Northern Star (Lismore, NSW : 1876 - 1954)(about) |
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Wednesday 26 February 1902
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After 50 Years.
(CotuinriMi from 18th Feririwry. )
HIE descent from tue rung« to Tabulam, where
the Clarence is crossed, was a very formidable ! bit of road in ita natural state 50 years ago.
The early teamsters, who had graduated on the ' Northern line. Morpeth to the Tableland, be stowed on it the nani-j '. Currabubla^* in re membrance of the similar " pinch " on the
Liverpool Itauge, a well merited tribute to th« , difficulties it pres-nted to m in. bullock and dray, and the ever present danger of capsize which frequently happened to the careless driver, alni with the not infrequent conse quence a broken pole, which had tlieu to be re placed by a stout ironbark sapling. The hill is now a coiitiiioiis side cutting affording an easy gradient. The river bed is now denuded of thu wealth of river oaks (Casuarinas) which for merly studded the water course, aud whose dark green foliage viewed from th» mountains on either side made a fine contrast to the lighter green of th« appletree, and might not inaptly bo likened to a huge serpent iu possession of the valley, the sinuous course ot the stream aiding tile resemblance. The trews, fri nu whatever cause, are now gone, and the deeply torn bed of the river bears witness to tim great floods which, commencing in 1S57. have rolled their
course down the valley of the Clarence, sweep away the cropsutid fences of the settlers, and at time* with loss of stock and life as well. The Hool of February, lNli:J, will long be remembered in connection with its disastrous effects nt Tabu lum. Constable Foy stationed there was swept away ami drowned. Several drays, loaded with merchandise, which wera camped on "The Flat " were .surrounded by the quick rising Hood, submerged, and the goods swept away, some of the cases being- found near Cirafton. mid other articles as fur down as Lawrence. It is estimated that tho velocity of the water ou that occasion on the Upper Clarence was not less than IS miles au hour, and iirticl » were seen passing Lawrence in a 1 hours, a distance by river of nearly "00 miles. lu passing it may be said that great damage was done by that Hood in the town of Grafton to store goods, the people being unprepared. The writer had the experience of being out for a day in that flood ruin, heading the creeks between Gordon Hrook und Coaldale to reach tho new line, and the aid of its bridgen to get home. At (I p.m Saturday evening the liver ut Grafton was but little above high tide level, ut 7 a.m. Sunday it was above all previous records. The rise of Hood water at Tabulum hus ever since been a matter of concern to the people along the valley of the Clarence. An iron lattice girder bridge on cylinders is now in course of erection over the river at Tabulum, about half a mile above the ford, and it may be assumed that tho girders will he placed above the re cord height of previous floods, otherwise it would not stand long The Kocky Uiver joins the Clarence just below Tabulam, and in the fork ol' the stream there is a small area of very rich alluvial soil, and somewhere not very far from where the buildings are must have stood Captain Pike's old statiun. In ISM'. Dick " liarrett was in charge ns stockman, an old identity who died only a few years ago at Graf ton upwards of !lü. At tho same period E. Saliien, now in Lismore ('.ld yvars of age), was stockman at Yulgilbar Heifer Station, and - Hamilton at the Plains Station. A considerable area of ringbarking was done at Tabulam in the time of the late Air. C. II. Chauvel, nearly ll) years ugo and subsequently, sud now there is a considerable area of cleared land in the direction of Emu Creek, but tho timber cjuutry on to tho Tableland is not much changed. Far more change js visible in the pastille. The old kan garoo grass has 'apparently vanished, aud the blady grass appears also to be gone. Tho latter is not much loss, the oilier is A geld bridge now sp ins lilack Creek, " the crossing" of which furnisiied a ghost story religiously believed by old settlers, but must at present be passed with just tho reference. The original road then on to Fairfield (now Drake) had some steep pulls, now obviated by deviations and side cuttings, which would have gladdened the hearts of tue old bullock drivers. Drake, which became a mining centre some ¡IO years ago, with the open ing of tho " Lunatic' reels, gives evidence that there is money still in the bowels of the earth, and the waggons carrying concentrates to the railway nt Tenterfield, are testimony that some of it in IjehiK won. ' Tlio tuuuiry Hereabout is full of minerals that will ybtboprotitably worked to the great ad vantage of tho State, and while on tho road, it was told me that encouragingde velopmeuts were in sight, and the mention of copper brought to mind au incident of picking up there what was unquestionably a good speci men of copper ore iu ISM. The residents there in that year were .Mr. George Wheatley and Mrs. Wheatley. I have a few reuiiuisceuses of the couple. The road improvements from Drake on totheSaudyHill have altered the line in many places, but here ami there the road still goes over the old track. Sandy Creek, which skirts the base of the Sundy Hill, has, in years ^>f settlement, changed its character a good deal. The ascent of the one time formidable lull which commences when tho creek is crossed, is now shorn of all its difficulties, and a series of side cuttiugs for a distance of about five miles, gives a road up which a buggy and pair may be trotted from bottom to the summit, without un duly distressing your horses. Glimpses nroseeu of where the old tracks existed, and gives a faint idea of what the grade was in those days. Some of the best scenery, including views of theUpper Clarence, is lost by shunning the old mountain crest, but the driver will be quite satisfied with the exchange. Wellington's Lookout still re mains u notable feature in the laudscape, a great mass of granite, b_ired by the storms of thousands of years ago, and if what I was told by one who had stood beneath it, that its im mense size is only realised when you are in close proximity to it. The granite rock is found on the Western side of the Clarence, between Tabulam and Drake, but when yon reach the top of the Sandy Hill it is all granite and the soil partakes largely of. this forma tiou. The country from Tabulam to the foot of the Sandy Hill, being almost without fencing on either side, gives a better idea of the old bush country than anything now to be seen on any of the great thoroughfares of main roads, which are fenced continuously wherever you travel. Scattered homesteads now stud the countryall the way to Tenterfield, allthelandiu the vicinity of the road being selected. Fifty years ago the only spots inhabited were Black Snnke'sCreek (where Mr. Colin M'Killop was in charge) and Barney Downs, six miles from Tenterfield.
Burney Downs was then used as H cattle station, lt had then, as now, lotB ot willow trees along the stream, and the road passed to the sonth of ' the homestead. In Captain Barney's employ
for many years, a» stockman, was Ned Griffin, and he was better known ns " Ruggy Ned." whom old Richmond River residents will recol lect. He could live and fight like an aboriginal and talk the language as one of themselves. Tenterfield has now 2004 inhabitants It then had. possibly, a score and a half. Its one hotel ('.Tlie George Inu") was ii very plain brick building, the landlord Mr. Henderson, the pro perty owned by the station. At the crossing of the creek on the road to Maryland was the Ten terfield store, in charge of Mr. M'Kechnie. who was probably also postmaster. The CP S. was
Mr. Wright, who had a cottage down in the j same direction. The homestead of the station i and an odd building or two constituted the town I nf Tenterfield, which was in fact owned by the
stution proprietary Whether Dr. Traill still was manager or Mr. Rosa or King I do not remember. Tenterfield nuder tne ownership of Mr. S. A. Donaldson aimed at a high standard for its wool and got high prices, their brand being SAD in diamond and M ontside. The station at this period boiled its sheep nn<l sent
the tallow down to Grafton for shipment. .Inst ' about that time one of the drays loaded with
tallow and skins capsized on the highest part of j
the Sandy Hill, and the casks were smashed into
stavesin theirdescent. The tallow was gathered ! np as much as possible and conveyed the re- I mainder of the journey in a tarpanlin, and was j
at Grafton re-melted and put into new casks. Station owners were at this time getting Chinese for shepherds. The disco very of gold had drawn
away lots of the old shepherds, and the souatters
were replacing them with Chinamen, ana a very
sorry substitute they proved. Knowing not a , word of English, it was a difficult thing to make them understand their duties, and sometimes it
happened that shepherd as well a» sheep were lost. They were sent an tn the stations in
batches of 12 and I'S, travelling; «nth the bullock tea ins. Camped for tile night somewhere be tween the Sandy Hilt and Tenterfield, with a couple of teamsters who had a squad of Chinese. I saw a fight take place early ia th« night. Sticks and knives were freely used, anti blood was drawn. One fellow, who had four belabouring him, fared badly, and would have come olf worse still had not the bullock-driver taken a hand with his whip, ami standing off, som uimlu the Chows devote their attention to save their own skins There w ls a lot of chatter, and the disturbance was quelled without thu interven
tion of uuy police. That trip was my first ! experience of bush entertainment and the j
elacticity of the accommodation where bed stead* and rooms were few, hut blankets, , 'possum rugs, and sucti accessories of bush life
plentiful, iu one *? shakedown " I was one of ] four, aud being the youngest, 1 got oue of the ¡ inside berths. lu those days you rode up to a station, and, without asking for accommodation,
pulled utf your saddle at once amt took the ' invitation to stay for the night as a matter of course, ti,jud oh! days, and a right good lot of men ami women, lo*», they were of that time, like old Sirs. Jl'Master, .Mrs. M'Killop (her daughter), Mrs. Joshua (irohs, Mrs. Rodgers, of Morven, Mrs Colin Fletcher ithen a young woman), Mrs. Duncan, Mrs. Coventry, and scores of others Travelling; through New Knglaud at that time were two Indian officers on furlough-Cuptaia Annesley amt, I think. Captain Bachelor. Two jolly fellows they were, and a great night was silent at Bolivia, where I they were. Limited loo helped to pass the
night, of which game 1 was ouly a spectator, ami took more interest iu the songs, Leonard Irby was excellent ia comic songs, and "My (j raudfather" aa rendered by him has never .faded from my memory, lt was altogether a
pleisaut few weeks' tour for me, with a good pony of tile old sort under mo that would jump any log in the bush, swim Hooded creeks, run down a dingo, aud go from daylight till dark. Lodged nuder hark roofs or the tarpaulin of a dray, it was all a jolly time, ami not the least interesting part being piloted through tho
; bnsh where there were no mads for scores of
miles Yes, there is ii big change to-day, ' much, no doubt, for the* better, but; not lu everything.
I Thus briefly have been jotted a few thoughts > of the road to Tenterfield as it washing ago ;
but the feeling frequently has been strong to tell something of the men of the time. In order { not to weary the resider those have been I excluded.
i I If any "old hand" \vould give some of his ' reminiscences we would gladly tiud the ' sluice.- Eli.J
I ST. ANIIUKW'S C. E. LIHUOKK.-We lean
that .Mr. W. Ernst Crome hus, in compliance ! with »nany requests, decided to accept tho posi i tion of Organist ami Choirmaster of St. Andrew'i Church of England. Lismore. Air. Croiue'i ahilities and record of successes as an organic and eoudnetor aro so widely known that i would he altogether superfluous to dwell upon ; ttiem here, suffice to say that the mansgemem I are very fortunate ia securing the services of an
artist so well known ia musical circles as Mr Crome.
I TUB OUKSSIXU CO.UI'KTITION AT ALSTONvir.t.i
Snow.-Tile Guessing Competition at Alston i ville Show for the handsome Singer sewing ' machine donated hy the Singer Company 1 attracted considerable attention, 504 gues.se; ! being received. The bullock was killed 01: I Friday and weighed in the preseticeof member; ! of the committee, when the exact weight wai I found to ho 75Ulbs. Five guessed the righi j weight, as follows :-,T. A. Noble (no address
given), J. A. Harrie, Lismore : W. Fenwick, Alstonville ; J. Donohue, Meerschaum Vale :
j and J, M'Lean, Ocean View Hotel, Alstonville. Three guessed 7ii>lbs., one guessed 7(10, one guessed 757J, three guessed 7.>7, four guessed 7151, two guessed 7<i2, two 75Ï1, 82 guessed over «OD, 17li guessed 770 to SOO, IOU guessed 751 to 77/i, (¡7 guessed 721! to 7,10, 43 guessed 70Ü to 72Ô. 27 guessed 700 and nuder.
CAI-K BVUON Lliiiiriiousu.-The splendid light which has recently been placed ou Cape ' Byron is now plainly visible from the Goouellu ¡ bah heights about two miles from Lismore. ! From the villa residence of Slr, F. G Adrian,
Iiolice magistrate, ou a clear dark ni*ht, I u spleudid view is obtained of the flashes ot
light whi^h, resembling sheet lightning in the Kastern sky, appear at regular intervals as the light revolves. As Cape Byron is ¡JO miles by rail Bud road, and at least 20 na the crow flies, tho light is indeed a powerful one to he visible I at this distance, ami is no doubt improving as
it gets into working order. We might add that ivsidcuts at Alstonville, Wollongbar and other centres also report that the light is distinctly
visible there.
DK.VTII AT THE GRAFTON COVVKNT.-At a quarter past SJ a.m. ou Friday (says tho ' C. Ex aminer') Sister Mary Alphousas, daughter of Mr. L. Hayden, of Goolmangar, Richmond River, passed peacefully away, after au illness of nearly 12 months. She had contracted a cohl, which settled ou the lungs, and for some time [last it was recognised that her eud was near. The deceased sister was fully prepared for death, aud though two hours before her de
parture she appeared as strong as she had done for some time, yet she passed away suddenly after she had engaged in prayer. lier mother had visited her a short tune ugo. Deceased, I who was bnt :t(5 years of »ge, cam« to the Graf I ton Convent about ll years ago, and for a por
tion of that period was at Maclean. She was I very zealons in tho work she had uudertakeu, ; and was much esteemed by tho Rev. Mother
and the Sisters. Her remains were brought to the church after devotions, and the f uuerul took place Saturday.
TUB RKOECT RIOT AT GIUJANDRA.-Con stable C. Bovard, well known iu this district, figured prominently in the above riot. A navvy named M'Phee was arrested hy the police when a whole gang surrounded them and attempted to rescue the prisoner, buc were unable to do so
as Coustuble Bovard aud another constable stuck to their mau and drew their revolvers. The Dubbo ' Liberal * says : " A buggy was held in |the King's name and the prisoner forced into it, when the navvies again tried to set their mate free. They commenced taking the horse out ot tbe'buggy, but were forced away by the poüee drawing their revolvers agaiu, when the prisoner was driven away to tue lockup. On Wednesday M'Phee was sentenced to three mouths in Dubbo Gaol, aud Kelly and Connors, two others from the line, also got three months each for helping the prisoner to resist. Addi tional police were telegraphed for. The three prisoners were brjught into Dubbo on Thurs day under escort of two constables specially dis patched to Gilgandra to receive them : and were duly lodged in the local gaol to serve their sentences-" (Constable Bovard was formerly a member of the Lismore Lancers.]
DEATH OK Mit. P. P. M^CAOTIIUH KINO.-A telegram received iu Sydney on Friday conveyed the news of the death of Mr. Philip P. Macar thur King, at Nundle. He had been missing since Wednesday. Search having been made his horse, saddle, and bridle were found, and subsequently the body was found. The deceased gentleman went from bis home ou Wednesday last to look for a lost horse. As he did not re turn a search was organised and Mr. King's horse, with saddle and bridle, was found same little time before the searchers discovered the body. Mr. King had not been very well of late, and had been nader medical treatmeut He
. was in til« Nundle district looking for conntty ' for his sheep. The deceased, who leaves a widow, but no family, was 07 years of age. and 1 a son of Mr. P G King, M.L.O.- and .Mr. B G. King, of Goonoo Guouoo. and Mr. J. L. King, (D.S.M.). of Sydney, are brotliera of tue deceased.
UAsixo-TuNTEjirTELni lijxLwjv -At Monday night's Council meeting, « letter was read from Mr. Lyne, Secretary of the Parliamentary Public Works Cmimittee, re the latter's visit to Lismore to take evidence The letter led to a long discussion. Whilst Aldermen generally were iu favor of the Connell assisting in the col lection of evidence, etc-, to place before the Committee, they strongly condemned the man ner in which the Coaneil had been ignored in the matter- They alleged that the matter had been passed roartd the district, and the Coaneil got it third handed. It was decided that the whole Council assist in obtaining evidence to place before the Cotaaaittee.