance, we thought wd ramble about & try & find
some other more agreeable spot to commence operations
gain. We visited a new rush, foot of Gabriels Gully,
saw many we knew, who didnt speak very highly
of it, so we didnt take up a claim. I met Chas Melander
there, a friend of Mr. Halleys a Swede, he is a
clever young fellow. I used to enjoy his company very
much, he is thinking of shifting near us. I hope he
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Wetherstones Gully
will for he is fine company. We walked up Gabriels Gully
& visited several gullies & places without seeing any
place likely to "set in" came home by the "Blue Point"
at the head of Wetherstones Gully. Friday morning our
courage returning we determined to tackle the flat again
had our tools & everything ready for a start when
it came on to rain, & had to remain in the tent
passing the time smoking & mending our clothes
In the evening, went to "Kilgours Gambling Hell" –
saw lots of money won & lost, went into other
places, saw a good fight which lasted about
20 minutes, afterwards witnessed a Billiard match
for £50.0.0 aside, heard some songs sung by a
professional who has an affection in his nose causing
much amusement & giving rise to many remarks of not
a very elevating description. Saturday commenced
work again, tried to bottom the same dip we were
at on Wednesday, but had to give in, how very
annoying to know where there is pay able gold to be
had & yet unable to realize it, if some more
parties were to take up ground around us should be
able to work it, but the water frightens them
we shall have to give it up & I suppose some one
luckier than ourselves when circumstances are more
favorable will get the benefit of it. I received a
long letter on Monday from H.Dight he is in
steady work in Dunedin & is very comfortable. I
answered it on Friday, he informs me Capt. Downs has
left the Sarah & Esther, & is knocking about town in a
very disreputable manner with Peter Tolin, (one of
[the] men who came with us from Melb) they have opened
a low restaurant & Coffee Shop near the wharf.
Spent to day partly in neighbours tents & partly in
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Wetherstones Gully
our own, gossiping, smoking & playing cards. We rose
very early about 4.am & the three of us started over the
mountains for firewood immediately on leaving the tent
we had to ascend the steepest hill ever I climbed (I was
very cold on starting, but long before I was at the top of the
hill I was in a violent perspiration, had to take of my
Monkey Jacket which I hid under some stones until
my return) on reaching its summit we had a grand view
our track ran along the top for some 1½ miles, when
we descended into a little valley or narrow one I should
say for it took us half an hour climbing on our hands
& knees to get into it, when we found ourselves in the
the most dense forest I ever penetrated, no sun ever
shines or ray reaches the ground, ferns in every variety
& size creepers & parasitical plants form a perfect
network nearly impenetrable, the whole of it, dont
cover more than 300 acres & this is the only wood for
scores of miles growing, except in one direction
near Tokomiara where such another forest occurs
its an extraordinary feature in this country. We gathered
a bundle of dry sticks, something like "Whip Sticks"
, each weighing about 1 dwt, & then commenced our journey
back. We met scores of people on the same errand
nobody knows or could form an idea of this going for
wood & the difficulty attached to it unless they
have experienced it, twice we got our our loads up the
hill & lost them, rolling down again tumbling from
rock to rock bursting asunder, at length getting them all
right we trudged along with our loads, spelling every ¼
of a mile, till we came to the hill, at the back of the
tent where I found my coat all right, from this point
our labours ceased putting down our bundles into the
path which was worn down in the form of a gro[o]ve
let them go holding on a piece of rope, this was fine
fun, & on shouldering it again at the bottom are then
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Wetherstones Gully
tortured by remarks from the inmates of tents, you pass
by, if your bundle is a light or small one you are
asked if you tired, when did you leave Dunedin, if the
reverse, its how many times did you go to the forest before
you started down hill, as some I know will go back
for a second bundle to start down hill with, this wood
institution is the hardest work I ever did, &
is usually done on a Sundays it was 1 Pm when we
got home taking us 8 hours, with economy our 3
Bundles will last a fortnight, to boil the “billy” & cook our meat
however cold or wet it is, the idea of having a fire is
never contemplated
[Sunday, 23 February 1862] 21st [23rd] Feby 1862 Weather been very fine for N.Z. After deliberating on Monday morning what to do, we finally settled to try the Claim on the Flat again we got two other men to join us, & set in on the rising ground, which we have continued upon all the week, except one day which we spent trying the dip again but without bottoming again. We did a little [better] however made 5 oz 18 dwt between the six of us not bad if we could avoid the hindrances we are subjected to from various causes. I had to leave work on Friday, in consequence of a bad hand. The palms of my hand from continual hard work is like a piece of grissel, & when using the pick one day I struck it against a stone, giving my hand what is called a "Jar", it is very much swollen & extremely painful, & will be more so when it begins [to] gather as it is doing Ive not slept a wink for two nights, what an unfortunate wretch I am Im not proud to murmur but really I have cause It will be some time before I can get to work again
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one blessing is its my left hand - I received a long
letter from Mother, all well at home, but she is very
short of money & is at a loss to know how to make
things meet. Im sorry I cant assist her God knows
I would if I could - she has had a letter from
Jane Summers (I still call Summers for I cant think
she is entitled to that of Edelman) she is at present in
London, after being in California residing in the States
says she is very happy. McDougall paid me a
visit to day, he has just come from Victoria, saw
my family since Mother wrote to me, staid tea
I walked a mile or-two home with him, his mates
are living in Waitanana Diggings 10 miles from here -
Mother informs me she had a letter from Father
he is doing nothing & cannot send her any money Xto Mother
she wrote to Cousin Harry for some but he couldnt send her anyX
his machine has not been paying him since I left Bendigo
[Sunday, 2 March 1862] 28th. Feby 1862. Been a miserable week for me my hand causing me the most excruciating pain. I did not sleep for 5 nights what with the want of sleep & pain Im worn down to a perfect skeleton, my hand gathered till Wednesday when it broke. I gave a doctor 30/. to cure it. I feel much easier since it commenced to discharge & hope to get to work again next week. My mates made about 1 oz of gold each they very kindly offered to divide it with me but I didnt feel justified in receiving it & declined. It produces a wretched state of mind to be laid up useless on the diggins & in a strange place, without a penny to bless myself with, for after settling up last night, I hadnt 1/. left - Ive spent my time reading & rambling about the hills & & gorges around, viewing nature in her most primitive form, the whole of N.Z. according to Geologists is of very recent formation, created in some spasmodic freak of nature.
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Wetherstones Gully
I received a very kind letter from Harry Dight. He is still
in Dunedin working at his trade, he has heard from
my couzins Henry & Liz both are well, states that
owing to the want of water on Bendigo the mines
are laying idle the consequence being, no gold -
Im very sorry, for Harry deserves to get on -
[Sunday, 9 March 1862] March 9th. Fine weather, for a wonder had only 2 wet days an extraordinary circumstance for N.Z. my hand is still very tender, but I managed to get to work, tho I did not do much, still working on Wetherstones Flat we made £2.15.0 each just enough to pay expenses - poor pay for such hard work & working all day in water, injuring ones constitution we made an effort to bottom the deep ground in our claim, but was driven from it by the force of water. I believe if we could work it, it would pay us for all our labour, not succeeding we have again come to the conclusion of leaving it all- -together & perhaps at some future time when the Flat is more worked & becomes drained to return to it again if it is not taken up etc worked in the meantime. I knocked about the township nearly every night, visiting a variety of places of amusement. The proprietor of the Waverly Saloon desired me to sing & not feeling inclined to sing for the amusement of such a crowd I declined & was leaving the place when he offered me £1.0.0 if I would sing, twice during the evening, wanting a pair of boots very badly I accepted the offer. The Harpist playing a fine accompaniment to me, I sang well & was vociferously applauded, left about 10 pm not well pleased with my evenings work in one sense, one comfort there is no one I care
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about here so long as it is not known at home
it matters not, its astonishing the number of men
who frequent these places. I thought it a pity
they couldnt find some more rational mode of
enjoyment than visiting these places drinking
& gambling - Etc. This morning we went for firewood
owing to a fall of rain during the night the hills were
very slippery, causing us considerable difficulty in getting
our loads home. On arriving at the tents we found a
quite a commotion, a band of lazy wretches had
been spending the morning pillaging tents & being discovered
by some one who brought a few policeman, 5 of the
six thieves were caught but not without a desperate
struggle in which several were shot down like dogs
one of them (who got away) fired 6 shots at his pursuer
two of them taking effect, but I hear not fatally,
their leader is supposed to be a noted Victorian Bushranger
whose life has been long forfeited by the laws, this
affair has caused great excitement being the first instance
of anything of the sort occurring in Otago before. I went
down to the camp & saw the villains handcuffed
together, ugly specimens of humanity -
March 16th.1862. Fine weather for a wonder Some acquaintances & neighbours, whom I knew on Bendigo named Quinn & Fincher called on Monday morning & proposed forming a large party of 7 men, to purchase a set of "Boxes" & commence sluicing (a kind of gold washing that is getting & likely to be the only pay able way of doing anything worthwhile on these diggings now the gullies & hills are worked out) after some consideration we agreed to join them but first to prospect ground ere we went to the expense of getting the necessary appliances we divided our party, 4 of us going to "German Flat"
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Wetherstones Gully
I among the number, after scrambling over high hills &
getting up to our knees in marshy ground in the gullies between
we reached the place, a narrow valley, rather pretty
with a creek running in its centre, found a few parties
sluicing, on conversing with them we were given to
understand that they were only just earning sufficient
to keep them (the old story) we prospected along
the creek in many places & also in several gullies
running into it, but could only just raise the color
of gold & not getting anything to induce us to return
we bade farewell. We were put on a track
back which we found much nearer & easier to travel
than the way we went. I met an old acquaintance
who was taking his departure for Victoria, Hugh
Cameron, he has done very well, had 44 oz of gold
on him & he told me he has 100 oz more in Dunedin
lucky fellow, he was a shipmate of Neds from
Australia & landed here without a 1s/d. We brought
home a Bundle of firewood each, my shoulders ached
after carrying it 4 miles. Tuesday & Wednesday
we prospected about Wetherstones Gullies, at last
we made up our minds to set in a gully that
had been worked before, & had been very rich we
ordered sluice boxes, which cost us £6.0.0
Friday & Saturday we worked very hard & on
cleaning up we found we had only 1 oz. 7 dwts
between the 7 of us to divide, not sufficient to
pay the Boxes, we couldnt expect to do much
at first, but next week we will be able
to give it a fair trial. I spent to day in a
most agreeable manner, a man died a few days
ago near us from the effects of cold & fatigue
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Wetherstones
his tent & things are still standing, his mates if he
had any, leaving him to his fate, the police didnt
think it worth their while to take possession of
the bits of things he left. I on entering it, the day
afterwards found 2 Vol of McCaulays Essays
which I took possession of. Ive read nothing that
so interested me for a long time - Criticisms on great
men their lives & writings I like the ones on
Hampden, Milton, Cromwell, Machiavelli & Byron
the best, more especially on the protector & the Italian
which gives me quite a different opinion of their
characters than what I had previously entertained
Friday I wrote to Mother, Ned & I managed to scrape £5.0.0 to send her, in the letter leaving ourselves quite penniless. Im longing for the arrival of the "Aldinga" expecting to hear from home by her -
March 23rd 1862 Weather cloudy & gloomy but
attended fortunately with little rain. Worked very
hard this week. Monday we worked in the same
place as we did last week, but only getting 5 dwts
of gold we abandoned it & commenced "paddocking"
some ground we were "laid on" to, we sank one
15 ft square & washed the dirt from the bottom on
Thursday & Friday & yielded us only 1 oz which so
disgusted us, that we divided or broke up our
party. Ned, Bill Hobson & I still sticking together
Joe Falder, having made up his mind to leave
& go to Dunedin where he has £100.0.0 in the
bank he intends going to Vancouvers
Island or British Columbia, Nt America where
great numbers are at present going, owing to
reports arriving of large yields of gold being found
there
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Wetherstones
Poor Falder was drowned on landing from a boat at Vancouvers Island
1863 J.H.W
its a great distance to go, but I hear a pleasent voyage across the Pacific Ocean. I trust he may be more fortunate there in he has been while with me, he left yesterday morning. Ned & I have spent to day making a cradle & repairing our tools Etc we sold our Sluice Boxes & Fork for £5.15.0 that cost us less than a fortnight ago £6.10.0 after paying what we owed at the butchers & bakers we found our whole remaining capital to consist of 1s/6d between the 3 of us. Things are looking very bad with us. We shall have to live on short allowance next week if we dont find some gold. I received a very affct letter from my sister Mary, all well at home thank God - she delivered my epistle to Miss R – & thinks it met a favourable reception, my continual ill-luck has driven all feelings of a higher order out of my mind. Im getting quite callous, working, slaving hard enduring fatigue & hardship without remuneration is enough to make a fellow curse himself or whatever influence is at war with *living. I see around me many of the most abandoned & dissolute habits with not a single care of what the morrow may bring for the successful in whatever they undertake, that it seems some incomprehensible mystery must be employed in the regulating of things on this earth. Its no use railing. I had a letter from Dight to day, he intends waiting in Dunedin if he gets a favourable reply to a letter he informs me he sent my cousin Liz he is desperately in love with her & states
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Wetherstones
that unless he gets balm for his wounded spirit
he cares little what becomes of him. I answered
his letter giving him very little consolation, knowing
she has little affection for him except that of
a dear friend. He informs me old Downs is
still in Dunedin & is getting up a subscription for
poor Dave Magher. I trust he may get something
handsome, poor fellow he is a cripple for life
[Sunday, 30 March 1862] March 29th.[30th] 1862. Weather very unsettled plenty of rain, losing a deal of time. Monday Bill & I with Ned tried a hole in a gully bottomed it but not the sign of gold, the same evening Ned left us to go & work in a claim situated in Gabriels Gully, the owners of which (some Jews) are old acquaintances, wanting a mate & we thought it for the best he should try for if only one of us can do well it will help to keep us going until something turns up that we can all join upon. The next morning he took his blankets & things & left us, being too far for him to walk night & morning. In the next tent to us are living two Greeks, strange characters, (I knew one of them, Andre Rosetta) many years ago on Sandy Creek) they are continually quarrelling Tuesday night hearing high words & fancying some blows were passing, I rushed in to their tent in time to stop, (J.Black (as he calls himself) from stabbing Andrea, cutting my own fingers in wrenching the knife out of his hands, after a few words got them quiet & saw them shake hands. They have been doing very well lately & are seldom sober, their claim is
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pay able but not having worked it properly, it is
very insecure & wood being hard to obtain renders
it difficult to work any further. They offered to
let Bill & I join them in it if we liked, which
we did the following day & for the rest of the week
(though at the risk of our lives (the ground being
30 ft deep & very rotten) we bought a "Tom"
giving £2.0.0 & on squaring up found we had
£2.0.0 each after paying all expenses.
J.Black knowing we were hard up & living on dry bread lent me a few shillings on Thursday very kind of him, & appeared more so to me, from the fact I knew so many old acquaintances from Victoria, who were aware of our position & never offered us a penny, some of whom have plenty & that Ive done many a kind action to Ive got a good memory & perhaps at some future time they may be placed in similar circumstances, & feel the want of a helping friend, gold digging is purely a matter of chance, very different from every other branch of industry. Ned came home to day very downhearted, their claim was swamped out by a flood which came unexpectedly & will take some time before they can get it into working order again, he thinks it will pay well if [they] can work it to advantage, for from a very little lot of wash dirt they got out 1 oz between them, but it was not sufficient to pay their board, perhaps better luck may attend us next week. I received four letters from Victoria this week. One from Harry Vickerman full of his troubles, one of his horses died
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& the other is lame obliged to let the machine
lie idle. I had a letter from Mr Halley full
of gloomy ideas concerning Bendigo & its prospects
states that numbers of the Public Co. are defunct
the "Nelson Reef Co" is still in existence, crushing
for the Public, no pay able quartz having been
struck. I wrote to my brother Fred to night
Ive spent nearly every night down the township
knocking about in the same old vagabond
manner in & out of all sorts of places in
company with my two Greek mates who are
very intelligent fellows, Rosetta especially, he is
a fine musician, singing the whole or principal
parts of Italian Operas & is well versed in all
the Greek & Italian (both modern & ancient) poets
& literary characters, he has been all over the
world & is full of anecdotes & pleasent stories of
people & places he has met & visited -
[Sunday, 6 April 1862] April 5th1862 Weather fair the fore part of the week on Friday it changed, & has been raining incessantly ever since, making Wetherstones Flat look like some great bog or slough of mud. Our tents of course were flooded. Monday & Tuesday we all four turned too & brought in timber for securing our ground, being too rotten to work without – it was a fearful job, toiling over the hills, twice & three times a day a distance of 4 miles each way, carrying each a heavy log of wood back Wednesday we commenced to put props in but on going down the hole we found that one half of the claim had fallen in some 10 ft rendering it impossible to work it again except without expending a great amount of labour & time upon it, which after consideration did not feel justified in doing, knowing it would not pay us for our labours
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we secured the other half all right, but unfortunately its
the worst part. Thursday rumours were about of a
new gold field supposed to be situated on the West
side of the Molyneaux River about 30 miles from here
great numbers started, & after some consultation we
drew lots which two of our party should
go & see the place, it fell upon John Black & Hobson
who at once rolled up their blankets & taking nothing
but a pick & shovel, tin dish, & food to last them
about three or four days & started. They returned
to day, foot sore tired & regularly knocked up with
their few days exertions after travelling in company
with scores of others about a frightful rough country
fording creeks & rivers losing themselves Etc, without
hearing or finding the place, the disappointment felt
is great, many vow vengeance on the originator of
what is nothing more than a hoax, the difficulty
is to find out who caused it -
In their absence, Rosetta & I were unable to do much at the claim, we washed up the dirt we had got out on Thursday & Friday, which yielded 1 oz 15 dwts, not bad for the work we did, if we had all been at work we should doubtless have done very well, always something turns up to put us back. Ned came home last night, having got disgusted with Gabriels Gully, he had 6s/3d to draw after expenses were paid so he doesnt intend going there again, all this is very disheartening. I sang last night at a concert room & was handed £1.0.0 for my services when I left, the money was very acceptable I laid it out this morning in necessaries for the tent, bought a piece of Beef 1/3 per lb -
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& indulged in a 2/6 pot of Jam for our supper this
evening - I received a letter from Dight during the
week, informs me Joe Falder has sailed for Victoria
(Vancouvers Island N.A.) where I hope he will be more
successful than he was with us on Wetherstones -
I got a long letter from Mother, full of troubles
which makes me feel my continual ill luck more
acutely, she informs me she had just received a
letter from Father, & enclosed in it was a draft
for £5.0.0 (most wonderful) he has his troubles
Im sorry to relate, not enjoying good health &
doing very poorly in his line of business (I dont
know what line he is in) very little family
news of importance. I had another letter from
my old friend Burchell, he is studying in
London for an M.D. attends lectures on physiology
& Anatomy Etc, practices in the dissecting Rooms
& has passed an examination in the College of
Surgeons (very creditably) he relates how dis-
-gusted he was at first in the Hospitals, but
now he has become so accustomed to the
"horrible" he can eat his lunch along side of
a mangled body. I sincerely hope he will get
along, & be successful in his new walk of life
I spent this afternoon writing to my sister
Mary & also to Mr Halley. In the evening in
company with John Black paid some Greek
friends of his a visit & discovered there was
a kind of Freemasonry existing between them
[Sunday, 13 April 1862] April 12th. 1866 Weather very unsettled & disagreable & likely to continue so, now the winter is so near. On Monday Rosetta & [I] went out prospecting down the Tuapeka River we sank two holes 8 ft deep, but the water
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coming in thr’ the gravel drove us out without
reaching the bottom, so we came away tired
& disappointed, no joke to walk 6 miles & then
do a hard days work for nothing - I think
if the water was not so strong on Tuapeka Flat
& people could work the ground properly they
would find some rich deposits of gold - on reaching
home our mates Black & Hobson, informed us
they had had a narrow escape with their lives
the old claim having fallen in from the surface
they had only time to scramble out beforehand –
so that is the finish to our hopes in that quarter
Tuesday we got "laid" on to a claim on 30 ft hill & were induced to commence a hole (Rosetta & I) while the other two drove an old hole near by on prospect Wednesday & Thursday continued driving, & sinking but to no purpose for at the depth of 35 ft we dropd through into an old drive full of water which gave my mate Rosetta a start, the ground sounded hollow & I was sure we were over a drive or near some old underground workings, he would not not believe it until he got a ducking which made him come out with anything but classical Greek or Italian. I really dont know which of the two languages he could swear the best in, but his disappointment was most amusing in its demon- -stration, foreigners cant stand ill luck like Britons our other mates by Friday night had driven some 20 ft without meeting anything pay able they got about 5 dwts of gold - what a lot to divide between four men after a hard weeks work. Yesterday morning Ned came back from prospecting without meeting anything pay able
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after some consideration I thought it best to leave
my Greek mates (Hobson preferred staying with
them. I was not sorry for we wished to get rid of him
he is such a fool & always getting into trouble about
the township, he fancies he is a good Billiard player
& is constantly getting into debt at the various tables
about - I paid some of his debts on condition he
would never play again. I have taken quite a
disgust against gambling as much that I shall
show no example to my brother Ned, who Im
sorry to see has a predilection for this most
pernicious vice, its astonishing what a growing
passion it is when once encouraged, far harder to
leave off, than drinking - with regard to Hobson
he no sooner paid me back what he owed me
then he went at it again -) Wright & Hazlett
with Bill Dowding (old Bendigo friends) asked Ned &
I if we would join them in forming a small sluicing
party, they know of some ground at the head of
Wetherstones Gully they fancy will pay very well
5/. is all the money Ned & I possess, so we jumped
at the chance. Wright bought a set of Boxes
which cost him £7.0.0 that are to [be] paid for out of
the first gold we get. Bill Dowding very kindly
lent me money enough to see Ned & I over the next
week in vituals - in the afternoon we went to
see the ground & made everything ready for a fair
start on Monday morning - Our evenings this
week have been passed in the most reckless manner
every night down the township visiting every
place of amusement free of charge, dancing
fighting, rowing & in fact doing everything of the most
wild & discreditable character - the nights
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are bitterly cold & having no firewood, we are compelled
for the sake of warmth to visit the Dance Rooms
regular dens they are, every variety of character
are to [be] met at them, the most frequented is the
“Metropolitan“ kept by nothing better than three
prostitutes who occasionally join in a dance
a woman being a novelty the attraction is great.
This morning we went over the mountains for firewood came on a cold drisely sleety rain that seemed to penetrate ones bones. I was tired when I got home to the tent, being wet through our tent this evening was crowded with neighbours spent it very jolly singing, card playing & reading with a little gambling - Ive given notice to all comers, that this is the last night Ill permit anything of the sort to be carried on in this tent
[Sunday, 20 April 1862] April 20th.1862. Fine weather during the week but cold & frosty nights & morning - Worked very hard. We made £4.15s/0d each not so bad if we can continue to do the same for a few months. Ned & I had not much of ours left to day, after paying our shares of the Boxes & other debt,. we got in a few stores for next week & found we had £4.0.0 left I wrote to Mother & we sent it to her - I recvd a letter from H.Vickerman all well on Bendigo but states things are very dull there, men are working on the Reefs for £2.0.0 per week Ill try N.Z. a while longer before I think of going back to work for such a sum. I caught
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a severe cold at the beginning of the week, on Wednesday
I could scarcely work, but was afraid to give way
its awful to be ill in such a place as this, no
comfort for a healthy man God knows what it
must be for a sick one. There has been several
deaths in tents close by us, who were only ill
a few days before they went to their long homes
where there is rest for the weary, (some comfort in
such an idea) my cold I cured in the following
manner, my limbs were racked with ague & my
head aching frightfully when I walked into a densely
crowded Dancing Room where I joined in the
dance in the wildest manner, until I was fairly wet
through with perspiration, in such a state I
ran home to the tent, well wrapped up & turned
into bed, next morning I felt weak but suffered no
pain. This is a rather dangerous mode & would
only recommend to a strong constitution & under
similar circumstances Last night I visited the
the same scenes, sang two songs for the Benefit
of a poor devil who is very ill &
hard up. Im happy to say the affair was a success
& well attended, the “Talent" engaged being amateurs
some of whom were rather mediocre but on the whole
it was a good entertainment & would not have
disgraced even enlightened Melbourne. Dave
Hazlett gave a party at his tent to day, Ned & I
were invited bringing our own knives &
pannikins, found a jolly good dinner provided
with plenty of tea & chocolate - & he had also
made an attempt at desert, about a dozen
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of us were there, how people unaccustomed to
a diggers life would have laughed to have seen us
in a tent 12 x 14 ft without a table, some of us
seated on Buckets turned upside down some on
blocks of stone with an old coat wrapped on it for
a cushion, lids of "Billy Cans" & broken frying
pan for plates & dishes, however we were all
accustomed to the sort of thing & laughed & joked
as if we were at a Vice Regal Supper or dinner
party, if our mothers could only see us now –
how the'd laugh, suggested some - Bill Wright
had a pannikin of hot tea in his hand & was going
to give us a toast, the vessel having no handle
to it, got to warm to hold, burning his hand, he
dropped it splashing one or two of us causing
us to laugh & the wry faces pulled by those
affected. With the exception of this little episode
every thing went off first rate, our conversation
of course turned as is usual at diggers bachelor
parties to the Ladies, we all proposed & drank
to the health of the girl we loved best (in tea)
we had singing & cards (the usual thing)
supper time came round after which we broke
up about 8.P.m came home. I intend writing
to my father. I commenced a long letter to day I
dont know when I shall finish it
[Sunday, 27 April 1862] 28th.April 1862 Fine weather during the week, the mornings are fearfully cold & frosty & our work is chiefly among the water standing sometimes nearly all day up [to] our knees & always over our boot tops in it, anything but agreeable it quite frightens me sometimes in the morning
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perishing with cold & shivering, & have to walk into
a wet "paddock" & commence to bail water out
one of our greatest trials is putting on our boots in
the morning, they are soaking wet from the previous
day & get frozen hard in the tent during the night
so in the morning our first job is to thaw them
I generally put a lot of hot ashes in mine & shake
them about until the frost is out & then put
them on - this is only the beginning of winter
we have had no snow as yet tho’ I believe plenty
has fallen on the higher parts of the country, the
hills tops we can see in the distance are covered
with "white caps". If I had enough to keep me
thro' the winter I would go to Dunedin & spend it there
return in the summer - My brother Ned took very ill
on Thursday, the effects of a cold & the hardship attending
our occupation, he seemed a little better this morning
but a change for the worse seems to have taken
place this evening. Poor fellow I hope he will soon recover
I do all in my power for him & gratify his slightest whim
this is an awful country to be ill in - We made
£5.0.0 aman this week. Ned out of his share had
to pay a man 15/. a day to work in his place since
Thursday, which made a hole in our united earnings
Monday night I attended a Diggers Meeting at the Golden Age Hotel the object being to nominate members for a Mining Board to be established on these diggins what has long been needed, our various disputes & grievances at present are settled by an Old woman an old Scotch Captain, who knows nothing about mining or anything, a great number of aspirants came forward some who could talk well & some bad, some who were all theory who purposed grand schemes, by which
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the fortunate inhabitant of Tuepeka is to amass an
enormous fortune. I was glad to find a few sensible
practical men among the number, who appeared to
know the wants & requirements of the district, there
was only one I knew from Victoria, Mr Brodie
ex M.P. for Bendigo, he is an auctioneer here - & is
not very popular, he could hardly get a hearing, but being
rather an eloquent man he managed to wheedle
round his listeners, until he became the most popular
man of the lot, such is the power of mind & manner
when exercised over a mixed assemblage of less
intellectual beings. Tuesday night I wrote to Harry
Dight & also to Cousin Lizzie - every other evening I
spent at the tent, in company with Ned. This
morning I went over the hills for firewood, literally
knocked up on my return. I brought such a load
my legs tremble still with the exertion. I was home
by 1. P.m found several neighbours at the tent &
my old acquaintance & one I respect more than
any on this place, Chas Malander, a Swede, a fine
intelligent young man, whose company Im very partial
to, he staid tea with us. Im happy to know he is
coming to live in our neighbourhood, so I shall see
more of him
May 4th.1862. Weather similar to last, but colder at night, the gully where we are [at] work is situated between two very high abrupt ranges, & so formed that we only see the sun about 4 hours aday, the days are getting very short. We go to work as soon as it is day light & dont get back till dark, wet-footed & cold – returning to the tent & then have to light a fire & cook our tea (this is living with a vengeance)
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Im happy to state my brother Ned is recovering fast
he is not fit to work yet - tho he came to the claim
on Thursday & did a little. We only made £3.2.0
aman this week - We had to employ a man to help us
but the ground getting poor we discharged him & took
in a partner who paid us £5.0.0 for the share - I
dont think he will get his money back again
he is an old mate of mine on the "Nelson Reef",
(Bob Forbes) The "Aldinga" & "Omeo" arrived, beginning
of the week. I received a long letter from my Brother
Fred, all well at home, it was full of tantalising accounts
about various amusements he had been at, what a
contrast his pleasures are to ours. Ive seen a deal of
Malander during the week, on Monday night he
introduced me to the Debating Society just formed in
the new Chapel (a calico tent on a large scale, seated
with rough boards), the Society has a president &
Secretary & Treasurer & numbers 60 members
all dressed in diggers rough garments presenting rather
a coarse appearance - but; there the comparison ends
I was astonished to find many among the number
highly intellectual, some I believe who have received
University Educations. The argument under debate
created a warm discussion & brought forth a
considerable amount of sound logic & reasoning power
such as I never listened to before. I was enrolled a
member, the subscription is 1/. a week, the Society
meets every Monday night. Im happy in having
joined it, its far better than spending my evenings
in cursed low places, one evening at all events is
sacred & Im sure Ill be mentally profited by the
association connected with such an institution
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Malander & I spent last night in each others company
discussing various subjects, he has some ideas on some –
but on the whole is very enlightened without being Utopian
or at all narrow-minded - we visited Webbs Dancing
Room to get warm from there to D'Lorra’s, Blue
Jacket Hotel, where a concert is held every Saturday
night. Id not been in a minute before I was
most vociferously called upon to sing - I dislike
making a public exhibition of myself but felt
compelled to comply, the place is built of Iron & is an
excellent one to sing in, & with a good accompaniment
I sang the "Old House at Home" which seemed
to enter into the hearts of the audience. If I was
possessed of much vanity, I should have had it gratified
last night, by the expressions of the audience. I was
compelled to sing it over again, much to the disgust
of the regular professionals engaged at the place
who are a worn out set, that couldnt earn a living
except where talent was scarce. I never in my
life attended so many places of amusement & saw so
much life (of rather a questionable character I must
admit) on so little money, the four months Ive
been here Ive spent 12/- & that for cigars or most
of it - I never drink & yet Ive free ingress & egress
into every place on Wetherstones, Dance rooms, Singing
Saloons, Gambling Hells, & Billiard & Bowling alleys
I never play, but enjoy myself studying the various
shades of character one meets at these places
This morning Bill Hobson (who is living with us but not working with us) & I went over the hills for firewood, suffering the usual fatigue on
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such occasions. Spent the afternoon reading a work
I borrowed some time ago full of excellent observations
on life & manners more especially to young men
on entering life, a few good ideas I fell in with
I purpose noting -
"Mankind in general mistake difficulties for
impossibilities, that is the difference between those
who effect [&] those who do not -
"The more a man has to do the more he finds
himself capable of doing even beyond the direst task
"All men that have done things well in life
have been remarkable for decision of character
"Vigour, energy - resolution firmness of purpose
these carry the day - more men fail from the
want of energy & vigour than from want of talents
"Is there one whom difficulties dishearten, who
bends to the storm, he will do little, Is there
one who will achieve; that kind of man
never fails.
"Idleness is the greatest prodagality
Plato said - Better to err in acts than principle
"No human being was ever truly great who
had not learned the necessity & acquired the habit of
looking facts steadily in the face -
"It is better to accomplish perfectly a very small
amount of work, than to half do ten times as much
"Be punctual, by cherishing that spirit, out of
which punctuality grows, that, accuracy, precision
& vigour, which makes the efficient man, the
determination, that what you have resolved to do
should be done in spite of all temptations to
the contrary - Nelson said, Ive always been a
quarter of an hour before my time, & it made a man of me".
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May 11th.1862. Weather very unsettled plenty of
rain, accompanied with hail & a slight fall of snow
the first I have seen since leaving England –
we lost about 1½ days work in consequence. We
only realized 1 oz 5 dwts of gold between us
by Tuesday night in the claim we have workd
the past few weeks & seeing no prospect of the
ground improving we left the claim & took
up another one in a gully at the foot of Wetherstones
running into the flat where some of our party
worked before. We have been busy cutting a tail
race & making other preparations necessary for
working the ground properly - I havent much faith
in the spot - our earnings for the week was 31s/-d
each just enough to keep us in vituals. Monday
night I went to the Debating Society, rather a poor
subject under discussion but one which caused
an animated debate. Total abstinence or Moderation
which, the most beneficial & practical - the argument
became one-sided. Drunkenness was supplied for
Moderation, no distinction having been
drawn between them by those who took up the
subject. Malander & I spent three other evenings
in each others company adjourning after our strool
to some dance Rooms for a warming before making
for our homes (no great distance from the townhip)
Im happy to say my brother Ned has recovered
from his attack of cold & fever - Bob Fincher
paid us a visit to day - he has been working
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in Munros Gully (3 miles from here) since he left us
where he is making good wages sluicing, he stay’d
tea with us after which I walked part of the way
home with him - I received a long letter from
Harry Dight yesterday - he is well in health & *spent
in constant employ at his trade, made many friends
& spends his time pleasently, informs me Andrew
Smith returned from Victoria a few weeks ago
& is now employed as an assistant in the largest
Chemist Shop in town at a good salary - I borrowed
from a Baker (who has a few good choice books)
a History of Hungary - which Ive read with interest
18th.May 1862 Fine weather during the week with the exception of Friday when it rained very heavy & so lost a day - We worked very hard this last week but with little profit we sank a large paddock, 14 ft deep - by the same in the square which yielded us 4 dwts of gold, that so disgusted us that none of us had courage to propose sinking another, so we left it after spending a great deal of work over it - we went on the Flat - where I worked on my arrival in this place, found the ground much worked - our old claim that we could not bottom for water, where the dip was, I was so anxious to bottom I found had been worked out & on speaking to some men near by in reference to it - I was informed that a party of Irishmen had made £450.0.0 each man out of that said dip they did not take possession of it until 2 months after we had left it & owing to some party farther down on the flat who had cut a tail race & partially drained the ground they
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were enabled to work it to advantage - how very
annoying - enough to make a fellow mad to think
how unlucky we are, we sank a paddock about
12 x 14 & 11 ft deep which we worked yesterday it
only turned us out about 13 dwts - giving us altogether
for our weeks labour 13/. such ill luck making
me feel very wretched - we broke up our party
& Ned & I are undecided what to do We spent
the best part of to day prospecting about & looking
out for a place to set into work - we fell in
with two acquaintances Tom Magher & Sydney Jack
& have arranged to try some old working at the head
of Wetherstones Gully - next week in partnership with
them - they are wild, reckless chaps but good working
men Monday night I went to the Debating
Society - The question being which afforded the
most happiness to mankind "Hope or Reality"
I went with the majority & advocated Hope
my friend Melander took Reality & by a plausible
kind of logic & possessing considerable oratorial
power then on a show of hands being called, it
was carried that Reality did, not all
the reasoning in the world would convince me in
entertaining such an idea - Hope is the very
essence of our nature, life would indeed be truly
wretched without it - with all its care & trouble
sorrows & afflictions, its a beacon on lifes dreary
sea - the star of immortality - such a *discourse
as I heard makes me think ill of humanity
it proves how much man clings to the things
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of this world - for I was sorry to find with one or two
exceptions that the whole idea of those who advocated
Reality confined themselves to its limited sense & to
things temporal - selfishness predominated - for instance
all seemed to think that the actual realization of one
desire brought with it more pleasure - than the
pleasure derived from a thousand or indefinate
number of hopes or aspirations - Malander had the
impudence after it was over to tell me he was not
arguing from conviction - I was annoyed at the
sophistry he displayed & rated him pretty soundly
25th.May 1862 Frightful weather the past week as I never experienced before & ever imagine I should - Monday & Tuesday it snowed incessantly creating a most dreary sickening sensation to all located on the diggins here - wherever I turn my eyes the same scene, white white every where & everything - our tents are buried in snow, last night the ridgepole of our tent broke with the weight of snow upon it we were nearly perished getting up to put it all right & beat the snow off the tent - our bit of firewood was buried - we lit a fire on Tuesday dinner time by burning a box we had in the tent, boiled a "billy" of tea which put some life in us. I tasted Brandy for the first time in my life on Monday night when I went to the Debating Society, not many present, being so cold our meeting did not last long, the subject being "Is it just to Prohibit Chinese Emigration into Australia" this subject has caused considerable controversy in Victoria & other colonies - Otago is the only
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one they have been excluded from - after anything but
an animated discussion it was decided that it should
be so that in justice to
European Colonists they should be excluded from
entering & enjoying the same privileges. Wednesday
morning, the snowing having ceased we made an
attempt at work & by Friday night after
doing a deal of work under very disagreeable
circumstances - we found on washing up our dirt
we had 5 dwts to divide between 4 of us,
disheartened & miserable on Friday night I made
up my mind to leave the damned country - but
my brother Ned not agreeing I did not like to
go without him - he thinks I might go to
Dunedin & try & get a situation until the
summer sets in & then return & try my luck
again - I would not agree to it unless he came
also, so there it ended - the winter has set in
in earnest, snow covers every hill & even in the
valleys it lies several feet thick some places
Yesterday we rambled about to find some place
to set into work - I fell in with Joe Russell
who used to live next tent to me in "Pinch Gut"
Gully Bendigo many years ago - he, along with
three other men have hired a puddling Machine
foot of the "Blue Spur." he thinks they will be
able to make good wages at it but they want
another mate & offered me a share in it for
£10.0.0. Joe advised me to get it if I could
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for if we can see the winter over, he is sure we
shall make a few hundred pounds in the summer
after some consideration I agreed, having £5.0.0
by me I borrowed £2.0.0 from Ned & a Jew
named Barnett who keeps a small store near
the Machine lent me the other £3.0.0 & he also
offered me room in his store to put up my stretcher
& come & live with him - to which I agreed, my
own tent being too far away to go home every
night. I brought up my things to night - so as to
be ready & handy for my work in the morning.
Last night I went to Malanders & spent the evening with him knocking about the township we went into DeLorras where a kind of Free & Easy is held, it was crowded with men drinking & card-playing we spent a few hours very jollily Im sorry to state Malander & his mates are going to leave the diggins in the morning he thinks of going to Victoria, I bade him good bye to day - he made me a present of what few books he had & some other bits of things This afternoon we spent making slides on the ice & playing snowball like a lot of children it tended to divert us from the misery of our situation - the diggers are leaving fast Im sure upwards of 3000 must have left during the past week - everyone who has the means purpose leaving - lucky fellows! I wish I was out of it. The winter coming on so soon & so roughly gives rise to the idea of a very severe one - frightening many however, Im here now & mean to stick here -
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Sydney Jack called to see me this evening he is a queer
fish - in fact an extraordinary character - he was born
in Sydney - brought up amongst the "blacks" in the bush
living when a boy on horseback stockriding - he has been
all over the inhabited parts of Australia from Queensland
to the western boundary of Sth Australia. Knocked about
for 2 years at the head of the Darling with 2 others
where they gathered upwards of 500 head of cattle &
100 horses in that time - numbers of which Ive no
doubt were stolen from the far inland runs - it took
them 12 months to bring them to Adelaide where they
disposed of them, horse stealing seems to have been
a pastime with him, cattle lifting an amusement -
Sydney got too hot for him on one occasion & he went
as a seaman to China on a 9 months voyage, found
his way back in company with an English gentleman
he met in Hong Kong who had an affection in his mouth
& could hardly make himself intelligible - however Jack
had £200 a year from him for 2 years they travelled
the colonies - sometimes living a gay life in the towns
& at others far away in the interior - his tales of
the blacks & bushrangers, scenes & adventures of
the most reckless & extrordinary character would
fill volumes, he stole a racehorse from
a well known horse breeder in Victoria & brought it
to Bathurst NSW where he sold it - the police getting
an inkling of it he thought he get out of way
for a time, so came to N.Z & camped near us
& so we got acquainted, he & his mate Magher have
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been very unlucky - the other night I went into their tent
& found them at tea their meal consisting of dry bread & tea
the same evening I was coming from the township & I saw
a man with a load on his back wading through the mud
I overtook him & found him to be Jack - he had a side of
bacon & a 50 lb Bag of Flour with him I asked him
where he got - he coolly informed me he had helped
himself to it feeling very hungry this cold weather &
not having a penny he went to a store & asked for some
food on credit & was refused so he revenged himself
in this manner. It wasnt exactly the thing - but
I wasnt going to make a fuss about it - Ive done similar
things when hard pushed in days gone by & know
from experience a hungry belly knows no conscience
Ah blush, frown - look with scorn upon the poor writer
you who are clothed & comfortably housed
& know not what it is to [be] hungry - ye can afford to be
honest - circumstances alter cases –
perhaps a time may come when I shall look
back with horror at connections like Jacks - but
I shall seldom find a warmer hearted or a better
friend than he would make, about 2 or 3 months
ago he had some money & I & Ned were short –
old friends living near who I had known for years
& that Id done many kindnesses for refused to lend
us 5/- when we hadnt a bite of food in the tent
Jack didnt know us scarcely - he came to me
& put a pound in my hand & told me to come to him
again as long as he had any he would share it with
me - this is testing what a man is made of - I
hope Jack will be lucky & become a better member
of society than he has been - Ive read a great deal this week
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Blue Spur – Wetherstones - Otago
[Sunday, 1 June 1862]
June 1st 1862. Weather still very unsettled
sloppy & muddy every step - got wet through every day
Wednesday it snowed all day. I prefer rain to it
it gives every thing such a cold "Arctic Region" look
food is very dear Bread & meat double the price
it was 2 months since 1s/6d per lb for meat & its
astonishing what a craving one feels for animal
food this cold weather - I can take & make a meal
of Bread & a piece of raw Suet that in Victoria would
have sickened & disgusted me - Im living with
a Jew named Ben Barnett - quite a young
chap & the biggest "softy" I ever fell in with
he is keeping a branch store on commission. Im
afraid his profits are not large, he sells "grog" & I am
annoyed terribly by a pack of wild Irishman living
near who awake us up in the middle of the night
for to give them drink & sometimes on credit - poor
Ben is very timid. In such wretches company I dont
feel very comfortable, last night 3 of them came,
Pat McGar being one, a wild reckless buffer thats
escaped hanging more than once - he made Ben get
up & cook him a chop & boil some tea. I remonstrated
with Ben & told him what a fool he was to be
made such a tool. Pat heard me & has long wanted
to pick a quarrel with me owing to me stopping
him from robbing a drunken man some weeks ago
fortunately I had my clothes on except my coat
when he came up & commenced to bully me, Ben was
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away for some water & the other 2 Irishmen were in the
front part of the store - he commenced by telling me he had
had it in for me for some time & Id better say my prayers
I jumped up & before he could lift his shillalah I caught
him a spanking smash with my fist in the neck
just under the chin - he appeared astonished, & before
he could recover himself I hit him over the face with an
empty ale bottle, which stunned him - my blood was
up at the time, but I knew if I remained a minute longer
his mates who had heard the row in the front came
rushing in) I would have been killed, so I got out
at the back & made for "French Bobs" tent where
I stopped the night. I met one of them last night
he was very civil & sorry, but pleaded being drunk
as an excuse for his attack, there was something
about him I didnt like so I shall be on
my guard with "that mob" for the future -
My new speculation doesn't look very promising as yet, there are five of us mates very decent fellows - We hire two horses for which we pay £10 per week for. (they belong to 2 of our mates the feeding of them is divided between us - they paying an equal share in all other expenses the Machine & Dray belong to a Yankee speculator we pay him (Montgomery) £5 per week for its use - So with one thing & another our expenses are very heavy, after settling up last night, we had only 30/- each to draw, but I think when we get properly to work we shall do better - the weather is very much against us - continual frosts
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& thaws, making it frightful dirty & disagreeable
to work, our machine is situated at the junction
of two narrow gullies, foot of the Blue Spur
we have set in a road way into the hill & intend
washing every thing before us - we had great
difficulty in getting the horses to the place
the horse feed we buy in the township nearly
two miles distance & have to carry it on our
backs - our dray, we had to carry over pieces
at a time, it scarcely paid us for the trouble
for its of little use - We have ordered a sleigh
to be made (£20) or an improved *plane,
that will hold a load of dirt & tip up either
side - Monday night it snowed so hard I did
not go to the Dbtg Sty -. last night my mates
& I went down the township, knocked about
among all sorts of places & all sorts of company
till 12 pm. the best part of the night I
spent at DeLorees "Blue Jacket Hotel"
where there is a Concert Room containing the
only piano on Wetherstones, a young chap
named Crawford from Collingwood plays it
he knows several families Im acquainted with
there - & knows my family very well, tho’ he
does not know my name - nor do I wish him
to do so - Im known in this place (except by
those from Bendigo,) by the name of Bendigo
Jack rather amusing, in after life & in different
scenes to refer to, - "whats in a name"
9am when I arose this morning & for a
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wonder fine weather - I read until 12 had dinner
& went to the township met Ned, he has done
nothing all the week, but work hard with no
returns - spent the afternoon with him - on
leaving him I bought a bundle of firewood
5/. (weighed 60 lbs) must last the coming week
through for culinary purposes - I wrote to Dight
Im getting very anxious about mother Ive not
heard from them for some time - It fills me
with pain not being able to send her some
money - she struggling along & no support
from either Ned or I. I lie awake at night
picturing all manner of wretched scenes
at home, perhaps sick, starving - their home
sold up, turned out & such like - may God
in his mercy be kind to them - I often
regret for their sakes I ever left Bendigo
I could always make wages & forward them
part of it every week - or be near &
share with them whatever distress they
might be in
[Sunday, 8 June 1862] June 7th. 1862 Another wretched week over what with the cold, mud & snow, existence is nearly unbearable - I dont think theres such a miserable country on the face of the earth, if so God help its inhabitants - we get wet through at our work every day come home at dark to our cold cheerless dirty tent boil our billy under difficulties make a wretched meal & then tumble into bed & read or watch
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Wetherstones
the gambols of the rats that infest every tent
in the district, owing to the creeks & rivers being
frozen they have taken to the tents - horrible creatures
Ive counted as many as 30 running about at a time
we are getting so accustomed to them that we hardly
notice them now, very destructive they are, eat holes
in our clothes & blankets & if we leave any food
about for ever so short a time it soon vanishes
we keep our vituals in a box - and at night
I can scarcely sleep with their noise & squeeking
& tearing out chips of the box trying to work a
passage through. They run over us at night in
crowds, poor Ben is terribly frightened of them
he has made a long sack which he gets into on
going to bed - Owing to the inclemancy of the
weather we got very little gold - we had only
£1.13.0 each to draw after paying expenses
its very annoying to know there is gold & we have
the means of getting it & that the weather should
be against us - Poor Ned is doing nothing, his
mates & him are living by their wits, their claim
being frozen up. Ned is a good billiard player
& wins a little money at it - in fact one of his
mates informed me, his playing keeps them alive
this is an awful state of things - degrading us
lower & lower & wonder what Father & those at
home would think if they could see us leading
the life we do - Monday I went in company
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with Mr English (a neighbour of mine, a very nice
intelligent gentlemanly fellow) to the Debating Society
the evening was spent in business being the last night
of the quarter - there has been a great falling off
in numbers - natural consequence so many leaving
the place - I went down the township last night
visited various places of amusement - got a good
blowing up from Mrs. Deloree for not coming to see
her all the week - bother her, she is rather too
amorous & has no discretion - she makes herself
ridiculous, her husband is jealous - & many people
I know have observed her partiality for me - she
keeps the best Hotel on Wetherstones - attached to it
is a Concert Hall where I occasionally sing - she
wants me to board with her - & will pay me a
salary besides if I will accept it to sing every night
In my present circumstances, few would decline such
an offer - but if I did, I know I should only get
into trouble, her husband is a Frenchman &
celebrated as a swordsman both in France & Australia
& is also of a most revengeful disposition, so I think I
do well in keeping aloof from having any further
connection with her - there is a very pretty girl
named Rose living with her - who also professes
to like me (of the two I decidedly like the latter)
& its amusing to witness the jealousy of the two
women. I didnt get up to day till near 12 am
Ned & his mate Haywood, called & spent the
day with me - & also had some more friends here
my Irish lovers came prowling about this evening
but seeing a lot of us they kept very civil -.
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Wetherstones
15th.June 1862. Another week passed baffling
description, of all the misery & wretchedness Ive
endured from things external & feelings internal.
Monday morning we found our Machine &
dam, sluice boxes & cuttings covered with snow
took us all day to clear it away & get ready
for work again - Tuesday & Wednesday - what
with one of the horses being bad, & the hard frost
setting in, we did nothing - my mates thought of
giving the affair up - but I proposed visiting
the proprietor (Montgomery) & coming to some
more favourable arrangement. I waited upon
him on Wedy afternoon - he wasnt inclined to make
any alterations in our agreement -
I told him we
would give him
£5.0.0 per week for the horses &
Machine Drays, sleighs, & Sluice Boxes Etc & we
guarantee to keep the horses in good condition -
I gave him an hour to consider it - on my
return he wanted £7.10.0 - I was leaving again
when he called me back & agreed to my terms - so
we purpose keeping on at it - for I feel confident
if we get over the next two months we shall do
very well at it. We only washed one Machine of
dirt during the week, it turned out enough to
pay expenses & gave us £1.0.0 each besides - it
takes us half a day (Saturday) to carry
horse feed from the township over a very
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rough dirty road, it seems hard to have horses &
not able to make them bring their own feed - but
its rather dangerous, being no road - only a pathway
running among & between holes - Monday night I
visited the Debating Society (with English) the
subject was "Does Otago or Victoria hold out
the greatest inducements for intending Emmigrants”
from Britain) - Victoria bore away the palm
the night was bitterly cold - & I fancy the most of
those present were predudiced against Otago -
Ive had very sore feet this week - suffering from chilblains - Im generally very careful with regard to my health - but I fancy I brought on this complaint from my own folly in the following manner, my boots get very soaking – every day at my work & through the night they get frozen hard like Iron - & to thaw them so as to get my feet into them I fill them with hot ashes & rattle them about until the leather softens - I feel more comfortable without boots I can run about the snow barefooted - Ive been reading an interesting work by Bulwer-Lytton "Devereux" a delightful thing - giving me a good idea (I dont know if a correct one) of the characters of several eminent men who lived in Queen Anns time - Pope, Bolingbroke Swift Fielding & several others - This morning being fine I went in company with two other men - accompanied
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Wetherstones: pig hunting
by two good dogs on a pig hunt. We ascended the hills that surround
Wetherstones & struck along the ridges in the direction of the
"Waipora". After walking up hill & down for several
miles across the snow lying on the hills & wading
through the creeks & marshes, in the gullies, we at
length came to a spot where the snow lay in patches
& found some spots where pigs had been snouting
up the ground in quest of roots, got onto the
track of a sow with a litter of young ones
following it about a mile, we espied a thicket of
scrub a few yards square - fully confident
they were in it, we divided & by going a round
about - we surrounded them & sent one of the dogs
to rouse them, he wasnt long in doing so when
the sow was seen running out towards Bill Harris
with 6 little ones, they could run like deer, however
the dog pinned the old, one but he paid dearly for
his temerity, the pig ripped up his belly with its
feet like a knife. I ran & hit her over the
head with a cudgel, which didnt take effect for
with a loud grunt she pitched right at me & not
expecting such an attack, I was unprepared for it,
she would have worried me, but for the other dog
who rushed upon her thus diverting her for the moment
from me - I scrambled up, but not without an effort
the fall had stunned me & my face scratched & my
eyes nearly blinded with mud. Joe Russell I
found engaged with the sow, the dog having
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got frightened ran away & it took the three of us
to finish her Bill Harris stuck his bowie knife
into her two or three times which finished her career
he had sent the dog after one of the little ones &
now came up to us dragging it with him by the hind
leg, having secured it, we set to work to dissect the
big one, cut her into quarters, we brought home
the two largest & the little pig – our walk back
was any thing but a pleasent one - the road being
hilly, & rocky & the distance long - however after
tea we felt all right & they had a good laugh at my
expense
22nd June 1862 Weather similar to last but not quite so much frosty. We commenced work on Monday with every prospect of doing well – when on Tuesday we broke the beam of the Machine. (a piece of straight timber 9 inches in diameter & 19 feet long it was brought from a forest 20 miles away at great expense) this was a severe blow for us, rendering it impossible to go on with our work without it. We deliberated what was best to be done to replace it would take nearly 4 days this time of the year to go for one at Tokomira - I proposed to go to the forest at the head of Gabriels gully & take the two horses & if we could not find one long enough to get two pieces & splice them – we lost no time, an hour after it broke we started, got into a steep gully where the timber grows, & after looking at every tree in the forest (which is not more than ½ a mile square) without finding one suitable - we were obliged to be
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Wetherstones
satisfied with two short lengths, it was quite dark
or at last night had come on when we got there
to the top of the hill, the snow was thick, on
the ground & the horses dragged their load very
easily home - we were very tired & weary on reaching
home - & every rag of our clothes, torn, wet, & frozen
Wdy we spent in splicing & getting our new beam in
working order. Thursday afternoon we got to work
again too late to make any thing like wages - we
had only £1.0.0 each to draw, after paying
expenses which have been heavier than usual
horse feed is increasing in price every day - we
pay 31s/6d perhundred for chaff & 14s/d- per bushel
for Oats, & have to carry it on our backs from
the township - Friday we had a dispute with
some men working near us, a wild lot of
Irishmen with a few Spaniards & Italians - who
are sluicing near our dam & are running their
sludge into it - we remonstrated with them
they were very insolent & their party being
twice the number of ours, they got very quarrelsome
& threatened to drive a pick into the head of
one of my mates, before he had time to do so
Jack who is a very strong young fellow, picked
his antagonist up in his arms & threw him into
the dam - the fight became general. I was
armed with a long handled shovel, & managed to
hit a couple in such a manner, that they all
seemed inclined to renew the attack - my mates
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Wetherstones
fought like tigers & pitching onto them suddenly
they were not prepared for such an encounter
the majority being foreigners ran at once, our
only ally - was a Bulldog of Joes - who entered
into the spirit of the thing dog fully & bit at
their legs that it seemed they were more afraid
of "Castor" than of us. They went for the
Commissioner & when he came, he settled the
case against them & made them cut a race for
their sludge round our dam - since then they
have been very civil - but I dont trust them
this morning "Castor" came in with his side
bleeding & on examining the wound found he had
had a knife stuck into him - this is what
I call cowardly & we visited the Spaniard tents
but all denied doing the act - I received 4
letters this week - one from Mr Halley, he is very
well & still on Bendigo doing very little at the
Nelson Reef - sympathises with me at my
want of luck - but advises me if Im doing
anything or seeing any chance of getting on here
not to think of returning to Victoria - the
other letter was from my cousin Lizzie, she
is not very well & is tired or sick of Bendigo
& thinks of leaving for Adelaide - Informs me
Mrs. Drews little boy is dead, died from
excessive kindness - she saw Mr Halley a few
hours before she wrote & he wished I was back - says
I could get to the same billet on the Nelson
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I had before at the same wages - I dont like
the idea of returning worse than I went -
my other letter was from my dear old friend
James Hamilton, he is still living in
Stirling, Scotland, settled down quietly &
hopes for the rest of his life Mrs H. & little
Sandy are quite well - it was a long, kind,
affectionate letter, such as only one dear
friend could write to another who had every
confidence in each other - there is one portion
of his letter - that has led to reflections of a serious
nature, since his leaving Australia he has come
under the Divine Spirit changing his character
considerably judging from the tone of communication
he advises & recommends me to search after
heavenly things producing as he states a better
order of mind - alludes to the death of Jesus
Christ his dying for our sins - the plan of
salvation - its effacacy - & finishes with an
earnest appeal to pray - altogether it was a
beautiful letter & coming to me in such an out-
-landish place & situated as I am in such
unsettled circumstances, it may exercise a
good effect. I tried to pray since, a thing Ive
not done for many years - in fact Ive lived
with & associated with so many sceptics upon
these subjects - that my conscience has in
a great measure somewhat hardened & renderd
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Wetherstones
anything but susceptible to things spiritual
Fred[s] letter, as usual, full of news principally
referring to the various pleasures & amusements himself
& other members of my family have been indulging in
one comfort in Freds letters - they always show me
the bright side of my families circumstances -
I wrote to Father during the week & also to Dight -
I received a note to day from Malander - he left
here for Victoria, but seeing a good opening to
invest his money in Dunedin he is remaining in
the province - he has leased a piece of ground in town
& purposes erecting Public Baths - I trust he will
find it a profitable investment - Joe Russell & I
started this morning at 9 am for a bundle of firewood
we had to go many miles for it, travelling over hills
& gullies covered with snow, coming home it came on to
snow. I fortunately reached a range of hills that I
could follow & would bring me near home - how I did
get here I can hardly tell - I left my wood near a
rock I know so I shall go for it in the morning
Joe has only just got home - he lit a fire, burnt
half his load & took shelter in a hole among some rocks
until the storm passed - he would have perished
if it had not been for the fire - poor devil he is fast
asleep & seems unconscious of his late danger - what
a blessing to the weary, is sleep - the most
mysterious of natures phenomena & yet the best to
man -
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Wetherstones
29th June 1862 Weather much milder than
it has been the past few weeks - spent a deal of
time in repairing our works - so as to be better
prepared for a renewal of bad weather - we in
consequence, did not get much gold we had 31/-
each after paying all expenses. Im been a very
poor spirits, the life Ive led & am leading is affecting
me not only physically but mentally - sometimes
I feel after a continued series of disappointment
as Ive experienced lately I shall go mad - Poor Ned
is doing nothing but working hard with no returns
& Im sorry to say or think he is getting addicted
to vices that I fear are having had their origin
in necessity - I have implored him often, whatever
is the consequence to refrain from gambling in any
shape or form - this thing itself, makes me regret our
ill luck the more - for if we could leave this place &
go somewhere he might be freed from his present
associations & change or refrain from indulging &
feeding the vice, gambling is like drinking, but worse it is a
growing evil - & let it get firm hold of a man
happy is he who is ever released from its degrading
influences - Monday night, went to the Debating
Sty – subject - "Are the Nt States of America justified
in going to war with the St States" - the debate lasted
thro 10 pm when it was settled to the satisfaction of
many that they were - the question was very
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Wetherstones
one sided - the Southerners being badly represented it
proved to me however justified they might be - that the
usual audience are not satisfied from convictions of
their own - but are led by any one possessing
a very moderate share or oratorical power & so they
vote without thinking over the subject, for the side
best buttered & easiest swallowed - Thursday &
Saturday nights I spent at the "Blue Jacket" Deloree
pleasently after a fashion - Spent the day reading
never left the tent - I wrote to Fred & also to Malander
There is one thing causes me great anxiety & that is I find my eyesight is getting very defective – some days I can hardly read & if I read or write for an hour or so in the evening, I suffer severely - my head swims & aches & the letters get quite indistinct - I fancy it is the continual glare of light arising from the suns reflection upon the snow - Ive read very little lately - from the cause God grant me my sight - or farewell these visions Ive pictured to myself in the future when I should discontinue my present life & turn to other more congenial to my tastes when an appointment should arrive -
6th.July 1862 Fine weather but bitterly cold & frosty - Made £3.0.0 each this week - but out of that we bought a set of sluice boxes 24 ft long as our cradle but a deal of fine gold - Monday night I went to the Society, subject, which did the most good for Society the "Minister or the Schoolmaster"
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Wetherstones
much to my disgust the subject was handled in such
a disrespectful manner & the character of the Minister
treated in such a tone of levity that I wasnt surprised at
the Schoolmaster gaining the palm - its astonishing
to find a lot of intelligent men so antagonistic
against anything appertaining to mans spiritual
welfare. With the exception of last night when
I paid the "Blue Jacket" a visit in company with
Ned & my mates, I spent in the tent, reading
when my sight permitted, it snowed all night &
to day every thing looked so dreary & gloomy - that I
find my spirit affected with it. I wrote a long
letter to Jim Hamilton to day -
13 July 1862 Weather beautiful & fine - the sun shining bright all day - & yet intensely cold Im sure it must freeze about 20 hours out of the day for everything around is frozen up, our Dam & Mill - with water & tail races all choked up with ice - the water holes & springs Etc - we have to take an axe to chop the ice when we want water for culinary purposes - we only worked two days of the week Monday & Saturday, just one Machine of dirt, which fortunately turned out well - giving us £1.2.6 each after defraying expenses every body is idle - passing away time as agreeably as possible under the circumstances seems to be the order of the day, sliding - & playing snowball
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cardplaying & drinking - the billiard & Concert & Dancing
Rooms are filled night & day - but I observe
very little money spending - Its amusing to visit
the township & hear the criers & bell men going
about praising the places of amusement they
represent - the most attractive places are
those which hold out the luxury of a fire -
Ive been laid up with chilblains. I can scarcely walk or sleep for pain. Ive had to wear old boots with pieces cut out of the side, for many a day, in other respects I enjoy glorious health. In fact since Ive been in NZ Ive not felt the slightest effect from my hardships - Its been a cursed place for many - for Ive seen fine strong men since I lived here, cast down, broken in health & vigour for the rest of their days. Ive had so far a marvellous constitution. I ascribe it to my commencing & getting enured to what would appear incredible hardships - when I was a mere child - so my system has grown to meet the requirements of the life Ive led - pains, rheumatics, cramps & such like are to me unknown - whereas when a full grown man who has had the comforts & luxuries of a home commences on such an occupation as a gold diggers, he soon breaks down & begin to show signs of decay - I received a letter from Dight, on Tuesday, he is still unwell complains of the climate Etc - I wonder what hed say if he had to live in a small thin calico tent
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Wetherstones: pig hunting
without fire - I guess hed cease to grumble at his
present life if he had to live a week with me
I visited DeLorees last night got into a scrape
about their girl - such a lot of chaps are smitten
with her that Im looked upon by many with
antipathy, & difficult is my task sometimes to
stop their remarks - things are different in such
a place as this in comparison to a settled town
men here as in all society where there are no
women [are] wild & lawless more like brutes
when their passions are aroused than human
beings with a spark of divinity in them -
I spent to day pig hunting near the Tuepeka River had a long chase tracking one over the snow, at length got in sight of a fine boar - he showed fight but Castor got hold of him & we cut his throat, carried the two hind quarters home - we were very tired on reaching here - I went out on Thursday but after travelling many miles & losing ourselves in the bargain without meeting any signs of pigs we came home much disgusted - to day I travelled bare footed over the snow thinking it would cure my chilblains
20th.July 1862 The weather overhead has been beautiful, the sun [shining] brightly - for some 3 or 4 hours a day & then it commences to freeze & everything underfoot gets as hard as stone. We were four & a half days idle in consequence of the frost
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it thawed a little on Friday & we managed to
sluice a Mill of dirt that we had puddled last week
it yielded us 3 oz 10 dwts - which was very good for
the quantity of dirt we had washed for it - it was
just enough to pay expenses - & give us £1.0.0
each over - not bad considering we are frozen up
like some Arctic Explorers in winter time -
My leisure time has been spent in a variety of ways – snowballing - pig hunting - & going over the mountains for firewood - sometimes reading & writing - very little of the latter for I find my eyes wont permit me to indulge in my favourite recreation - & my feet with chilblains has prevented me enjoying out door or open air exercise so much as I would like - Monday night I went to the Debating Society,) found many had left, we mustered nearly 200 members some weeks back, now we are about 45 - next week I suppose there will be less.) no subject was discussed all business - it was proposed & carried that we should change our programme for the ensuing quarter instead of debate, have Essays from the members & at their conclusion any thing that had been stated in them that seemed objectionable - to be subject to criticism & discussion - Twelve essays are promised by members - I was induced at the solicitations of several members to become one of the number - I felt thoroughly incompetent for such a task
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especially when a man has to depend upon his own
brain for matter - there being no such thing as a
Library on this place where to gain a grain of
information upon any subject - Ive spent hours
in pondering over in my mind what to compile
an essay upon - my knowledge is too limited
to enter on any particular branch of Literature
Science & Art - from memory - however I purpose
writing what I do know & what I think about
many subjects - On the interest Literature Science & Art
exercises upon mankind - I purpose dividing my subject
under three heads, L.S & A with as many remarks as
possible upon each & wind up with their application
rather an *univer[s]al subject - but one must be
guided by circumstances - on such an occasion I
made a comment, a day or two back & have
gathered, arranged & partly written & finished my
remarks & ideas upon Literature. Ive not gone
into or alluded to any particular author or writer *&
Confined my self to the general importance & effects
a study of the higher branches of literature & pursuit
of literary habits affords, combined with the pleasure
such tasks engender - I found all this comparatively
easy. Science & art will give me a pulling up -
Ive found time to visit DeLorees three or four times this week - Mr & Mrs White are living with them at present singing for food & drink - I met him several years ago - when he was considered
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the most accomplished singer that ever visited Australia
he used to be the principal tenor in the first
Christy Minstrels that appeared in Europe & America
when I heard him first he had a splendid rich
full toned Tenor Robusto voice - he is now a poor
miserable broken down drunkard, lost his voice
at least he professes to sing - & sometimes he even *un
electrifies one sometimes with a few bars of most
ravishing sweetness - since Ive been here he has
taught me several songs - we have sung several
times together - he was very ill & hard-up a short
time back & a concert was got up at which I sang
for his Benefit - some £30 was made by it & it was
thought he would leave this colony & return to his
own home - but he got the money & was never sober
until it was done - I enjoy his company much
he has travelled all over the world in his professional
character & is full of anecdotes & comic stories Etc
& tells them with that easy well bred air that
denotes the gentleman by education - Ned is
like myself, doing nothing, frozen out. I hardly
know how his mates live - by their wits I think!
I spent several hours with them to day at their
tent, one of them is a well informed fellow - who has
received a University Education (Dublin) but Im
sorry to say is a confirmed Atheist - & does a
deal of injury to those, less informed he comes in
contact with - we had a long argument to day
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he quotes Hume & Hobbs - Volney, Voltaire & Payne
I retorted with Locke, Bacon, Abercrombie & Watts
& other authors whose names have escaped my memory
he does not believe in the immortality of the soul
on this subject I was more than his equal - for I
do, & I left him without a leg to stand upon –
he then abused & denied the authenticity of the Bible
the fulfilling of profecy seemed to affect him most
I alluded to one of his own favourites Volney, who in his
Rise & Fall of Empires does more to prove the truth
& entire fulfilment of many proficies than
any other traveller - I trust I was eloquent
enough to overthrow some of his flimsy &
superficial arguments - based upon principles
not proving – pure hypothesis.
July 27th.1862. The weather changed on Monday thaw set in released from bondage - all suspended nature - we managed to get or do a fair weeks work realised about 10 oz of gold - giving us after all expenses about £5.0.0 a man - We were humbugged by Montgomery the proprietor of the Mill) with reference to a dray belonging to the plant - which we use & supposed belonged to him, it appears the dray belongs to another party who claims it, we dont intend giving it up, so a summons was served upon us for its value - & we are to appear at court on the 29th inst - unless we come to some arrangement I waited upon Mr M. to day & have offered to buy the dray, on consideration of his lessening the rest of
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the Mill - he is to give us an answer tomorrow & in
the meantime we must try & see what the person wants
for the dray - it was borrowed by Mr. M. in the first
place & the owner has been absent from here several
weeks - Troubles never come alone – I received a long
letter from my sister Mary that has caused me
much pain & uneasiness – she informs me they
are reduced to the most extreme poverty so
humiliating that she has borrowed £5.0.0 from
Dr Droyer - who has attended her through an
illness extending over a period of two years gratis.
My God it drives me mad to think my mother
& sisters should be suffering such poverty & have
to struggle in such a manner, while there is
a Father & three grown up sons in health &
strength living - & not one of the lot able to
assist them - Mary says Fred only allows or
gives mother, out of his wages, just enough & barely
what keeps himself - Mary, poor girl is a poor
delicate slender girl, but from the tone of her letters
possesses a fine high spirit & considerable intelligence
that cannot stand long under such circumstances
I rack my brain with all sort of designs
& schemes to thinking of some remedy for our
domestic trials & difficulties - & have come to the
conclusion to try the Machine about two months
longer - in that time If the weather holds good, I
trust to be able to save enough to take me
back to Victoria, where Ill again try for some
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employment in Melbourne & live at home & or suffer
with them I would sacrifice life itself so they
would be benefited & be happy - I wrote to Mother
& enclosed £3.0.0 in the letter, all I could scrape
together, lived the last week nearly on dry bread
in Consequence - My Essay is not one line the
more advanced since last week - my mind being too
much harrassed & unsettled to collect
or arrange an idea properly - I went to see
my brother Ned yesterday afternoon, had tea with
him - he has got into a very devil may care kind
of way, in consequence of our long continued
ill luck - they got to work last Monday but
did not make enough out of their claims to
pay their weeks expenses - I have not left the
tent to day except for a few minutes up to Johns
tent (one of my mates) spent the day mending
my clothes & reading, the latter not much, my
sight still being very weak from the effect of
the snow - I hope to heavens it *Just soon
recover it again -
August 3rd 1862 Weather moderate - the snow all vanished from the vallies, but we had another heavy fall last night, that has given everything a sepulchral look again - I have often heard & read descriptions giving one a glorious idea of winter in the old country
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they can take it with all its beauties - I dont
care if I never see snow again - We lost no
time this week - made about as much as last
week say £5.0.0 but we had the dray to pay
for which took £2.10.0 each to purchase however
its now our own property & we pay 7/6 per week
less for the Machine - in consideration, so we
had only about £2.10.0 each to draw after all
I wrote to my sister Mary & sent her £2.0.0
leaving me again without money - One of my
mates & I left home early this morning & went
in the direction of the Molyneaux River, (a
large river running nearly Nth & Sth through
Otago nearest point from here being some 20 miles
it runs between high & rocky mountains above
this point & little is known of it, a perfect Styx
I suppose some day when the country gets better
explored something more about it will be known)
We crossed Munroes Gully & got upon the mountain
fell in with a little copse of timber & after a
tiresome beat up we at length got on the tracks
of some pigs - we came in sight of a fine young
boar & fired a revolver at him which fortunately
struck his leg - we had no dog - but after running
& sticking to him we got up to where he had *perched
he showed fight but it was no go we quickly
cut his throat - & cut him up in two sides
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after which operation we trudged home tired out &
weary, about 4.P.m when I got here, however we
have meat for a week - its astonishing the quantity
of meat a man can eat here in winter, the same
quantity in Victoria would disgust me - I often
take a large piece of suet & some bread for my
dinner to work - Monday night - Mr Neil
delivered his essay (& a very fine one it was the
subject being "On Influences" - I must begin in
earnest about mine or I will be behind hand - I went
to the township last night - met a great many
acquaintances - visited DeLorees staid chatting with
Mrs DL & Julia till 1.30 this morning - such fun
Mrs D is as jealous as possible of Julia - & the latter
is of her -
[Sunday, 10 August 1862 (likely)]
August 11th 1862 Tolerable fine weather
during the week, made £4.10.0 aman - we broke
our Beam again - but we managed to buy one
from Groves -(who has given up puddling) for
£5.0.0 an unlooked for expense - Neds party
is broken up. Ned is fossicking & prospecting about
I want him to bring up his tent & pitch near
mine - he doesn't like the idea - too far for him,
from the Township & where there is any life
he never seems happy only when he’s in a place
of amusement or a Billiard Room. I remonstrate
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but he takes very little notice - poor fellow he
has become quite callous of his lot - I long for
the time when we shall leave this cursed country
when perhaps under different influences he may
become changed in some of his habits -
Monday night a young fellow named Jones delivered an Essay on Self Improvement - a very good one - but from some remarks he made with reference to the harmonising of Science with Christianity led many to imagine he was a sceptic on Biblical writings - some of the members rose & opposed his views at its conclusion - when a very animated discussion arose lasting till nearly 12 Pm On Wednesday night in the same Erection a Tea Meeting was held, the second thing of the sort ever got up in this locality. The place was crowded Jones & I went in to hear some addresses that were made after the tea was over - Revd.Mr. Vicers spoke & he alluded to our society - & damns the institution, but not altogether the manner in which certain subjects were discussed especially any thing bordering on the Theological he at length commenced to condemn Jones Essay & was rattling away unconscious of our presence when Jones whispered he could not stand to be condemned so publicly as it appears
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Vickers had misunderstood the application of Jones's
objectionable remarks - one would infer both Jones
& I were atheists from what he had referred to -
Jones is a well educated man & has fine oratorical
powers superior to any private individual I ever
met with - he spoke well & eloquently for about
twenty minutes, before any in the place began to
think the whole affair was out of place on such an
occasion - after that such a hubbub occurred, we were
at length forced to retire highly amused at what
we heard & seen - seen such a collection of character[s]
for such a place that will never be effaced from
my memory - women there known to be prostitutes
serving out tea & men, some well known low
brutes such as members of the P.R. keepers of
Gambling Hells, dance rooms Etc -
All my leisure hours Ive spent in writing & compiling matter for my Essay, - my great drawback or one I feel effects me most is my limited Grammatical knowledge - I must really have a go in this, as soon as possible [Sunday, 17 August 1862] August 17th 1862 Been nice weather, but bitter cold & frosty at nights Worked very hard this week - four nights we worked sluicing until 10 pm made nearly £7.0.0 each not so bad if I can continue to do so for the next 3 months I shant care & there is every prospect of doing so - I am
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now out of debt & have got a few new pieces of
clothing - I have had very little spare time on
my hands this week - been glad enough to go to
my bed as soon as I got home - Its not pleasent
sitting up without fire such cold weather as this
so I read in bed or watch the Rats in
thousands playing about the tent - or ferociously
gnawing away at the Box we keep our vituals
in - many times they have succeeded in eating a
hole right through the boards which are 1 inch thick
no one would credit their numbers & voracity
unless they had seen them - they have driven
& frightened many out of their tents this winter
Ben Barnett the chap Im living with is
terribly frightened of them - He has made a
long sack in which he rolls himself up in at
night - they are very distructive - last week I
bought a flannel shirt & left it on a stool, when
I got home I found it found in shreds fairly
eaten away - I suppose they used it for nests
they are rather intellectual, by the bye,
they often run away - with Books & Newspapers
discuss & distroy matter to an alarming extent
This morning Ben & I went over the hills for Firewood - we had made up a large bundle each & were returning & had to cross a rapid running creek on a fallen trunk of a tree, when I slipped my footing & went sprawling into
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the water. My bundle seemed to stick to me & kept
me under the water longer than I liked - I was
near being drowned when I caught hold of an
overhanging bough - I was wet through - Ben
lent me his drawers & one of his shirts &
fasting my wet things to my bundle made the
best of my way home carrying my load - I
vowed Id never go for firewood again while
I had money to buy a bundle in the township
on getting home I found my wet things so frozen
coming over the mountains, I could not pull
them asunder without thawing them at the fire
Victorians would hardly credit such a thing
could take place in the course of three hours
August 24th 1862 The weather has been very unsettled, but the changes have taken place generally at night, so hasnt hindered us from work excepting making everything very dirty & disagreeable we made £7.10.0 aman this week the best weeks work Ive had for many a long time & a prospect of it continuing - On Tuesday news arrived on "Wetherstones" of the discovery of a New & very rich Gold field situated far into the heart of the country - some 70 or 80 miles from here on the Banks of the Molyneaux River it appears two enterprising men (diggers) named Hartley & Riley left here some 6 months ago on a prospecting tour, they travelled and
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prospected over many parts of the island that no
European had ever traversed before & succeeded in
finding gold in many places but in none so rich
as on the Banks of the River Ive named near its
supposed source - they arrived in Dunedin with
86 lbs (Troy) weight of gold - they also claimed
& it was granted them, the Government reward
of £2000.0.0 for the discovery - considering
the thousands of diggers on these fields who are
doing nothing, it isn't a matter of surprise that
thousands made preperations for starting away
at once - I never heard tell or witnessed such
an Impromptu Rush or Exodus in all my
Ten years experience of gold digging in three
days time I dont think 200 men were left on
these diggins - to people who know nothing of
diggers & what they are capable & have the
pluck of doing - it would appear madness to
go to such a place, at such a distance so
unprepared - & trusting to luck as many have
done & are doing still - It is supposed at present
to be impossible for a dray or any conveyance to
get there from whatever point they start from - every
man that left here carried nothing but provisions
in the shape of Biscuits - with a pair of Blankets
a Tin dish & a pick & shovel, the storekeepers are
making great exertions to get draymen to accept
cartage @ £120.0.0 per ton is freely offered - many
a load has started & the drayman has no idea
what road to take or how he is to get there -
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how he is to proceed, the road to where the diggins
is situated is supposed to be the roughest part of
Otago, over mountains - & ranges Etc & at this
time of the year they are covered with snow
there is sure to be a lot of suffering -
Ned & Jack Heywood (Sydney Jack) called at the Mill on Thursday morning, to bid me good bye - on asking them to show me what they were starting upon I found they had £1.0.0 between them & about 25 lbs of biscuits with a pound of Butter & a little tea & Sugar - this is all they had to start away for a place where no provisions are to be had for money - scarcely enough to last them until they arrived there I gave Ned £2.0.0 & made him buy a lot more biscuits to take with him & also a quarter of Mutton & so they started - they are good walkers & I dare say will be there by this time - although their swags were heavy they were nothing in comparison to some Ive seen many a man started from here with a load of 70 & 80 lb weight, no joke this to carry over hills & mountains, that only a Swiss or an inhabitant among the Andes or Himalayas can have a conception of - I sincerely hope the rush may be a good one, for the sake of those that have gone, but for my own part, I wish
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Hartley & Riley had been to Jericho for the next 3
months - here are we just struggled through the
worst part of the winter & beginning to do well &
a chance of continuing the same - when this rush
takes place & upsets all my plans - my mates
have got the fever - & want to give up the Machine
& start - last week we could have got £30 each
for our working share in our Machine & now
we could not get 1s/d -. We went to buy horse
feed last night at the township & could only
get, as a great favour, at a most exorbitant
price enough to last our horses 4 days –
heres a pretty go! - horses cannot live here this
time of the year on what they pick up - let alone
do any work with them - One of our mates
Joe Poulter at once stated his decision to start,
he left this morning with Dowding & Pickett –
John & J McEwan the owners of the horses wants
Russell & I to stick with them at the Machine for
a few days while the feed lasts & perhaps by
that time some news may arrive from the rush
that will induce us to remain longer - & we
may be able to buy some more horse feed, we
agreed to this - they promising - if the rush is
as good as it is represented, to sell one of
the horses & with the other we will pack & all
go mates together & be off - to this we have
agreed, to day - Monday night I went to
the Society likely to be the last meeting that
will take place - Gordon delivered his
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Essay on the "Gigantic Monsters of the Pre-Adamite
World" the matter all borrowed Im sure, from
Hugh Miller with general ideas of Cuviers
a long discussion ensued - when Jones
again made himself very obnoxious by his
sceptical remarks on the Harmonising of Science
with Christianity - I happen to know that he
is not at all sceptical, but strongly impressed
with the belief in every instance of what he
professes to condemn, he does it simply for
debate & to draw a set of people connected
with the society out - On leaving Gordons last
night (where we buy our horse feed) my mates
being inclined for a spree - we all went into
DeLorees - stayd there till 2 Am this morning
John got as drunk as a Lord & bringing him
home it came on to snow - & he wanted to
lay down & have a sleep - Joe & I were the
only sober ones so we carried him home
on our backs - I went down the township
this afternoon - I never saw such a deserted
place in my life - I walked into, Im sure
50 deserted tents & places in some I found
blankets on the beds & books & in one a
Boiler with a piece of Beef in it on a
fire or what had been a fire. I gathered
a lot of Books together - from places I visited
I could get any amount of diggers tools - I
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spent about two hours at Gordons - singing
some sacred music the first Ive heard for
a long time - I received a long letter from
Mother this week & one from Fred, all well
but complaining bitterly of their poverty -
August 31st Tolerable fine weather during the week - We worked the Mill until Wednesday when our horse feed being finished we were compelled to give up. On dividing we found we had made £3 – each, very annoying to have to give up such a good paying concern - We turned the horses out on the hills but after an hours feeding they returned to the Stable for their feed, it seemed such a sad sight poor beasts to leave them to their own resources My mates sold Sam to a storekeeper for £80.0.0 who purposes putting a swag on his back & going to the rush with him - We all remained very undecided about going to the rush until Friday spending the two days previous looking around to find a sluicing claim that would pay us to work - without the use of horses - we tried several that I fancy would have payed us but somehow the desire increased within us to go to the rush - so we made up our minds to go with the stream - J. Russell is the only one of our party who intends to
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remain behind, we left him the sluice boxes & pump
with other articles - that we could not sell - in fact
no one is left here who would take them as
a gift - Russell is one of these steady going
old "coaches" & intends to get up a company
or party & try & get a head of water & sluice
the ground we have been engaged in puddling
if he can do so, it will pay him very well
Our new party consists of J.McEwan, J.Dewar (the owners of the horses) myself & an old Bendigo acquaintance named, Nelson - we intend taking a good load each on our back & pack "Captain" with tent & tools - some flour & oatmeal We have spent the last two days in making preperations for starting in the morning - but owing to a foolish thing Nelson did to day will prevent us going till the day after - the most useful thing to take with us is a cradle small light ones - Nelson saw me this morning in a deserted tent, as he thought & took possession of it - & brought it to my tent & left it - about an hour afterwards two policemen paid me a visit & I was accused of stealing the cradle. I told them how it came in my possession – however - thinking the receiver
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as bad as the thief I was taken into custody &
marched to the watchhouse - I sent for one or two
who knew me & after being detained for upwards of two
hours I was released & a warrant was issued for
Nelson’s apprehension - my mates in the meantime
hearing about it gave Nelson notice of what was up
& he was advised to hide in J.Russells tent till day
light to morrow morning - when we purpose to start
him on the road & at a certain point we will meet him
during the day - we have finished our packing - we
are taking lC of flour & lC of oatmeal, two cradles
four picks & four shovels - besides enough biscuits &
meat tea & sugar & other little necessaries for the
journey - I have met several who have returned from the
New Eldorado -(poor miserable barefooted objects)
they say it is a frightful country to travel over,
no firewood, & not a station or an habitation
where provisions are to be bought - they think there
is plenty of gold there & easy to be obtained - all Ive
seen purpose returning as soon as possible
their object in coming back is to provide themselves
with the proper appliances necessary for working
& living in such a place - most of those who left
here first have had to return - not being properly
provided with the means of remaining - I heard of
Ned from several - when last heard of he was on
the spot where the diggins are supposed to be
I wonder poor devil how he will get along, he was
so ill provided - I spent last night at Neils, in
company with the Revd Mr Vicers - a very nice gentleman
& one who has taken an interest in me, since I joined the D. Society
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he gave me a list of Books he advised me get & study
should I ever get settled down in any place a few
I name: - "Abcrombies Intellectual Powers" (I have read)
"Rogits Thesauras", "Crabbs English Synonims" "Watts Logic"
& "Gilberts Logic for the Millions", with many more -
I received letters per last mail from Victoria from my
couzins Lizzie & Harry, state things are very
dull on Bendigo - Lizzie poor girl is not well,
& that Isa King for some reason is not to marry Sarjeant
Enniss & also W. Edwards is again on Bdg. & is fooling
after Isa & they appear to be as friendly
as formerly - very singular - after what has occurd -
[Monday, 1 September 1862] Sept 1st 1862 Postponed starting to day, in consequence of a heavy fall of snow. I dread risking the hills while such weather continues - we paid 35/- for a bushel of oats this morning our swags are all made up & ready to start Nelson left at daybreak this morning - I rolled up blankets & things, & also 25 lbs of biscuits & some other necessaries this afternoon & went over the hills to a large rock on the Waipora Road where I promised to meet him - it took me nearly 3 hours before I could find him - poor devil he was half dead with the cold, being out in all the snow storm. I advised him to make for Lanes Restaurant for to night (a sod hut built on a most desolate hill top on the Waipora Rd cold, bleak, place - from where the travellers turn off
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to go to the Dunstan Rush (as the diggins are
called) if he didnt he could not survive this night Im sure
it was 4 pm when I got back - cold, wet & miserable
after a good tea at my mates tent I felt all right &
came to my own lonely one. I forgot to mention
my tent mate Barnett left for the rush 3 days
ago leaving me in debt of £3.0.0 besides having kept
him the last month in food - this is my last
night on Wetherstones - nothing very pleasent
occurring since my sojourn on it to render it a
difficult matter to leave it – or endear it
to my memory - except some very pleasent people
Ive made acquaintance with in it - who I dare
say I shall meet again, where I am bound for -
Manuherikia} Copied from a Pencilled Journal kept on my journey to this place, daily - [Tuesday, 2 September 1862] Sept 2nd 1862 - We left Wetherstones this morning our party consisting of J.McEwan, John Dewar, & myself we had each a good load on our backs – fully weighing 56 lbs each - I had 40 lbs of flour altogether we think we have a months provisions with us, except flesh meat which I believe is to be bought at a station near where we are bound for, our horse, "Captain," is loaded with about 200C of things, including 2 Cradles & a lot of provisions We started at 10 Am, the weather very unsettled, it took us fully 2 hours to rise the hills, the ground very slippery and spongy, on reaching the hill top we were nearly blinded with a cold sleety hail storm which blew in our very teeth, we sheltered behind some rocks for about an hour, without
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unloading our horse, the only shelter we could find –
not a tree or bush to be seen as far as the eye
could reach - we at length started benumbed
with cold & wet through - reached Lanes
restaurant at about 3 Pm, having only travelled
(as the Crow flies) some 3 miles from our starting
point. We found upwards of 200 people here, all
weather bound - some going up & some coming down
from the rush. We unloaded & gave our horse the
last feed of oats he is likely to get for some time
& turned him out to pick up what he could with
a lot more half famished looking animals, it was
pitiful to see them the weather was so cold & the
grass partly covered with frost, they could not leave
the place where we left them - we entered the hut
built of cut sods & Roofed with canvass, about
5 feet high by some 30 feet long & 12 feet broad with a
large fireplace at the far end, but alas! no fire in
it, the proprietor informed us we could make a
fire if we would go for some wood, somewhere
about 2 miles from here - three men volunteered
to go & until they came back I & others were in a
wretched plight, our clothes being actually frozen
upon us. I feel all right now, got my things dry
& we purpose sleeping here Im sure there is a hundred
people making preparations for sleeping in the place
imagine - ye City bred people such a quantity
of mothers sons in such a place - to pass the night
our beds are likely to be soft, owing to the floor b'g
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muddy. Ive seen many here I know, that Ive met under
somewhat similar circumstances in Victoria & about,
entered into conversation with some had long chats about
by gones days & comparing notes & observations about
rushes & places we have visited since meeting last &
all that sort of thing - I hear the rain coming
down it must be an awful night to camp out
Sept 3rd 1862 Rose early - anything but refreshed with my nights lodging - Went out after the horses found ours had strayd away in company with a lot of others we wandered about the mountains for some 2 hours without coming upon their tracks - at length we saw two tracks leading towards Wetherstones, which Jim pronounced to be Capts & Sams - the latter horse was the one we had sold, but fell in with us at “Lanes” enroute like our own - the two had fraternised & having in their mind the remembrance of their nice comfortable stable on Wetherstones they had agreed to return to it Jim followed & found them standing outside the stable he at once caught them & brought them back making them come the distance in a quarter the time it took them to do it yesterday - we at once loaded & in company with several other parties, we started about 11 am, all annoyed at our delay. Our track took us over a rough swampy country, & yet very hilly, came across several patches of scrub perhaps half an acre in extent, nothing occurred to break the monotony of our journey until we came to the Beaumont River a small tributary of the Clutha or Molyneaux, we had to descend a frightful looking hill to get into the river - the only way to get down
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to the bottom of the valley was by making the horses
jump from terrace to terrace, rather dangerous &
rendered difficult by the nervousness of the animals
who trembled like leaves & had to be driven by their
behind one horse got restles & dragged the bridle
from the man leading him & bolted, he didnt get
far ere he came to grief by doing some head over
heel kind of feat, distroying to some extent the
load on his back, but fortunately with none to
himself - I have always noticed horses in general
on dangerous roads care little to trust to themselves
but do things & accomplish tasks far more
readily when a man is with them, than otherwise
We camped here after fording the stream for about an hour, finding a little wood lit a fire & made a "Billy" of tea - we should have camped for the night at this spot, but the feed being so bad, that after a consultation it was agreed to push on to "Gardiners Station" some six miles farther where we were told good feed was to be had - it was nearly dark when we started, the moon peeping out gave us sufficient light to pick our steps across a long moor some three miles across, without exception the worst piece of ground Ive seen in NZ. the ground being covered with "crab holes into which the horses would sink to their bellies into. we came to a Creek at length that seemed to put a stop to us, it ran over a
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Tramping to Manuherikia
a flat which had been covered with water at no
late period, the poor horses without an exception
got bogged & sometimes we thought we should have
to leave them to perish - they were so knocked up –
it took us 2 hours to unload them & carry the
things on our backs to the opposite side - wading
through black slimy sludge - got started again
every one being in the worst possible humour with
each other - more especially those who had proposed
our nocturnal journey - no one had an idea of the
country we had to traverse that night or we should
have camped for the night at the Beaumont -
nearly 1. am next morning when we reached
Gardiners where we camped - & turned the horses out
they didnt commence to feed till daylight being so
exhausted - we found a number of people camped
here - 26 miles from Wetherstones -
Sept 4th. Being very stiff & tired this morning we didn’t feel inclined to hurry ourselves - out of the 6 horses who travelled in company with us but 3 were able to resume the journey to day it was 10 am when we left Gardiners Station which by the way is nothing more than a 3 roomed mud hut on about 10 acres of ground, fenced, & not a 10th of that cultivated - the proprietor has some cattle & a small flock of sheep running on the moors which he occasionally sells some from to the butchers on the diggins. The station is situated in a pleasent valley & to us miserable wretches it appeared like an oasis in a desert or wilderness - we noticed a great difference in the climate to day, much milder, our
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Tramping to Manuherikia
track lay over an indescribable country, rough broken
hilly & rocky ranges, many times perilling our horses
necks in making descents where had they slipped
would have been lost sight of down precipices &
gorges, our greatest annoyance was in crossing the
creeks, being much swollen through the snow
melting - we adopt a simple plan for safety
we carry with us a long length of strong whale
line & when the river is to be forded the firstman
starts with the line round his body & paid out
as he proceeds across, he on the opposite side then
holds the end or makes it fast & so we all cross
without being afraid of being swept away by the strong
currant - We camped, at another, so called, station,
kept by a man named Miller, a miserable hut
the homestead containing some 3 dirty rooms
in which his family lives, situated in a very
steep abrupt gorge - I went & bought half a
sheep from him, for which we paid £2.10.0
for it weighed 34 lbs at 1s/6d per lb, we found
wood here & good feed for the horses - so we
made ourselves snug with a good fire, & got hot
supper - pitched our tent & gathered a lot of
dry grass to sleep upon - determined to make
ourselves as comfortable as possible to make
up for our last two nights misery, it reminded
me of travelling in Victoria - great numbers are
camped near us, many I know some going up
& others coming down - we are continually pestered
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Tramping to Manuherikia
by those returning to give them something to eat. If we
complied with all the requests made to us yesterday & to
day our loads would be light ones ere now - It is very
hard to refuse starving men a morsel to eat, but
number one must be looked to - rather a selfish
doctrine - but under the circumstances, pardonable -
Sept 5th Very tired & knocked up, our journey to to day being over an awful hilly country, the path winding in & out among rocks & ravines, camped early after reaching & crossing the River "Teviot" at its junction with the Molyneaux, in crossing in company with others, one horse was washed off his legs, & carried in a few minutes into the big River, where he sunk with his pack on his back the man who owned him had been the road before & had returned & given £60 for the horse & was taking up a load of provisions to his mates on the new diggins, he had a narrow escape for his life, when the animal lost its footing he stuck to him till there was no chance of saving him when he had work to regain the shore - We were very sorry for him, & invited him to partake of us - we let him have enough to return to Wetherstones where he purposes returning in the morning, this & horses breaking their necks in coming down hills sides is a common occurrence the last 2 days - we have met several parties who have lost everything - such are a few of the vissisitudes of a diggers life in N.Z.
Sept 6th.1862. On rising this morning the horses
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Tramping to Manuherikia
were nowhere to be seen. We divided & went in opposite
directions & could find no trace of them until
some travellers informed us they had seen a lot of
horses going back. We at once crossed the river
& after a sharp walk caught up to them, we
had some difficulty in getting them over the
river again, when we did, we were not long in
putting their packs on their backs & making a
start. I believe there is pay able gold to be found
in this neighbourhood, we got the "color" in every
dish we tried from the gravel in the bed of the
Molyneaux, those who know anything of this part
of the country state, that the Molyneaux is
auriferous from its source to the sea - a
distance of 300 miles, I believe, in all its
windings - from this spot our way lay over a
level plain some 6 miles long by about 1 broad, the
easiest road we have as yet travelled - We reached
Capt. Baldwins Station by 2 Pm, situated in a
pleasent part of the country, after camping
for about an hour - we again got under weigh &
commenced to ascend the "Nobby Ranges" or what
is generally known by the name of the "Devils
Back Bone" - the path was very rough & rocky
rending it very dangerous & fatiguing for travelling,
our poor horses were terribly knocked up when
we camped the spot we camped is amongst a lot
of rocks which remind one of a lot of old ruins
the weather was bitter & cold snow laying on the
ground all round us. We had to brush it off some
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Tramping to Manuherikia
rocks ere we could prepare our bed - Mr DeLoree
& a large party I know are camped alongside, they
are returning from the rush - in consequence of not
being prepared with tools & provisions to remain, they
left the Rush yesterday evening & they inform us a
rumour was in circulation that a road for teams had
been found from Dunedin to the Dunstan & before many
days were over drays may be expected with provisions
it will be good job if its true, flour is not to be
had except in small quantities then at 3/6 per lb -
7th Up with the sun found our horses had been dissatisfied with their nights locale & had taken it into their heads to carry out the previous nights idea of returning, however after a walk of about an hour we overtook them fortunately they had kept near the track or we could never have found them amongst such a rough country without losing ourselves - We at length got started, the road not improving a jot the better or more easy to travel. I cannot discribe the road better than by saying that it appears to me a miracle how we managed to get to this spot – (the junction of the Rivers Molyneax & Manuherikia our destination for the present) - without either breaking our horses necks or our own - We had a little mishap which fortunately didnt end fatally that occured as follows, a packer with two mules had joined our party in the morning, & instead of them taking the lead, he brought up the rear - I was leading a horse, in front of his animals, the path way being only wide enough to admit of one beast travelling
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Tramping to Manuherikia
it at a time, we had arrived at a dangerous part of the road
where the path ran alongside of a nearly perpendicular hill
I had hard work to make "Captain" come along, he was
so frightened stopping every now & again when he had to
make a jump or steadily balance himself, this annoyed
my friend with the mules behind & struck my charge
with the whip which made him spring to the side of
the hill, the pack coming in contact with a projecting
rock made him lose his balance, when he rolled over
& over down the hillside which was covered with
rocks & Boulders - I had a narrow escape being on
the near side. I dont know how I got free, he must
have gone over me for I picked myself up, stunned &
bruised, my mates had rushed after the horse & reached
him just as he was trying to rise at the edge of a rock
which had stopped his progress, had he got further than
this spot nothing could have saved the beast he would
have gone into a foaming torrent below - we found
the horse unhurt, but the cradle was much damaged
& a bag of flour was broke but being in a very
strong bag not much was lost. I was in a devil
of a passion & rushed at the Muleteer - who stood
laughing at us & was rather insolent, which so angered
me I gave him a smack in the face which he seemed
inclined to return. I was just in the humour & was
walking into him, when some of the party parted us
but not before him & his mules got some rough handling
this affair delayed us about an hour - we reached
the Junction about 5 pm. to get to it we had to
descend a fearfully steep hill, at the top of which
we had a grand view - at our feet we could see the
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667
The Molyneaux Junction
the two Rivers winding their way at the edge of a plain some
7 or 8 miles in diameter which I should imagine had been
at some late period a Lake, now tis a level gravelly
plain surrounded on all sides, with mountains, more
especially towards the West & South where are situated
the "Umbrella Ranges", covered all the year round
with snow, before the Rivers reach the plain & after
leaving it they run through very rocky defiles, where
the water rushes & roars over rocks & falls in a
truly wild and sublime style, giving one a grand
idea of unformed or primitive nature –
one remarkable feature in this part of the country
is the great dearth of timber Ive not seen a tree
since leaving Wetherstones - nor do I
see the signs of any from this spot, the fuel we
use for cooking purposes is grass roots, sometimes
we come across a little patch of dry withered scrub
I have burnt more wood at a nights camping in
Australia than Ive done for all the months Ive been
in N.Z. this dearth of wood I believe is only confined
to certain parts of N.Z. Otago more particularly
for the North & South islands are full of magnificent
forests of very useful timber. We found a great
many people camped here, Gold being found on the
beaches of both rivers as good at this point as up
the Molyneaux 15 miles, where it was first found in
pay able quantities by "Hartley & Reiley" the prospectors
many I hear are doing very well, those who have
tools & a Cradle have nothing to do but to set to work
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The Molyneaux
& cradle the gravel from the beaches of the River, the
climate seems much warmer here than I felt it since my
arrival in N.Z. I may here state that on the way hither we met
two new acquaintances of some of our party, who have joined
our party, so there are six of us now in partnership -
Sept 8th.1862. We spent to day in unpacking our tools & cradles & putting them in working order, our biscuits all being done, we broke into our flour & made a lot of Bread (flour & water no yeast) I was the Baker we all went for wood managed to get a small bundle each, about two miles up the Manuherikia) cooking my loaves on a flat stone, by the evening we had everything ready for making a start in the morning. I heard about my brother Ned to day from a party just come from up the River, where he is at work - he has got a claim 15 miles from here out of which he has been making about 1 oz of gold a day, but owing to the scarcity of provisions, it has taken him half his time to hunt after provisions. I must try to find him on Sunday - he expects me & will be at the town- ship, that is forming at the other end of the plain, on that day
9th. Not feeling well this morning, I did not go from the tent, but finished several jobs left undone yesterday. Tom went to Lowes Station, 8 miles from here to buy a sheep for which he paid 1/6 per lb for, he discribes the Road as being a good, one & perfectly level along the Banks of the Manuherikia, he came across several parties at work cradling on its Banks & getting pay able ground, he shot two splendid wild ducks & was told at the Station, the Rivers were full of the
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Molyneaux Junction
largest eels in the world, his journey took him all day to
accomplish - the other four of our party went prospecting, they
got gold wherever they tried, but most of the claims are
taken up this, E.side of the Molyneaux, many are trying
to get at the other side, an enterprising young carpenter
knowing that this would be the case, purchased some few
boards he saw at a station some miles from here - & is
constructing a boat, which to me looks like a Box
I went to see it this evening as I mean to cross in it to
morrow - it is 8 ft long & 3 ft broad & 2 ft deep, square
at each end, he propels it with a paddle like an Indian
hundreds here who wont venture in it, but prefer going
several miles higher up where there is a small boat
that belongs to Frazers Station, & where the river does
not run more than 8 knots the hour - while at this
point just before entering the gorge it runs at the
best 12 an hour -
10th. T.Alexander & I started away this morning early, on a prospecting tour, he & I were the only ones who would venture in the Box. I took off my boots & Coat, determined not to be drowned without making an effort to save myself in case our vessel was capsized - We pulled the boat up the River some 300 yards & then entered pulled boldly into the current & by great exertions landed nearly ¼ of a mile below where we entered - for this accommodation we had to pay 2/6 each, he takes 4 over at a time - pays well tho a dangerous experiment for if cast over, I fear if there is a swimmer living who could escape being drowned in such a place - we prospected for about a mile down the Molyneax found plenty of ground that will pay well to work marked out two claims & returned home just as the sun was setting, the rest of our party where equally successful this side of the river, so tomorrow we will divide 3 this side & 3 the other, making this head quarters, where the horses are to be kept Etc.
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no II
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END OF JOURNAL 2
Sources
- ↑ https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/154842748 Alexander Amos and Co. ; completing sludge channel, Sandhurst, £5500
- ↑ The channel probably was 9 inches wide with 8 inch sides. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/87944965
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