Thomas O’Shaughnessy’s Diary Part 14 1882

  1882

1 Jan 1882      New Year’s Day. P Murray and a young man, a relation of his, came. We went round and had a look at the work. They had some dinner. They started back to Cowra. John Hogan went to Mt McDonald. Bill Edments and I had a long walk around the Battery.

2 Jan 1882      Commenced a shaft 25 yards west of number 15 and bottomed at 2 feet. Started another shaft 15 yards west of number 16. Cool day.

3 Jan 1882      I walked over to the road that goes from Dick Newham’s over the Battery. I found a green stone, about 200 lbs. Mr Wilkinson, the Government Geologist, (says) that where this stone id found, it is almost a certainty to find the precious Opal. I carried about 100 lbs in a bag to the camp.

4 Jan 1882      Bottomed number 17 shaft at 9 o’clock. We commenced another shaft 100 yards west on the point. Great smoke coming from the direction of Cowra. Sultry day. Rain much wanted.

5 Jan 1882      Sinking all day. I got a letter from P Murray. Sloan’s paddock yesterday. Great smoke all day.

6 Jan 1882      Bottomed on one end of number 18 shaft.

7 Jan 1882      Bottomed number 18 ay 12 o’clock. I rode John Hogan’s mare to Cowra. Hot sultry day.

8 Jan 1882      Sunday.  At home all day. Real hot.

9 Jan 1882      I gave a cheque for nine pounds for rent. I started and got tto the Battery at 11 o’clock. Hogan and Edments started number 19 shaft. Hottest day yet.

10 Jan 1882    Working all day at number 19 shaft. Great heat today.

11 Jan 1882    Bottomed number 19 and commenced to sink number 18 deeper. Hot winds.

12 Jan 1882    finished number 18 and commenced to sink number 13 deeper. Rained a little this morning. We had two storms, but not much rain.

13 Jan 1882    Sunk in the bottom of number 13, four feet and then drove in towards the basalt an warm day. Got out a load of wash, and got another load of wash out of number 12.

14 Jan 1882    Finished at number 12 and commenced to get wash out of number 14.

15 Jan 1882    Sunday.  Bill Edments rode to Cowra and came back after dark. Old Jerry Grant buried today.

16 Jan 1882    I rode John Hogan’s mare to Cowra  and stayed all night.

17 Jan 1882    I started to the Battery early in the morning. Hogan and Edments finished getting wash at number 4 shaft. We commenced a new shaft, number 21, near the shaft with the old windlass on.

18 Jan 1882    We got number 21 shaft down 14 feet. Hot day. No meat.

19 Jan 1882    Bottomed number 20 shaft at 22 feet. Went through 11 feet of soft basalt and 11 feet of pebbles. Wev got a good prospect from the bottom. Hot day.

20 Jan 1882    Commenced another shaft 40 yards east of number 20 shaft.

21 Jan 1882    Went through 11 feet of soft basalt and 4 feet of pure white sand with a few pebbles in it. Great heat today.

22 Jan 1882    Sunday.  I stayed at the camp all day. I got a letter from P Murray. James Toohey in Cowra. T Slattery let the Royal Hotel to Richard Hennessy.

23 Jan 1882    Sinking number 21 shaft all day. P Murray and James Toohey came at sundown and stayed all night. They had a look around the hill before dark. Hot day.

24 Jan 1882    Bottomed number 21 at 30 feet. Could only raise 3 and 4 colours to the dish. Commenced another shaft above number 11 under the basalt.

25 Jan 1882    Sinking number 22 through soft basalt and sandstone.

26 Jan 1882    We went 12 feet through soft basalt onto coarse pebbles. James O’Shaughnessy came with the two horses and dray and brought the sluice boxes and pump.

27 Jan 1882    James rode Bill Edments’s horse and drove the draught horse back to Cowra. We bottomed number 22 shaft at 22 feet 6 inches. James Toohey rode Bill Edments’s horse, and James drove Murray’s spring cart with a man of Mr Toohey’s that came from Sydney.

28 Jan 1882    All hands fixing up the sluice boxes.

29 Jan 1882    Sunday.  James came, riding the old chestnut horse and leading Tom the horse.

30 Jan 1882    Mr James Toohey rode the old chestnut horse to Cowra. James carted 4 loads of wash to the sluice boxes in the Lachlan River. Harry, Mr Toohey’s man, and I fixing the sluice boxes. A thunderstorm and a little rain all the evening.

31 Jan 1882    James carted 10 loads of wash. Harry and I sluicing.

1 Feb 1882      James carted 6 loads and broke the front cross piece of the cart. Sluicing all day.

2 Feb 1882      James took the horse and cart to Cowra to have it repaired. Sluicing all day.

3 Feb 1882      Sluicing all day. Light showers of rain in the evening.

4 Feb 1882      James came with the cart. Mr Toohey came on my horse.

5 Feb 1882      Sunday.  I rode to Frank Lane’s on the Battery Creek and got some soft basalt and all colours. A light shower. Almost enough to lay the dust.

6/8 Feb 1882   Sluicing all day.

9 Feb 1882      James took the horses and cart to Cowra. Harry, Mr Toohey’s man, went with him. Mr Toohey rode my horse to Cowra. Hogan and edments and I took the sluice boxes and put them on top of the bank.

10 Feb 1882    At the camp all day.

11 Feb 1882    I rode Hogan’s mare to Cowra. Bill Edments came with me. Mr Toohey came from Canowindra. A telegram from Sydney to stop work on the Battery. I paid Edments £16.2.6 by cheque.

12 Feb 1882    Sunday.  Stayed in Cowra all day.

13 Feb 1882    Alf Chambers and I rode out to the stony ridge near Lockyer’s and prospected there most all day. We went across from there to Chambers’ place at the junction of Neila Creek and crushed some quartz but no gold. I got home at dark. James took the two horses and dray to the Battery to bring down the sluice boxes, pump, tools and tent.

14 Feb 1882    James Ousby, Alf Chambers and I rode out to Broula Hill on the Grenfell road. We pegged out two 20 acre leases for copper, taking in our old copper lease. We went from there on to the south side of the Grenfell road and found out that a lease of 40 acres had been pegged out by a man named Wray. We got to Cowra at dark.

15 Feb 1882    I rode up to Alf Chambers early in the morning and he and I came to Cowra. James Ousby posted notices at the Court House. Alf Chambers and I rode out to Broula Hill and put up good pegs and cut trenches at each angleof our leases. Got to Cowra at 6 o’clock.

16 Feb 1882    James Ousby and I rode to the old copper leases at the back of Jerry Grant’s. We got home to dinner.

17 Feb 1882    At home all day. I repaired the well. James got the piebald horse shod. Hot, windy day. Great dust.

18 Feb 1882    I met Alf Chambers at Dick Burke’s and Tom Lee was fencing. They promised to show us a place in the Lachlan where there is a good prospect. We went and had a look at the creek, Cowra end of Porters Mount. Home at dark.

19 Feb 1882    Alf Chambers, Dick Burke and Tom Lee and I met at Porters Mount and rode up to Barratt’s crossing place between Cudgelo and Wallangabba. We met Ousby/Ormsby there, so we pretended we were going to the Battery and rode up the river and waited until 6 o’clock and came back and tried one dish at Barratt’s Crossing and got a good prospect. We got home at 8 o’clock. Mary O’Shaughnessy went to Arthur Ingrey’s at Broula.

20 Feb 1882    Alf Chambers, Dick Burke and Tom Lee and I  rode up to Barratt’s Crossing and pegged out 4 men’s ground and prospected the ground with the dish. What we got was payable. I got home at eight.

21 Feb 1882    James and I made out four tenders for road work. I started to alter the sluice boxes that we used at the Battery. Alf Chambers assisted me. Margaret Walsh went in the coach to Grenfell and from there to Kikiamah. James went to a Ball at Ingrey’s at Broula.

22 Feb 1882    Finished the sluice boxes.

23 Feb 1882    James and I took the two horses and dray and the two sluice boxes and pump and tools to Barratt’s crossing. We got Pat Markham to come to take back the horses and dray.

24 Feb 1882    Fixing the sluice boxes and pump.

25 Feb 1882    We were sluicing about one hour.

26 Feb 1882    Sunday.  James and I at the camp all day.

27/28 Feb 82   Sluicing all day.

1/2 Mar 1882   Sluicing all day.

3 Mar 1882      Removed the sluice boxes.

4 Mar 1882      We prospected the ground but could not get gold deeper that one foot. Chambers, Burke and jack Ellis went home. Mr and Mrs Single came. Hough, a publican from Mt McDonald came.

5 Mar 1882      James and I at the camp all day. P Murray came. We agreed to go to the Battery if Mr Murray could get two more men.

6 Mar 1882      Alf Chambers, and Dick Burke, we all agreed to register the claim for 6 months. James went to Cowra.

7 Mar 1882      Mr Murray could not get any men in Cowra. James brought up the two horses and dray and we took everything to Cowra.

8 Mar 1882      At home. I agreed to meet Alf Chambers at Porters Mount tomorrow.

9 Mar 1882      James and I rode up to the mount and met Alf Chambers and from there we prospected along the creek but could not find any gold. We got home at 2 o’clock. A light shower of rain.

10 Mar 1882    James Ousby and Donald McDonald drove out to Broula to inspect our two 20 acre leases there. Mr Single drove me out in his buggy. McDonald inspected the mine. We got back to Cowra at 12 o’clock. We did not agree to McDonald’s terms. Chambers, Ousby and McDonald drove out to Howe’s public house.

11 Mar 1882    Chambers and Ousby came back at 4 o’clock. Mr Single came in. We agreed to let Mr Single in a fourth., he paying all expenses of taking up the land, and agreed to take £4,000 for the leases. Lewin the Chemist sold out today.

12 Mar 1882    P Murray and I rode out to Danzeil’s on the Carcoar road. We mat a man there. He took us four miles from there to show us a copper lode. It turned out to be only a green stone. No copper.We came back by Woods Flat and Everett’s copper mine, by Dick Burke’s to Cowra.

13 Mar 1882    Alf Chambers and I sinking a shaft at Porters Mount in the bottom of the creek. Pat Dwyer and another man sinking below us.

14 Mar 1882    Alf Chambers and I sinking. James sinking with Pat Dwyer.

15 Mar 1882    Sinking all day.

16 Mar 1882    James and I took the horse and cart up with the windlass and our tents. E Markham drove the horse and cart back to Cowra. Sinking all day through soft basalt.

17 Mar 1882    Bottomed our shaft at 28 feet on slate. James and Pat Dwyer not bottomed yet.

18 Mar 1882    James and Dwyer bottomed. James rode Chambers’ horse to Cowra and back. E Markham brought horse and cart, packed up and went to Cowra. Served Ingrey’s Promissary Note for 9 months. Interest to be paid when bill became due.

19 Mar 1882    Sunday.  Alf Chambers and I rode out to Toohey’s copper lease near Coota, and from there to our old copper mine on Waugoola Creek, andfrom there to our old mineral selection on the waugoola road, and back to Tooohey’s mine to Cowra.

20 Mar 1882    I sent E Markham out for Mr Single. Alf chambers and I partly arranged with Mr Single to select Toohey’s mine and the mine on waugoola Creek. Mr Single went to Bumbaldry. James and E Markham went to Canowindra.

21 Mar 1882    At home all day. I went with W.Ryan to Phillips’ office to make a statement that I was present when he pegged out a 7 acre lease on Mt McDonald, now disputed by others. James and E Markham came from Canowindra.

22 Mar 1882    At home all day. Alf Chambers came in the evening. Mr Single came after dark. We agreed to meet in Cowra in the morming.

23 Mar 1882    Mr Single came. Alf Chambers and I would not have anything to do with taking up the copper mine in Waugoola Creek. Mr Single in a great rage. James Ousby agreed to give Alf Chambers and me a third share in a copper mine on Cockatoo Keys.

24 Mar 1882    I rode out and met Mr Single and Alf Chambers. We went to Dick Burke’s. He went with us to a paddock of Mr Single’s to show us a place where he found some strong strains of copper. Mr Single promised us half the mine if we found a lode. I got home at 3 o’clock. James started with the two horses and cart for Canowindra. George Anderson went with him.

25 Mar 1882    Bill Edments and I working all day, putting up a booth on Mulyan race course for Thomas Walsh, publican, Cowra.

26 Mar 1882    Sunday.  At home all day. Mr Single, Mr Peebles and Mr Lloyd, Sydney mining speculators came. I promised to go to Broula in the morning.

27 Mar 1882    I got James Ousby to go to Broula in my place. Bill Edments and I finished the booth this evening. Mr Single, Mr Peebles and Mr Lloyd and McNamara’s, King’s Plains Ousby came from Broula. I stayed at the booth all night.

28 Mar 1882    I rode Challacombe’s horse to Cowra. Tom Markham took a load of grog down. We were kept busy until dark. A great sandstorm at sundown. A shower after dark. Edments and I stayed at the booth all night.

29 Mar 1882    We were kept busy all day. Bill Edments and I stayed all night at the booth.

30 Mar 1882    Challacombe’s dray came early. We loaded it. I rode up on horseback with Challacombe. Alf Chambers and I went to Ned Cantwell. He promised to show us a lode of some kind at Broula.

31 Mar 1882    At home all day. A match between Reckless and Good News. Good News won easily.

1 Apr 1882      Alf Chambers brought his spring cart. He and I and Ned Cantwell  went to Broula. The place he had taken to show us was the plan we had already leased.

2 Apr 1882      Sunday.  I rode down to the one mile to see John Tindall. He promised to show me where he had found a black mineral.

3 Apr 1882      I rode down to Tindall’s. He was too ill to go out.

4 Apr 1882      I rode down to Tindall’s. he could not go. Light shower this evening.

5 Apr 1882      At home all day. Heavy rain all the evening. Pat Walsh came from Kikiamah. Mrs Manley’s/Manby’s child died.

6 Apr 1882      At home. Raining on and off all day. Manby’s child buried today.

7 Apr 1882      Good Friday. At home. Great fog this morning. A cricket match on the flat. A good fresh in the river. All business places closed.

8 Apr 1882      Cowra cricketers beat the Grenfell men. Fine day.

9 Apr 1882      Sunday.  I rode down to Tindall’s. He could not find his horse. He told me where to find the place where he and some others were prospecting for a reef.

10 Apr 1882    The Cowra cricketers beat the Goolagong men today.

11 Apr 1882    I took all the things out of Murray’s timber shed and fixed up racks for galvanised iron. We got notice to leave the cottage.

12 Apr 1882    I finished fixing the shed for P Murray, and put in three cases of iron and a case of bedsteads. Fine day.

13 Apr 1882    Boarding the shed all day.

14 Apr 1882    Finished the shed. Mr Single went to Goolagong.

15 Apr 1882    Cleaned up the shed. W.Ryan and I went in his buggy to a quartz reef near Lockyer’s paddock. We met Alf Chambers near the reef.

16 Apr 1882    Sunday.  At home all day. Mass at the Chapel. Mrs Neville came from Sydney. Challacombe went in the coach. Dry weather.

17 Apr 1882    Chambers and I on horseback. Mr Single and James Ousby in a buggy to a copper mine at Cockatoos near Key’s place and inspected it. Alf Chambers and I came back down Neila Creek to his place. I crossed the Lachlan and through Campbell’s paddock to Cowra. The southern lights appeared tonight.

18 Apr 1882    At home all day. I went and saw J.E.Taylor about his house that Phillips is living in. he promised to give me the first offer.

19 Apr 1882    Mother came in the coach from Grenfell. At home all day.

20/21 Apr 82   At home all day.

22 Apr 1882    At home. Mr Single came to arrange about taking up Key’s copper mine at Cockatoo. We agreed to meet on Monday next. Adam Potts came. A.Lynch addressed the electors at T Walsh’s Court House Hotel. I sold the old cart for seven pounds.

23 Apr 1882    Mrs O’Shaughnessy very ill all night and all day. I wrote a letter to James at Canowindra  and sent three cheques by Adam Potts. Heavy shower of rain after dark.

24 Apr 1882    Mrs O’Shaughnessy very ill all night. Great rain during the night. Mr Single , Ousby, and Chambers did not agree about taking up Key’s copper mine. Cloudy day.

25 Apr 1882    At home all day. James Ousby brought me some specimens from the iron clad at Cargo. I saw David Moore with the black filly.

26 Apr 1882    I painted a bench and put up some shelves for P Murray. Father Curran came to have a look at my collection of fossils.

27 Apr 1882    At home. Commenced to rain at 12 o’clock.

28 Apr 1882    At home. Challacombe went to Grenfell. Speaking to Mr Single.

29 Apr 1882    At home all day. Paid Cowra Ryall for an advertisement. Challacombe came from Grenfell. W.Ryan sick in Grenfell. Miss Dale came to P Murray’s.

30 Apr 1882    Sunday.  At home all day. P Murray went to Sydney. Light showers.

1 May 1882     At home all day. Mr Single and Alf Chambers came in to c. We agreed that Alf chambers and I would go to the Cockatoo copper mine on next Saturday.

2 May 1882     Making a room in P Murray’s back store. Murray’s store took fire tonight. Tom Hill, the storeman, and I put it out.

3 May 1882     At home. Cloudy day.

4 May 1882     At home. J Ousby and harry keys came. Cloudy day.

5 May 1882     P Murray came from Sydney in the coach. Challacombe brought W.Ryan from Grenfell in a wagonette. I saw Mr Single.

6 May 1882     I rode up to alf Chambers’ place. He took a horse and spring cart. We went to Cockatoo copper mine.Wev took all of the timber out of the shaft down to the water. The copper ore ran into a red Gossan? At the water’s edge. We started home again. I got there at 7 o’clock.

7 May 1882     Sunday. At home. Mass at the chapel.

8 May 1882     I was putting up some shelves for Mr Murray in the store. Speaking tp Mr Single. Fine day.

9 May 1882     Working at P Murray’s. A telegram from James at Canowindra . four of his breakers knocked off work. He wants Mr Single over and money to pay the men.

10 May 1882   Putting up shelves for Mr Murray. Alf Chambers came in and brought a box of copper ore from Cockatoo copper mine. I saw Mr Single. He could not go to Canowindra before Monday next. I sent a telegram to James at Canowindra that I would be over tomorrow. I told Sweeney to meet me in Cowra on next Monday.

11 May 1882   I rode over to Canowindra and got to James’ camp at 12 o’clock. The old black mare is sick. Some kind of disease. They lose the use of their…. and won’t eat. Tom the horse getting over it. James borrowed a horse from Tom Callan in place of Tom the horse. James rode my horse and took Callan’s horse home. I had some tea with James and started. Got to Cowra at 11 o’clock.

12 May 1882   At home all day. I got a telegram from James for two napping hammers. Adam Potts came. Light showers of rain all day.

13 May 1882   At home all day. Alf Chambers took his horse and spring cart to Mt McDonald to work on one of his leases there. Thomas Walsh laid up with rheumatic gout. Fine day.

14 May 1882   Sunday. Hennessy’s pigs got in the back shed and ate a bag of wheat, some flour and potatoes. At home all day.

15 May 1882   Putting up shelves for Mr Murray. Adam Potts went to Canowindra. I signed a voucher for Mr Single for 120 pounds. I gave Mr Single a box of copper ore from the Cockatoo copper mine. I got one pound from Richard hennessy, Royal Hotel, as compensation for the damage the pigs did.

16 May 1882   Putting up shelves for Mr Murray. Got a bar of steel from Sydney. Lawrence cut off enough to make two hammers. Sweeney came. Patrick Walsh Junior married to Bridget Kennedy. Patrick McGrath married to Margaret Walsh.

17 May 1882   Putting up shelves for P Murray. Pat Fitzgibbon came from Mt Mcdonald.

18 May 1882   I finished the shelves. I took four picks to the blacksmith. I sent two napping hammers to James at Canowindra by coach.

19 May 1882   I took Murray’s spring cart and mare with tools and rations. I picked up Sweeney at McKellagats??, crossed Neila and passed Ormsby’s to the Battery. Camped on top of the hill at the old workings. We put up the tent.

20 May 1882   I left Sweeney at the camp and drove the spring cart to Cowra.

21 May 1882   At home all day. Mass at the Chapel. No sign of rain.

22 May 1882   I went with father Curran in his buggy to the big reef near Lockyer’s selection to get some crystals, and from there to Chivers to look for fossils in the old quarries there. We came back and had dinner in R Daly’s “The Australian Hotel”.

23 May 1882   I got one of P Murray’s men to ride up with me to the battery. He went as far as Tom Neville’s. He led my horse back to Cowra. I walked to the camp at the Battery. Sweeney and I had a walk around the battery. Fine day.

24 May 1882   Raining this morning. George Law showed me some wood opal.

25 May 1882   Sweeney and I putting in a cutting in the Battery to get a face to put in a tunnel. Light showers all day.

26 May 1882   Working. We find that our cutting was not deep enough. Rain.

27 May 1882   Sweeney and I went to where we found the wood opal and worked there most all day.

28 May 1882   Sunday. Sweeney and I went across the top of the Battery to Reidy Creek, and followed under the Battery to Frank Lane’s, and from there to old Marman’s and from there across to our camp at the Battery Point.

29 May 1882   Working at the cutting all day. Mr Murray and Mr Toohey came on horseback at 12 o’clock. They started back to Cowra at 2 o’clock. Fine day.

30 May 1882   Commenced to rain at daylight and rained most all day. Sweeney out prospecting. P Whitty came over. I was in the tent all day.

31 May 1882   Sweeney and I out prospecting in Ormsby’s paddock. Rained up to 12 o’clock.

1 Jun 1882      Sweeney and I at the cutting all day. Frost this morning.

2 Jun 1882      Working at the cutting. Cloudy day.

3 Jun 1882      Working at the cutting. Cloudy, cold day.

4 Jun 1882      Sunday. Sweeney and I out prospecting in Paddy’s Plains paddock. Tom Markham brought some rations from Cowra.

5 Jun 1882      Sweeney and I working at the cutting. Fine day.

6 Jun 1882      Sweeney and I at the cutting all day. Mr Murray sent a man from Cowra to take my place. He had a look at the work, and agreed to work at 2/6 per foot. Fine day.

7 Jun 1882      Sweeney and I at the cutting all day. Joe Perrin making a truck. Rained a little during the night.

8 Jun 1882      Sweeney and I finished the cutting at 12 o’clock. Perrin finished the truck and he and Sweeney opened out the tunnel.

9 Jun 1882      I walked up to the Gulph and back. Washed a prospect. Ten colours.

10 Jun 1882    I walked as far as Marman’s Creek, prospecting. Fine day.

11 Jun 1882    Sunday. Sweeney and I started to go to Foreman’s at the Pine Mountain. I lost Sweeney at the Whistle Waa. I had intended to go to Cowra  but I changed my mind and came back to the camp.

12 Jun 1882    I walked to Cowra and got there at 2 o’clock . Frost this morning. Commenced to rain this evening.

13 Jun 1882    Raining all day. I took two picks from Murray’s to get them steeled, and a piece of cast iron to make a pick.

14 Jun 1882    The morning looked as if it was going to be a wet day. Did not start.

15 Jun 1882    P Murray’s man came and drove me up in the spring cart to the opposite side of the river to the Battery. Murray’s man started back to Cowra. Sweeney, Perrin and I carried everything across the river, and up the hill to the camp. Rained in the evening.

16 Jun 1882    The wash in the tunnel dipping. They had to come back to the entrance and take it deeper. Showers all day.

17 Jun 1882    Sweeney and perrin cutting bottom up.

18 Jun 1882    Sweeney and I prospecting at the back of Frank Lane’s. We found an ironstone lode and some fine looking quartz. We went back home by Marman’s home. Showery day.

19 Jun 1882    I crushed some quartz but could not rise a colour. Sweeney and perrin got up to the face with a second cut. Bottom dipping. I washed a dish. Only two colours. Fine day.

20 Jun 1882    I washed two dishes. 12 colours in one and none in the other. Tunnel in 45 feet still dipping. Fine day.

21 Jun 1882    I washed two prospects. One dish, two colours. None in the other. James  O’Shaughnessy came on horseback from Cowra. He finished the road contract at Canowindra. I signed three cheques for him. He went to Cowra again.

22 Jun 1882    Sunk a hole at the end of the tunnel, and bottomed at 2 feet 6 inches. We stopped work, waiting for Mr P Murray.

23 Jun 1882    At the camp all day.Sweeney out prospecting. P Murray not come.

24 Jun 1882    I promised to assist Sweeney and Perrin to run the truck. We commenced to cut the bottom of the tunnel deeper, and then to follow the dip. We got up to the face. Cloudy day.

25 Jun 1882    P Murray and James O’Shaughnessy came from Cowra and went back in the evening. Sweeney out prospecting. Fine day.

26 Jun 1882    Working in the tunnel. Washed one dish. No gold. Fine day.

27 Jun 1882    Working in the tunnel all day. I washed one dish. 5 colours. Bottom rising. Crossing any amount of quartz leaders. Frost this morning.

28 Jun 1882    Washed a dish at 94 feet. 50 colours. Washed another dish at 98 feet. 10 colours. Bottom rising. Frost. Warm day.

29 Jun 1882    driving all day. Washed one dish at 108 feet. 12 colours. Commenced to rain in the evening. A heavy shower in the night. Thunder.

30 Jun 1882    Raining this morning. Washed one dish at 115 feet. 8 fine colours. Washed another dish for 6 fine colours.

1 Jul 1882       Rained all night. I walked to the Kurrajong camp. James and John Hogan sinking a shaft on an old reef. Down 8 feet. I got back to the camp at dark. Sweeney not come tonight. Perrin repairing the truck.

2 Jul 1882       I walked to the Pipeclay Creek and back. Sweeney came at dark. Frost this morning. Fine day.

3 Jul 1882       I washed one dish on top od sediment at 124 feet. 4 colours. Washed one dish between the sediment and bottom. 25 colours. Still dipping.

4 Jul 1882       Washed two dishes for 8 colours. White frost.

5 Jul 1882       Washed one dish. 7 colours.

6 Jul 1882       Washed one dish at 145 feet. 6 fine colours. Bottom dipping fast.

7 Jul 1882       Washed one dish. 4 fine colours. Raining most all day.

8 Jul 1882       Sweeney and I started for the Kurrajong camp. I carried the mortar and pestle. Rained all the way to James’ camp. Sweeney went on to Cowra for rations. I had dinner at James’ camp. James went to Cowra. I came back to the camp at the Battery. Raining all the way. Heavy thunderstorm and rain after dark.

9 Jul 1882       Sunday.  Raining most all night. At the camp all day. Fine.

10 Jul 1882     I stayed at the camp all day. Sweeney came in P Murray’s spring cart with rations.

11 Jul 1882     Commenced to rain this morning. Worked up to 12 o’clock. Too wet to work in the evening. Washed a dish. 10 colours.

12 Jul 1882     Working. Washed one dish. 5 colours. Another dish. 10 colours. P Murray came to the river but could not cross.

13 Jul 1882     Sweeney and Perrin sick all day. I went to the Battery Station and got some rose coloured quartz and some green wood opal stone. Raining up to 12 o’clock. Cold, windy day.

14 Jul 1882     Working in the tunnel. Washed a prospect. 5 colours. Frost.

15 Jul 1882     Washed one dish. No gold. Bottom dipping.

16 Jul 1882     Sunday.  After dinner, Perrin and I walked to the Gulph. I brought a large piece of wood opal home. Frost this morning.

17 Jul 1882     Working in the tunnel. Still dipping. Washed one dish. 4 fine colours. White frost this morning.

18 Jul 1882     We finished the tunnel at 182 feet from the face. Bottom level. Coarse pebbles and loose sand. White frost.

19 Jul 1882     Sweeney and Perrin sinking on a quartz leader in the bottom of the tunnel at 7/6 each per day. One of the Smiths came to the camp and wanted us to go to see a reef at a place between Breakfast Creek and the Boorowa River.

20 Jul 1882     The quartz leader ran out at 2 feet deep. I measured the tunnel, 182 feet, and the open cutting to the tunnel, 42 feet.

21 Jul 1882     Sweeney and I walked to Kurrajong camp, and from there to Foreman’s old selection at the south? end of the Pine Mountain. Sweeney turned back for the camp. I came on to Cowra at dark. Mrs O’Shaughnessy’s nose bleeding all day. At 11 o’clock tonight Dr Bartlett had to plug her nose.

22 Jul 1882     At home. Mrs O’Shaughnessy very weak. Mr Murray made up the Battery accounts. I worked nine weeks at £2.10.0 per week. The open cutting and tunnel 224 feet.

23 Jul 1882     Mrs O’Shaughnessy very weak. Dr Bartlett would not take out the plugs. Cold, cloudy day.

24 Jul 1882     Dr Bartlett took both from Mrs O’Shaughnessy’s nose. She seems to be improving. I got P Murray’s bill. 22 pound still due to him.

25 Jul 1882     At home all day. P Murray and I arranged to go in the spring cart tomorrow to the Battery. Great rain and wind. A real cold day.

26 Jul 1882     Mr Murray and I made a start for the Battery but had to turn back again. Mrs O’Shaughnessy’s nose commenced to bleed again, but it soon stopped again.

27 Jul 1882     Mr Murray and I started in the spring cart and got to the Battery at 10 o’clock. We walked up to the tunnel and from there to the Battery Sheep Station and back again to the camp. We started again and came by Lowe’s Springs, and to james’ camp at James Newham’s place, and stayed at James’ place an hour. We started at 7 o’clock and got to Cowra at 10 o’clock. Frightful cold day.

28 Jul 1882     Mr Murray started to Sydney and a box of specimens with him.

29 Jul 1882     James walked in from the Kurrajong camp reef.

30 Jul 1882     Sunday.  James and I walked over the river to where Meldrum measured a lot of town allotments. White frost.

31 Jul 1882     James started for the Kurrajong camp reef. I bought 22 ½ bushels of wheat from Breen at 5/3 per bushel. Paid by cheque.

1 Aug 1882      At home. Mr Murray not come from Sydney. Light rain.

2 Aug 1882      At home all day. A telegram from Mr Murray. He would start from Sydney on Thursday evening. Light showere. Cold day.

3 Aug 1882      At home. I had a look at Robert Daly’s allotments for sale. He wanted £50 for half an acre. Cold day.

4 Aug 1882      At home. A Middlemiss advertised 60 allotments for sale. Cold day.

5 Aug 1882      P Murray came from Sydney on the coach. James O’Shaughnessy  came from the Kurrajong camp. Sweeney came from the Battery. Cold day. A great fall of snow at Blayney.

6 Aug 1882      Sunday.  At home. Mass at the Chapel. Heavy showers during the day.

7 Aug 1882      James took P Murray’s spring cart to the Kurrajong camp reef and removed his camp to Cowra. I lent P Murray 120 pounds. Raining all day. A Circus came. Too wet to play. Sweeney went for some quartz.

8 Aug 1882      Sweeney and I agreed with P Murray to sink a shaft in the tunnel at the Battery at 5/- per foot. A Circus and a play in Cowra tonight. Light showers all day.

9 Aug 1882      I started walking to the Battery. Met Sweeney at McKelligat’s? Went by Neila and Paddy’s Plains to the Battery.

10 Aug 1882    Sweeney and I commenced a shaft in the tunnel and worked up to 9 o’clock tonight. We sunk 9 feet.

11 Aug 1882    We sunk 7 feet. Could not get any deeper without a windlass.

12 Aug 1882    Sweeney and I prospecting on the Battery near Paddy’s Plains. From there we went across to a basalt ridge and from there to the camp. A little rain at dark.

13 Aug 1882    James came with P Murray’s spring cart. We loaded up and started for Cowra, by Neila and Morongla Creeks. Cowra at 5 o’clock.

14 Aug 1882    At home. P Murray settled up with Sweeney for the Battery work.

15 Aug 1882    I walked up to Middlemiss. He wanted 80 pound for one acre of land of land next to his measured allotments for sale.

16 Aug 1882    At home all day.

17 Aug 1882    James took Sweeney and me in P Murray’s spring cart to Foreman’s old farm at the Pine Mountain. We camped at an old gully and a spring. We intend to prospect 4 days.

18 Aug 1882    Out prospecting all day. We smelted a piece of greenstone from the Little Bald Hill. No trace of mineral in it. Fine day.

19 Aug 1882    Prospected all the creeks on the fall for Deep Creek and across from there to the Big Bald Hill, and around it to the Little Bald Hill and from there across the granite range between Newham’s and Mosses  to our camp. No lunch today.

20 Aug 1882    We crossed the Pine Mount to near John Hobin’s and round to the high springs to Kangaroo Flat., and to the Big Bald Hill and to where the Cudgelo fence crosses the Deep Creek and to the camp.

21 Aug 1882    Sweeney walked to Paddy Whitty’s. I met him at the Little Bald Hill. Prospected there all the evening.

22 Aug 1882    James came with P Murray’s spring cart at 11 o’clock. Sweeney went to the Bald Hill to look for some black mineral he found there some years before. James and I loaded up the cart and started for Cowra. We came by the big quartz reef area near Lockyer’s fence to Cowra.

23 Aug 1882    At home all day. I promised to Mr Single to go to Broula and show Mr Meldrum where to survey our copper lease.

24 Aug 1882    James and I went to Ryan’s paddock and caught the piebald horse and brought him up. In the evening, James brought up my chestnut horse. I rode him out to Ingrey’s at Broula and stayed there all night.

25 Aug 1882    A Ingrey and I rode over to Meldrum’s camp at the old Brouls spring. He promised to survey two mineral leases on Brouls Hill for me after breakfast. Ingrey and I came back to his place. I had breakfast and rode up to Broula. Mr Meldrum measured two 20 acre blocks on the ironstone lode, north side of the Grenfell road. I got dinner at Ingrey’s and rode home. James started this morning on horseback to  rush at Tuena, Abercrombie River.

26 Aug 1882    At home all day. We got our flour and offal from the Mill and paid for the grinding. W.Ryan came at dark. Cloudy day.

27 Aug 1882    At home all day. Cloudy day.

28 Aug 1882    Commenced to rain at six o’clock this morning and continued all day. A telegram from James. He arrived at Tuena alright. Young Fletcher brought back the piebald horse.

29 Aug 1882    At home all day. A great many people coming in for the Show on tomorrow. Fine day.

30 Aug 1882    Commenced to rain early this morning. I went up to the Showground. A great many people there. A heavy shower at two o’clock. . A telegram from James and Dick Fletcher from Tuena that No 1 would amalgamate if James and party would pay for an 8 acre lease, they to hold half interest in the lease. James Ousby sent a telegram to draw upon the Australian Joint Stock bank, Cowra for ten pounds. Poor exhibits at the Show. A Circus in town tonight.

31 Aug 1882    I borrowed £3.10.0 from P Murray. Gave James Ousby £1.13.4, James’ share in the 8 acre lease at Tuena. N Challacombe bought the Royal Hotel 2,245 pounds. W R Watt bought A Lynch’s two allotments at 100 pounds each. Fine day.

1 Sep 1882      Ploughing matches in Middlemiss’ paddock. There was a good gathering of people there. The ploughing good but the ground rather rough. Mrs Ryan came by coach from Kikiamah. Cold day.

2 Sep 1882      A local ploughing match at A Middlemiss’ house. W Ryan drove Mrs Ryan, Mrs O’Shaughnessy, Sarah O’Shaughnessy, and me up to the ground. A Middlemiss bought James Mulally’s draught stallion, King Tom.

3 Sep 1882      At home all day. Mass at the Chapel.

4 Sep 1882      W Gillet offered me his share in the quartz reef at Tuena. We agreed to start to Tuena on tomorrow morning. I got my horse. I got my two horses from the paddock. A letter from James at Tuena.

5 Sep 1882      W Gillet and I started. We went by Coota and waugoola to Grubbongong 25 miles and from there to No 1. W Hyde’s wine shop 14 miles.

6 Sep 1882      Colo 5 miles. Trunkey 5 miles. We had dinner at McVicor? Hotel. We went on to King’s 4 miles, Lanarchs 7 miles, Hills 4 miles, Abercrombie River 2 miles. Crossed the river and travelled one mile to the newly discovered reefs. We saw James O’Shaughnessy there on an 8 acre lease. We went on to Tuena 4 miles. We stayed at James Simmonds’ Post Office Hotel. I went down to bells after tea.

7 Sep 1882      Gillet, Tom Bell and I rode out to the reefs and stayed there all day. We came back to Tuena. I put my horses in the stable and went to Bell’s and stayed all night.

8 Sep 1882      Bill Gillet rode my chestnut horse and led his own horse. Dick Fletcher rode my piebald horse and started for Cowra. I walked out to the reefs and stayed with James all night.

9 Sep 1882      James and I came to Tuena after dinner, and stayed at Bell’s all night. I sent a telegram home to Cowra. James sent a letter and a telegram home to Cowra.

10 Sep 1882    Sunday.  Mr Bell and I walked up the Tuena Creek and had a look at all the old workings, and up to the old City of Sydney reef. Got back for dinner. In the evening, Mr Bell, Tom Bell, James and I walked out to a reef. About a mile on the Trunkey road they are working on a conglomerate from the side of a limestone lode.

11 Sep 1882    Mr Bell and I walked out to the reefs. Little Lock Bell rode on horseback. We got back to tuena for tea.

12 Sep 1882    I walked out to the reefs and back again in the evening.

13 Sep 1882    I walked up to Chippendale’s hut, two miles up the Tuena Creek. I mey James there. Mr Chippendale took us to see the race he had cut. We followed the race up two miles to where he had made a large dam to supply the race with water for sluicing purposes. We came back to Chippendale’s hut. James borrowed a lot of tools from Chippendale. James and I carried the tools up a large mountain to the new reefs. I stayed all night with James. Sweeney came from Cowra.

14 Sep 1882    I walked into Tuena in the evening. Cold, windy day.

15 Sep 1882    I walked out to the reefs and came back in the evening to Bell’s.

16 Sep 1882    I stayed at Mr bell’s all day. James came in from the reefs in the evening. Fine day.

17 Sep 1882    Mr Bell and I walked along the Trunkey road, two miles to the limestone to see a piece of road work to be done there. We followed along the line of pegs, some deep creeks to be crossed and some heavy cuttings. We came back tio Mr Bell’s. James and I walked out to the reefs. I stayed with James all night.

18 Sep 1882    Working with James on the 8 acre lease all day. Great thunder and lightning and a little rain during the night.

19 Sep 1882    James and I working on the lease up to 3 o’clock. I started in to Tuena. I met Dick Fletcher on the road with my horse. I rode in to Tuena. I got a letter from P Murray, Cowra. I put my horse in James Simmons’ stable.

20 Sep 1882    Bessy and Jessie Bell and I walked out to the Swallow’s Nest, 5 miles, James Ahearn’s place. Had some dinner. The two Miss Ahearns walked with us to the Lucky Hit reef, 2 miles. We saw some fine specimens of gold in white limestone. Got back to Mr Bell’s at 6 o’clock. I put my horse in James Simmons’ stable.

21 Sep 1882    I started for Cowra. At five miles I crossed a bridge over the Tuena Creek. One mile further on, I crossed a fine bridge over the Abercrombie River. From the bridge there is five miles uphill. 20 miles from the bridge to Trunkey. I had dinner at Emsworth’s Hotel. Two miles from Trunkey, I took a left hand track from the main road, by Colo, the head of Rocky Bridge Creek. This is a rough track. No vehicles go this way. 10 miles from Trunkey to No 1 W Hyde’s wine shop. I stayed there all night.

22 Sep 1882    14 miles to Grubbengong. 6 miles to Waugoola. 16 miles tio Cowra. Garden Palace?? in Sydney burnt at 6 this morning.

23 Sep 1882    At home all day. I sent a telegram to James at Tuena. Harry Henderson caught the black filly to break her in. Fine day.

24 Sep 1882    At home. P Murray and I walked up to his paddock.

25 Sep 1882    At home all day. Put in taps in two tanks for P Murray. I bought one acre of land from A Middlemiss at the opposite corner of the measured portion, for 80 pounds. Terms the same as the allotments that are to be sold.

26 Sep 1882    At home all day. I went to jack McDonald’s to buy some sawn timber. He would not sell.

27 Sep 1882    I walked up to Morongla Creek to look for some gums for splitting purposes. Got back at dark.

28 Sep 1882    I made two malls for splitting.

29 Sep 1882    At home all day. I got a telegram from James at Tuena that McIntyre would give one share if backed for one pound per week. I sent a telegram to James to take it in P Murray’s name.

30 Sep 1882    At home all day. Dry weather. No sign of rain.

1 Oct 1882      At home. Mass at the Chapel.

2 Oct 1882      Pat Markham and I cutting timber all day to build a house. We cut it on the Reserve outside George campbell’s fence, going to Cudgelo. Shower of rain all day.

3 Oct 1882      Pat Markham and I cutting timber all day. James Markham brought in one load with his bullock team. Great frost this morning.

4 Oct 1882      Pat Markham and I finished cutting timber for the house. James Markham brought in a load. Real hot sultry day.

5 Oct 1882      Commenced to rain at 12 o’clock. James Markham, Pat and I went for a load. It rained there and back.

6 Oct 1882      James Markham and I went out for a load of timber. Pat Markham assisted us to load. Fine day.

7 Oct 1882      At home. I went to a sale of Mrs D.B.Neville’s I bought two glass cases. Hot day.

8 Oct 1882      Sunday.  At home all day.

9 Oct 1882      James Markham and I brought in a load of timber for the house. Paid Mrs Neville. Light shower of rain at 9 o’clock.

10 Oct 1882    raining all night. A very heavy shower at 6 o’clock this morning. After dinner I was barking posts for the house. Fine evening.

11 Oct 1882    Paid A Middlemiss 20 pounds, the first instalment on one acre allotment of land. Barking poles all day.

12 Oct 1882    James Markham and I brought in a load of timber. I took the bark off some in the evening.

13 Oct 1882    James Markham brought in all the logs we left at the brick kiln. Barking logs in the evening. Middlemiss removing the front fence. A letter from James at Tuena. Hot day.

14 Oct 1882    I finished barking the posts. I paid the Markhams in full. £4.10.0. I got £10 from P Murray.

15 Oct 1882    Sunday.  At home. I went to Mass. Great thunderstorm at Chivers.

16 Oct 1882    I went up to the Court House to see Simpson, C.P.S., about Minnie’s  selection at Broula. Thunder at 12 o’clock and a little rain. P Murray burning liquid gas.

17 Oct 1882    At home. Hot sultry day.

18 Oct 1882    I was very sick all night and all day. I got a letter from James. Hot day. Grass drying up.

19 Oct 1882    I walked down the river, looking for a gum tree for splitting. I wrote a letter to James at Tuena. Real hot day.

20 Oct 1882    I walked down the river to Mulyan, looking for some good gum trees to split slabs. Father Curran bid us all goodbye. He is going to Dubbo. I got a letter from Sweeney at Tea Pot Swamp. He found some asbestos. A telegram from James at Tuena. Hot day.

21 Oct 1882    Middlemiss land sale. Sold 60 lots, about 15 acres. They averaged  £158.10.0 per acre. Heavy rain in the evening. The old black mare had a horse foal.

22 Oct 1882    Sunday.  At home all day. Rained all night and most all day.

23 Oct 1882    Pat Markham and I sawed down a large gum opposite the one mile station. Commenced to rain at 5 o’clock. We came home.

24 Oct 1882    Pat Markham and I cut one log off the gum tree and nearly cut another off. A heavy shower at 4 o’clock. River rising.

25 Oct 1882    Pat Markham split about half the But log and got 30 fine slabs. Pat had a fit. James Markham brought us some wood.

26 Oct 1882    Pat and I finished cutting off the second log, and ran it outb into Billets. Sam Nordstedt to put up a building at ten shillings per day. We killed a pig.

27 Oct 1882.   I was splitting slabs all day. Mrs Maurice Walsh died at Bungarillagong.[1] W. Ryan came from Goulburn with King Billy and a draught stallion. E Markham came from Grenfell.

28 Oct 1882    I was splitting all the morning. James Markham took two loads of slabs. Commenced to rain at 10 o’clock and continued all day.

29 Oct 1882    Sunday.  At home. Michael Ryan and another man came with W Ryan’s cattle from Goulburn.

30 Oct 1882    Sam and I squaring posts for the house. Fine day.

31 Oct 1882    Squaring posts. Paid Pat Markham two pounds.

1 Nov 1882     James Lahey came to work at 35 shillings per week. Squaring posts all day.

2 Nov 1882     Wilson sold all his furniture. I bought the fine (fire?) wood. David Moore brought home the black filly. Fine day.

3 Nov 1882     Squaring up to 12 o’clock. James Markham brought one load of our furniture to Whittaker’s house. M Ryan brought one load.

4 Nov 1882     James Markham brought one load and Michael ryan brought two loads. All hands left the cottage. Paid James Lahey one pound. I got five pounds from P Murray.

5 Nov 1882     Sunday.  At home. P Murray went to Sydney.

6 Nov 1882     James Lahey not working today. Sam and I at work at the building.

7 Nov 1882     Lahey, Sam and I at work all day. We put up 4 posts and cut down a large gum tree. James Markham drew off the branches. David Moore took Tom the horse to Goolagong.

8 Nov 1882     We put up six posts. Real hot day.

9 Nov 1882     We put up five posts. Good Templars and Oddfellows Picnic.

10 Nov 1882   Working all day at the building.

11 Nov 1882   Working all day. Gave Lahey £1.10.0. Hot day.

12 Nov 1882   I rode the chestnut out to the Pines, at the back of Old Gale’s on Morongla Creek and came back to dinner.

13 Nov 1882   James Markham took his bullock team and I went with him out to the Pines and cut a load of rafters. Coming back we met Robert Stephenson, the Wood ranger. He gave us a fright. He let us off this time. James O’Shaughnessy came from Tuena.

14 Nov 1882   Barking pines all day. Sam not at work. Lahey working. P Murray came from Sydney. A thunderstorm. Heavy rain.

15 Nov 1882   Raining until breakfast. Putting up posts all day. James putting up a forge.

16 Nov 1882   Squaring posts all day.

17 Nov 1882   Putting up posts all day.

18 Nov 1882   Got all the posts, but one, up. Hot sultry day.

19 Nov 1882   Sunday. James and I walked up at the back of P Murray’s paddock to see if we could find a quarry for building stone.

20 Nov 1882   Working at the building. Mary O’Shaughnessy went to P Murray’s as cash taker.

21 Nov 1882   Putting up wall plates. James and Lahey squaring. Great wind all day. Heavy rain at dark.

22 Nov 1882   Putting up wall plates all day. James barking pine poles all day.

23 Nov 1882   Finished putting on wall plates and commenced to put the rafters. Lahey and I putting in sleepers for the joist to rest on.

24 Nov 1882   We put rafters on one half the house. We got 26 feet of boards and battens, and 56 sheets of nine foot sheet iron.

25 Nov 1882   We got all the rafters up. I got five pounds from P Murray.

26 Nov 1882   Sunday.  I went down to where we were splitting the gum tree to see if the mall and wedges were alright.

27 Nov 1882   Putting on tie beams all day. James making a gutter for between the two houses. George Campbell made a speech tonight.

28 Nov 1882   Finished putting up the tie beams and studs in the gable ends. A Lynch made a speech tonight. Rained up to 12 o’clock tonight.

29 Nov 1882   We put in the gutter and battened three sides of the house. W R Watt Snr is going to stand for Carcoar. Fine day.

30 Nov 1882   Putting on iron all day. Got 30 sheets of eight foot iron and 68 feet of ridging.

1 Dec 1882     Putting on iron all day. James sick.

2 Dec 1882     Finished putting the iron and put some weather boards on the gable ends. Paid James Lahey £3.10.0, a balance due to him. £1.17.6. Sam Nordstedt’s account £15.5.0.

3 Dec 1882     Sunday.  At home all day. I went to Mass. Mick Ryan brought up the old chestnut horse.

4 Dec 1882     I rode the chestnut horse up to the Pine Mount to look for pines to saw. I found some above the high springs. I got back to Cowra at 3 o’clock. James and Lahey squaring slabs all day.

5 Dec 1882     Squaring slabs all day.Commenced to rain in the evening and rained all night.

6 Dec 1882     James and I squaring slabs until 12 o’clock. After dinner we went and voted for Campbell and Lynch. Raining most all day. James Lahey not at work.

7 Dec 1882     Squaring slabs all day. George Campbell came from Carcoar. Paid Sam 15 pounds.

8 Dec 1882     We put a pole in James Markham’s bullock dray. A Lynch 105 ahead of Tom Fitzpatrick. Sultry day.

9 Dec 1882     We finished James Markham’s dray. Paid Lahey 2 pounds.

10 Dec 1882   Sunday.  At home. Some heavy thunderstorms.

11 Dec 1882   I was putting up slabs. James repairing a tank asnd making a spouting. Tom the horse staked in the hind leg.

12 Dec 1882   Putting up slabs. James and Jim Lahey out splitting posts for Middlemiss’ saleyards.

13 Dec 1882   I was putting up slabs. James and Lahey out splitting.

14 Dec 1882   Weatherboarding gable end of the house. James out splitting.

15 Dec 1882   Finished weatherboarding. James out splitting. Sent a letter to Harry Grant at Goolagong.

16 Dec 1882   Commenced to put slabs. Hot day.

17 Dec 1882   I rode up to Morongla Creek to have a look at a stone quarry.

18 Dec 1882   Putting up slabs. James and Lahey not at work.

19 Dec 1882   Great wind all day. James and lahey splitting. John Hackett came from Golgalgon???, Bogan River.

20 Dec 1882   Examination at the Convent School. I finished all the slabs.

21 Dec 1882   Tom Markham commenced work, driving the horses and dray. We got the dray repaired and got the old black mare shod.

22 Dec 1882   Tom Markham brought in a load of wood and in the evening Tom and I went to where Lahey was splitting and brought in 28 split rails for the Show yard.

23 Dec 1882   Tom Markham carted a load of hay out of Middlemiss’ paddock for Tom Walsh, and then went and brought in a load of split rails. In the evening I went and inspected the Showground fence. I condemned it. A great storm of wind and a little rain. Andy Lynch did a little speeching at Robert Daly’s.

24 Dec 1882   Sunday.  At home. W Ryan brought Grace Challacombe  from the Goulburn Convent. Fine cool day.

25 Dec 1882   Christmas Day. At home. Fine day.

26 Dec 1882   Boxing Day. Tom Markham put the young black mare in the shafts and the old black mare leading and went for a load of split rails. James went with him. After dinner he brought a load of wood. A dance at Middlemiss’. James, Sarah,Minnie, grace and John Hackett went.

27 Dec 1882   Tom Markham brought in two loads of rails. A stack of wheat of Walter Bryant’s burnt. A hot day.

28 Dec 1882   Tom Markham brought two loads of rails.

29 Dec 1882   I went with Tom Markham and assisted him to load two loads of split posts. Mrs John Byrne and daughter came from Goulburn.

30 Dec 1882   Tom Markham brought one load of rails. Commenced to rain.

31 Dec 1882   Sunday.  At home. Down to P Murray’s in the evening.

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[1] This may have been Elizabeth McInerney, married to Maurice Walsh in 1871. Not apparently related to the eight Walsh siblings. Perhaps related to James McInerney who married Elizabeth Middlemis.