Thomas O’Shaughnessy’s Diary Part 20 1888

 1888

1 Jan 1888      Sunday.  New Year’s Day. Raining all day.

2 Jan 1888      Good Templars Sports on the Showground. Not many people there. Heavy rain in the evening. River half a banker.

3 Jan 1888      George Hurst and I  made a start to put up two cottages for P Walsh of Kikiamah on an allotment opposite A. Middlemiss’ saleyards. Cloudy day.

4 Jan 1888      Working at the cottage. Tom Markham brought in two loads of blocks. We got the tree lopped.

5 Jan 1888      Working at the cottage.

6 Jan 1888      Working at the cottage. We got some iron from P Murray. Father Horan died in Carcoar. Brynes’ daughter that married the fettler about 2 months ago confined.

7 Feb 1888      Worked up to 12 o’clock. In the evening went to furniture sale in Muir’s and Flint’s rooms.

8 Jan 1888      Sunday.  We got our tools from Bang Bang.

9/11 Jan 88     Hurst and I working at the cottages.

12 Jan 1888    I got E Murphy to work in my place. I went with Denis Donnelly in his buggy to Broula Hill on the Grenfell Road to have a look at an ironstone lode and copper lode combined. We got back to Cowra at 2 o’clock. Great grass.

13 Jan 1888    Working at the cottage. Mrs W P Costello paid her bill.

14 Jan 1888    I was working all day. Hurst did not come. Great heat. Thunderstorm in the evening.

15 Jan 1888    Sunday. At home. Hot day.

16 Jan 1888    Hurst came to work. Real hot day.

17 Jan 1888    Working all day. Real hot.

18 Jan 1888    Bought 6,000 bricks from Tom Plunkett. Tom Markham carting them from Cooper’s. I got a man sinking a hole for a closet.

19 Jan 1888    Working at the cottage. Great bushfire in Victor Watt’s paddock. It blew across the river on to Fagan’s and set it on fire.

20 Jan 1888    At work. Paid the man for sinking hole for closet. We were putting up ceiling.

21 Jan 1888    Painting all day. Bush fires on Neila Creek.

22 Jan 1888    Sunday.  At home. Not too hot.

23/25 Jan 88   Working at the cottage.

26 Jan 1888    Centennial Anniversary of New South Wales. We were working at the cottage. Old Charlie Jones from the Pine Mount buried today. Collins commenced the chimneys.

27/29 Jan 88   Working at the cottage. Painting. Hurst working at the W.C. Hot day.

30 Jan 1888    Sunday.  Mrs Middlemiss and all the small children went by train for Sydney.

1 Feb 1888      Hurst working at the closet. I was painting. We finished the closet. And pegged another cottage on the adjoining half acre.

3 Feb 1888      I removed all the timber. Hurst made a mantle piece. We put up two posts. Real hot day.

4 Feb 1888      I worked up to 11 o’clock. Minnie and I walked up to A Middlemiss. John Muir sold all the household furniture and machinery and everything brought a fair price. Called Back troupe tonight.

5 Feb 1888      Sunday.  I walked up to the Railway Station in the evening. Cloudy all day Some light showers.

6 Feb 1888      Working at the cottage.

7 Feb 1888      Jim, Tom and Artie Middlemiss and Billy Robertson started with the cattle and horses and wagon and 4 horses via Murringo bound for their new home near Binalong. Hannah Middlemiss stayed at our place. A few of the Cowra gentlemen gave A Middlemiss a champagne Lunch tonight. Hurst and I working at the cottage all day.

8 Feb 1888      Working at the cottage all day.

9 Feb 1888      Working at the cottage. A. Middlemiss and Hannah Middlemiss started in a buggy via Murringo for their new home. Got a cheque from Patrick Walsh, Kikiamah ,for £25.

10 Feb 1888    Working at the cottage. Putting on iron. Great bushfires everywhere. T Walsh’s Hall commenced.

11 Feb 1888    Working at the cottage. Cloudy day. A few  drops of rain.

12 Feb 1888    At home. Not well. Bill Ryan from Goulburn.

13 Feb 1888.   Working at the cottage. Railway line from Blayney to Cowra opened today. A four year old son of D. Donnelly died this morning.

14 Feb 1888    Working at the cottage. Donnelly’s son buried in an allotment near Dr Smith’s.

15/23 Feb 88   Working at the cottage.

24.Feb 1888    Great showers in the morning and commenced again in the evening. Rained all night.

25 Feb 1888    I worked up to 12 o’clock. I then went to Mrs Allmandinger’s sale. McInnes sold.

26 Feb 1888    Sunday.  I walked up to Pack’s estate and found some ironstone. Hot day.

27/29 Feb 88   Working at the cottage. Finished.

1 Mar 1888      Judge Docker sitting today. Miss Adams from Bang Bang (Koorawatha)  for concealing birth of child. Pleaded guilty. 3 months in Cowra jail. A man from Grenfell pleaded guilty to stealing a ten pound note. 3 years. The Cowra Band Committee against the Cowra Oddfellows £50 for band instruments. Case dismissed. Sale never completed. Great rain in the evening.

2 Mar 1888      Repairing old Joey’s cage. Gold found in Mt Innes near The Islands, 10 miles from Cowra.

3 Mar 1888      I finished the bird cage. I got some timber from Schofield’s Sawmill to make a bird cage for W Boxall. Ted Markham came from Grenfell.

4 Mar 1888      Sunday.  Sunday. At home all day. Cloudy. A light shower at dark.

5 Mar 1888      Making a bird cage. Up to 6th.

7 Mar 1888      Not working today.

8 Mar 1888      Repairing a buggy for W Boxall.

9 Mar 1888      George Hurst assisted me to put in the front piece of the buggy. A Circus tonight.

10 Mar 1888    Working at the buggy. Circus tonight.

11 Mar 1888    Sunday.  P Walsh Sr and Dennis McGrath came in a buggy from Kikiamah.

12 Mar 1888    Working at the buggy. P Walsh gave me a cheque for £134.14.0, received £20 before, for building two wood four roomed cottages,

13 Mar 1888    Working at the buggy. P Walsh started for Kikiamah.

15/16 Mar 88   Working at the buggy.

17 Mar 1888    St Patrick’s day. I put the piebald in Schofield’s paddock.

18 Mar 1888    Sunday.  At home.

19 Mar 1888    Doing nothing today.

20 Mar 1888    Arthur McLeod promised to show me a horse he had to sell, but he did not bring her in from the paddock.

21 Mar 1888    Not working. Paid Joseph Poole £15 for the buggy that had repaired.

22 Mar 1888    I took the buggy to McLeod’s to have the tyres cut.

23 Mar 1888    I brought the buggy home. I borrowed some harness from A Frazer and got it repaired.

24 Mar 1888    I got a black horse from McLeod on trial in the buggy. George Hurst rode my piebald and I drove the buggy. We went along the Grenfell road to the top of Broula Hill. We took a right hand road, left Cotton’s place on the left and camped on that road, 3 miles. We had dinner and rode the two horses to the head of the gorge at the back of W.B. Simpson’s. From there, we prospected to Wood’s old place and back along the road to where we left the buggy. We put the horses in the buggy and drove along the road to the next gully to Wood’s, and camped. Had to tie the piebald up all night. A light shower.

25 Mar 1888    Sunday.  We prospected about the camp and found a great ironstone blow. At 12 o’clock  we started back along the road two miles, took the horse out, and we prospected until three o’clock. Started again and got as far as Hennessy’s old copper mine near the top of Broula Hill. We had some lunch and started again and got to Cowra at 8 o’clock. Thunder all the evening.

26 Mar 1888    George Hurst and I  commenced to put up a skillion at the back of Jenkins’ Blacksmith’s Forge.  Real hot day. The Salvation Army in P Murray’s new Hall.

27 Mar 1888    Working at the skillion. Mary Monaghan died this evening at 3 o’clock from consumption. Real hot day.

28 Mar 1888    Putting up the skillion at the Blacksmith’s shop.

29 Mar 1888    Working at the skillion.

30 Mar 1888    Good Friday. All the business places closed. Wally West and young McLeod in a sociable. I rode. We went to Norman’s Mount. We prospected under the mount and from there we came across onto the road from D.Hood’s to Wattamondara. I left them there on their way to Cowra. I went to see an ironstone lode that David Hood told me about, but I found it to be a basalt hill. I went back up a creek on Hood’s side of Norman’s Mount. I (met) Beasley there in a buggy. I turned back and got to Cowra at dark. Cloudy.

31 Mar 1888    Working at the skillion. Great many people coming in for the races next Monday.

1 Apr 1888      Easter Sunday. At home all day.

2 Apr 1888      Cowra Races. I rode out to the Course. Not a great crowd but fair racing. Any amount of horses.

3 Apr 1888      Races. I did not go out. Hot day.

4 Apr 1888      George Hurst did not come to work. Hot day.

5 Apr 1888      George Hurst came. Working at the skillion.

6 Apr 1888      We finished the skillion at 12 o’clock. We took down some shelving in the verandah of P Murray’s big store and brought them out to the old back store.

7 Apr 1888      Hurst and I commenced to make new frames and new shelves instead of those we took out the day before.

8 Apr 1888      Sunday.  After 12 o’clock I got a horse on trial from John Muir Sr. I put him in the buggy and Minnie and I went out to Chivers and back up to the railway bridge. Very hot day. Great dust.

9/12 Apr 88     Working for P Murray at his store. 

13 Apr 1888    Donnelly, Howey  and I went with McLeod in his buggy to the old Cockatoo copper mine on  the Breakfast Creek road. We have a 40 acre lease there. Fine green grass at the mine. We got back to Cowra at 5 o’clock. Hurst working at P Murray’s.

14 Apr 1888    Hurst and I  finished for Murray at 12 o’clock.

15 Apr 1888    Sunday.  Sunday. At home all day.

16 Apr 1888    George Hurst and I  commenced to put a hay and corn store for Robert Anderson close to the Railway Station.

17/18 Apr 88   Hurst and I working at the store.

19 Apr 1888    Working all day. Woodrow, Railway Station Master at Cowra removed to Carcoar. Lay, Station Master at Carcoar removed to Cowra.

20 Apr 1888    Hurst and I  working at the hay and corn store.

21 Apr 1888    Working all day. Got the buggy horse from Muir’s paddock. I took the piebald out of Schofield’s paddock, 34 days agistment.

22 Apr 1888    Sunday.  James O’Shaughnessy and Tom Markham drove in the buggy. I rode the piebald. We went to the head of Kangaroo Flat overlooking John Whitty’s on Milburn Creek. We prospected ther until 4 o’clock. We got back to Cowra at dark. Put the horses in James Connelly’s paddock.

23/28 Apr 88   Working at the hay and corn store.  Mrs Carr died on 24th. formerly Mrs Henderson and then O’Neill and now Carr. Mrs Carr buried on 25th in George Campbell’s burial ground.

29 Apr 1888    Sunday. James O’Shaughnessy and Tom Markham drove in the buggy. I rode the piebald. We went up Kangaroo Flat by the old Burial Ground, turned to the right through the bush and got on the high ground above John Neville’s old place on Milburn Creek. We prospected there all day and got back to Cowra at dark.

30 Apr 1888    John Connelly and I rode out to the old Cornwall mine at the back of A.J.C.Single’s place. Charles Littlefield has leases 40 acres of this old mine for copper. From there we rode over to the Jews old mine, east of R Unsworth’s farm, from there to Toohey’s old leases for copper. From there home. George Hurst working at the building.

1/3 May 1888  Hurst and I working at the hay and corn store. Finished.

4 May 1888     At home all day.

5 May 1888     I rode out to Littlefield’s mine. Littlefield walked the short cut to Woodstock Railway Station. I rode round and met him at Florence’s Hotel, Woodstock. We went from there past the old Belmore Copper Mine to a hill overlooking the Sheet of Bark Hotel. On this hill there is an ironstone lode. We got some stone to test. Littlefield started back. I came along the Carcoar road, home to Cowra.

6 May 1888     At home all day. Real white frost this morning. A relation of Chapman of the Wallaroos died this morning. He is to be buried in Yass.

7/8 May 1888  George Hurst and I closing the wall slabs and making steps at P Walsh’s cottages.

9 May 1888     I rode along the old Waugoola road past Coota and past an old copper lease right on the road. A.Chambers and I first found this lode some years ago and leased it. But neve worked it. About a mile further on, I tried to get through a wire fence to see an old mineral lease that I knew some years ago. I saw some pegs inside the fence. Some person had it pegged out. I came back by Stumpy Station. to an old copper mine in Waugoola Creek, that Chambers and I had found some years ago and leased by S G Alford, we holding half the mine, now taken up by D.Donnelly, Storekeeper of Cowra . From there to some copper leases that Chambers and I discovered some years ago, and leased by P Murray and Tooheys of Sydney, we holding half the mine. We have W Gray  marking here now. I came on in to Cowra.

10 May 1888   I rode out to A.J.C.Single’s paddock and prospected there all day.

11 May 1888   At home all day.

12 May 1888   I rode out to Broula and pegged two 20 acre mineral surveyed blocks that I and party had leased on March 10, 1875 and sunk two shafts on them. And twice since then, we took up the same land. Heavy rain all day.

13 May 1888   Sunday.  I went with Evans, Manager of the Bank of New South wales, Cowra. John Connelly rode out to Broula. We had a look at the two 20 acre blocks I had pegged out. From there we went on to the hill on the south side of the Grenfell road. An ironstone lode taken up by D.Donnelly, John Muir, Harold Hurst, Joseph Poole, William Boxall,Dan Perry, Adam McNab, and W Grey. They got a fair prospect of silver. We came on to Cowra. Very cloudy day.

14 May 1888   I rode out with Andrew West on to the hills at the back of Wattamondara and along the tops of the hills to Broula to the silver mine. From there to Cowra. Cold.

15/16 May 88  At home all day.

17 May 1888   I rode out to Broula and pegged out a 20 acre lease adjoining the two 20 acre blocks. From there I rode out to the ironstone lode near Wood’s old place and got back to Cowra at dark.

18 May 1888   John Connelly and I rode out to the ironstone lode near Wood’s old place. We pegged out a 40 acre mineral prospecting area. We came back to Donnelly and party’s silver mine and on to Cowra.

19 May 1888   I got my buggy horse and drove Tom Markham out to the Pines at the back of John Whitty’s on Milburn Creek to prospect a small leader there. We worked by candle light up to 10 o’clock. Came back to the buggy and went to sleep. Had the horse tied up.

20 May 1888   Sunday.  We got up at half past 5 o’clock and crushed some quartz from the leader. We got a few fine colours. We got to Cowra at 12 o’clock.

21 May 1888   I rode out to Mr Bear’s, about 18 miles from Cowra. Mr Bear not at home. Came on to Cowra.

22 May 1888   I rode out to Norman’s Mount prospecting. I found a quartz reef and a small vein of ironstone and quartz crossing the creek. Came home.

23 May 1888   At home all day.

24 May 1888   I rode out to Broula and from there to the ironstone lode near Wood’s old place. I met John Connelly, S Evans, and Mr Thomas teaching Mr Donnelly’s children. It commenced to rain. They turned back to where they left Mrs Evans and some other ladies on top of Broula Hill. I came on to Cowra.

25 May 1888   At home all day.

26 May 1888   I rode out to Broula early and pegged out a 40 acre lease. D.Donnelly and John Connelly drove out in a buggy. Mr Evans rode out on horseback. We went from Broula to the 40 acre lease we had pegged out near Wood’s old place, 3 miles north west from Broula. We had a good look at the hill. Then we came back to Cowra.

27 May 1888   Sunday. At home all day.  Great frost this morning.

28 May 1888   getting ready to go out and stay at Broula.

29 May 1888   I took a petition round town to have Broula thrown open for mining.

30 May 1888   I got John Connelly’s man and spring cart to take my things out to Broula. I put my tent up near McNab’s and W Grey’s camp at foot of Broula at Hood’s gate. Fine day.

31 May 1888   Prospecting all day.

1/2 Jun 1888   Prospecting all day.

3 Jun 1888      Sunday.  D.Donnelly drove Garland, Member for Carcoar, and a Mr Schey, a Member for Sydney. Mr S Evans drove another gent out, and W Boxall and J.Connelly and a lot more to look at the mine south Broula and the north leases. They were well pleased with the shows.

4 Jun 1888      I pegged out a 12 acre lease on the south end of the two measured portions No 1 and No 2 of 20 acres each. I pegged a 20 acre lease on the west side of D.Donnelly and party’s mineral lease on the south side of Grenfell road. Boxall and John Connelly drove out with word that all the land at Broula is thrown open for mining purposes. Went to Cowra with them.

5 Jun 1888      Leased 40 acres, 20 acres, and a 12 acre lease. I came out to the camp and put up the calico notices.

6 Jun 1888      W Gray  and I rode out to the ironstone lode near Wood’s that I had pegged out. We found that W Hood had taken possession and had re-pegged it. Gray  and I rode out to the ironstone lode that W Hood had pegged out. We pegged 40 acres alongside of Hood on the north side in Dan Perry’s name

7 Jun 1888      I took Dan Perry out and showed him the claim we had pegged out in his name. D.Donnelly drove Mr Biddulph the Surveyor out. I pegged out 20 acres on the west side of the measured No  1 and No 2 under a mineral licence.

8 Jun 1888      I rode in to Cowra.

9 Jun 1888      Grace O’Shaughnessy came home from the Bathurst Convent. I came out to Broula and went on to an old cancelled selection near Wood’s old place and pegged out 40 acres as a mineral lease. Came back to the camp. Dan Perry, Biddulph, and Harold Hurst came out from Cowra. McNab and Gray  went to Cowra.

10 Jun 1888    Sunday.  I rode after Boxall’s cattle and brought them back. Perry and McNab came from Cowra. Biddulph and Hurst passed in the evening going to Cowra. Light shower.

11 Jun 1888    Prospecting at Wood’s old station all day.

12 Jun 1888    Dan Perry and I rode up to Bumbaldry. Met Mr Watt. Went with him up to J.Hope’s silver lode and back to the old copper mine near Bumbaldry. I left them there and went on to an ironstone lode on the Grenfell road. Went from there to Joe Hope’s selection and back past Wilson’s. Met Biddulph. Pegged out 40 acre lease for him on top of Broula.

13 Jun 1888    I rode out past Wilson’s, and along the boundary fence between Mr Watt and Cotton. Followed it 3 miles and got over the fence and came back to Joe Hope’s selection. I found two good ironstone lodes. I came all around the fences to broula.

14 Jun 1888    I rode out to the claim near Wood’s and back. W R Watt, Willie Watt, W Simpson and Biddulph came to the camp. John Connelly came from Cowra. Biddulph went to Cowra.

15 Jun 1888    I rode out to Joe Hope’s selection. Waugh and Cromlin came from Grenfell to see the mine.

16 Jun 1888    Dan Perry and I rode out to Hood’s mine. Dan came back to the camp and drove the coach up to grenfell. I followed the creek that Joe Hope has his selection on, up to the head. Got back to camp in the evening. McNab and Gray  gone to Cowra.

17 Jun 1888    Sunday.  Prospecting in the mountains at the back of David Hood’s. Gray  came from Cowra in the evening.

18 Jun 1888    I rode to Cowra. I saw Mr Evans and John Connelly. We agreed to put on a man to work at Broula. Dance agreed to go at 7/6 per day. Commenced to rain in the evening. I stayed at home at night.

19 Jun 1888    I bought some tools for Dance to bring out. I got to the camp at 12 o’clock. I went to the 20 acre lease and worked for an hour.

20 Jun 1888    I rode over to Hood’s lease and back after dinner. I rode over to the quartz reef in the creek on the west side of Norman’s Mount and brought some quartz and gave it to W Boxall as he was passing in the coach. Allen Dance came and camped at the old hut at the rock hole.

21 Jun 1888    Dance not going to work before Monday. Showers all day. I was at the camp all day.

22 Jun 1888    At the camp all day. Real cold weather.

23 Jun 1888    I fixed up my tent and put bushes around it. McNab and Dan Perry gone to Cowra.

24 Jun 1888    Prospecting on the reef at back of Fine day. Hood’s. Sunday. 

25 Jun 1888    Allen Dance and I commenced to work on the old leases. D.Donnelly and Harold Hurst came out in a buggy.

26 Jun 1888    Trenching with dance across the ironstone lodes.

27 Jun 1888    Worked with Dance up to 12 o’clock. I rode in to Cowra. Put my horse in John Connelly’s paddock.

28 Jun 1888    I had to appear at the Court House as a juryman. Judge Docker sitting. I was called on the first case. Donnelly Brothers sheep station case. The case lasted until 7 o’clock. We found them not guilty.

29 Jun 1888    I rode out to the camp by 2 o’clock. I stayed at camp.

30 Jun 1888    Dance went to Cowra at 12 o’clock. I stayed at camp.

1 Jul 1888       Sunday.  Prospecting at back of David Hood’s.

2 Jul 1888       Dance working. Trenching for copper. Good lode. I was prospecting. Up to 6th.

7 Jul 1888       Dance commenced Prospecting at back of David Hood’s.another trench about 12 chains from the old copper shaft to cut a silver lode. Dance went to Cowra. McNab, Perry and Gray  to Cowra.

8 Jul 1888       Sunday.  Prospecting at back of David Hood’s.

10/11 Jul 88    Dance working. I was prospecting on the old lease.

12 Jul 1888     Prospecting. John Connelly came out.

13 Jul 1888     D.Donnelly drove out and brought McPhee, Monument Maker, Cowra to see the Broula marble. Light showers all day.

14 Jul 1888     W Gray  and I went out kangaroo hunting.

15 Jul 1888     Sunday.  Gray  and I went out prospecting to Cherry’s Creek. Came back by Hope’s selection. D.Donnelly, W Boxall, S Evans, and John Connelly came in a buggy to have a look at the leases. Frosts most every night. No young grass growing. Any amount of old grass.

16 Jul 1888     W Gray and I rode in to Cowra to vote in the first election of aldermen for Cowra. I put down the names as they polled. J.B Fitzgerald, George Campbell, Robert Daly, H Ford, Dr E R Smith, D.C.J.Donnelly, E H McPherson, Charles Stibbard, and William Boxall. McLeod’s mare beat T Plunkett’s mare in a trotting match, from Chivers, Back Creek, to Cowra. £10 a side. I stayed in Cowra all night.

17 Jul 1888     Gray and I rode out to Broula.

18 Jul 1888     D.Donnelly, Biddulph, a commercial traveller and a Mr Riddle came out to inspect Broula South. They had a look at Broula North too. Dance working at copper on the top of the hill.

19 Jul 1888     Gray, Dan Perry, and I rode out to see some leases that Rolf and McKenny had pegged out on the west side of Cotton’s paddock. Biddulph drove Riddle out to Hood’s mine and to Rolf’s.

20 Jul 1888     Dance working on the upper copper lease. I was prospecting there.

21 Jul 1888     gray and I rode in to Cowra to a meeting of our shareholders, but Mr Donnelly had gone to Sydney about our leases. The Land (Department) gave Swain the land as a selection. I came back to the camp with Gray and Steve Duff.

22 Jul 1888     Sunday.  John Connelly came out from Cowra.Gray, Connelly and I walked up to our 20 acre lease south of the Grenfell road. Came back to the camp and got our horses and had a hare hunt.

23 Jul 1888     I rode in to Cowra. We had a meeting at Donnelly’s store. All the shareholders present – Evans, Boxall, Connelly, Donnelly and me –all agreed to let a Sydney man have a share in our leases, as the land Board at Cowra had given its decision against us. Stayed at home all night. Showery.

24 Jul 1888     D.Donnelly and I making out a Declaration to be sent to the Minister for Mines. Showers all day.

25 Jul 1888     I rode out to Broula. Gray, D.Perry, and I prospecting on a small blowon the right as you go to Hood’s mine.

26  Jul 1888    Gray and I working all day at the Little Knob.

27 Jul 1888     Old Mrs W R Watt found dead this morning sitting in a chair. Showers all day.

28 Jul 1888     McNab, Gray and Perry went to Cowra. I was at the camp all day. Cold day.

29 Jul 1888     Sunday.  Gray and I had a kangaroo hunt this evening.

30 Jul 1888     Gray, Duff and I went to Jack Hood’s furniture sale at Yarra. Gray’s claim not sold. This was the last day. Mrs Watt buried today at Bumbaldry.

31 Jul 1888     At the camp all day.

1 Aug 1888      Gray and I commenced to sink a shaft about one mile and a half west of Broula Hill.

2 Aug 1888      Gray and I working at the shaft all day. A very cold day.

3 Aug 1888      Working at the shaft. Heavy fog all the morning.

4 Aug 1888      Gray went to Cowra. I stayed at the camp all day.

5 Aug 1888      Sunday.  Gray, Fine day. Hood and I went out kangarooing at the back of Arthur Ingrey’s.

6 Aug 1888      I rode out to a gully running on the Broula side of Norman’s Mount and brought some quartz specimens to get assayed. Thomas Robertson  married to Hannah Middlemiss.

7 Aug 1888      Gray and I walked to a reef on the red creek at the back of Fine day. Hood’s. We sunk on it but it did not seem to go down.

8 Aug 1888      Gray and I rode out to a mountain between Hawk’s Nest Gully and Norman’s Mount and brought in some quartz specimens. We killed a large kangaroo near the camp, skinned him and brought home the hind quarter for soup.

9 Aug 1888      At the camp all day.

10 Aug 1888    I rode to the west end of Norman’s Mount  and followed along the top eastwards to the end and brought home some quartz specimens.

11 Aug 1888    At the camp all day. Cloudy.

12 Aug 1888    Sunday.  Steve Duff, Gray and I went out towards Cheery’s Creek kangaroo hunting. Got two. Brought tools from shaft. Gray and I were working in the evening in Quigley’s paddock hare hunting.

13 Aug 1888    I rode in to Cowra and back. Very cold day.

14 Aug 1888    I walked out prospecting on the hills near Norman’s Mount. A cold day.

15 Aug 1888    Stayed at the camp all day. Cold unsettled weather. Rain wanted.

16 Aug 1888    I followed along under the hills around the east end of Norman’s Mount to where the Wests showed me a quartz reef and a green kind of lode. I came back along W R Watt’s boundary fence to the camp.

17 Aug 1888    At the camp all day. Set some traps to catch kangaroos. Cloudy.

18 Aug 1888    McNab and Gray went to Cowra. I stayed at the camp all day.  Cloudy.

19 Aug 1888    Sunday.  At the camp. W Boxall and John Connelly came at 2 o’clock. The quartz we sent from near Norman’s Mount assayed 5 oz 14 dwts of gold and 1 oz 19 dwts to the ton.

20 Aug 1888    Gray and I rode to the quartz reefs at Norman’s Mount and got some stone from 3 reefs, brought them to the camp and crushed the three samples separately. We sent them by coach to John Connelly to be forwarded to Sydney for assay. Ellen Walsh in the Grenfell coach going to Cowra.

21 Aug 1888    Gray and I set a lot of snares on an old brush fence between the top of Brush Hill and Cherry’s Creek. We went to Hood’s mine and got a pick and shovel of ours. Got to camp at 1 o’clock. McNab gone to Cowra. Took all his goods and chattels.

22 Aug 1888    Rode out to West’s reef at Norman’s Mount. Came back through Sam Brown’s paddock.

23 Aug 1888    Gray and I working at the shaft we were working in before west from the top of Broula Hill. We set some more traps.

24 Aug 1888    Gray and I went wallaby shooting at the back of David Hood’s Shot two wallabies and a large wallaroo. Duff left Broula.

25 Aug 1888    Gray, Perry and I rode in to Cowra. I got back to camp at 8 o’clock.

26 Aug 1888    Sunday.  Setting traps to catch kangaroos.

27 Aug 1888    Sonme person set fire to the fence that we had our traps set on. Burned some traps. No kangaroos.

28 Aug 1888    Gray and I set a lot of traps on the end of the hill next to the road.

29 Aug 1888    We had a look at the traps. No kangaroos. We went to a hill at the back of D. Hood’s and cut a trench to cut a small ironstone lode.

30 Aug 1888    Looked at the traps. No luck. I stayed at the camp all day.

31 Aug 1888    No luck with the traps.  Gray and I commenced a shaft on the hill back of D. Hood’s, where we were trenching. Shot 5 wallabys. Windy day.

1 Sep 1888      Raining all night and up to 12 o’clock today. W Gray went to Cowra. No Town and Country[1] today.

2 Sep 1888      Sunday.  Gray came from Cowra and brought a rifle with him. We went up the crek past Dribbendrew and had a shot or two at kangaroos. No luck. We got the assays from Sydney of the Norman’s Mount stone. Only a trace of silver. No gold. Something wrong somewhere.

3 Sep 1888      Gray and I went to the quartz reefs at Norman’s Mount. We brought some quartz to the camp, and 3 assays, and sent them to John Connelly, Cowra, to be forwarded to Sydney to be assayed. In the evening Gray and I out kangarooing. No luck.

4 Sep 1888      I rode in to Cowra to have a meeting of shareholders, but James Connelly deceived me and went to Canowindra . I came back to the camp.

5 Sep 1888      I crushed some stone with the white mineral in, and sent it to Mr Donnelly to be assayed.

6 Sep 1888      Gray and I out shooting kangaroos. I shot one.

7 Sep 1888      Kangarooing along W R Watt’s fence. I shot one.

8 Sep 1888      I rode in to Cowra. Donnelly, Evans, Connelly and I had a meeting. We settled up to date all but the assays. They allowed me £2.5.0 per week, 16 weeks. After paying my share of the expenses, I had £23.3.0 coming to me. Stayed in Cowra all night.

9 Sep 1888      Sunday.  I rode out to Broula early. D Donnelly drove out Harrie Wood, Under Secretary for Mines T W E David, Government Geologist. Mr and Mrs Evans drove out too. They inspected both mines and seemed well pleased with the show. They started back at 4 o’clock to catch the Sydney mail train.

10 Sep 1888    Out shooting kangaroos. Mary O’Shaughnessy went to work at P Murray’s on the drapery side. Summer coming in fast.

11 Sep 1888    Out shooting kangaroos. Fine day.

12 Sep 1888    Gray and I went to our shaft at the back of D Hood’s and sunk it about 18 inches. After dinner, Gray and I went to Cowra. First day of the Show. Not many people there. I stayed in Cowra all night.

13 Sep 1888    At the Showground all day. Great crowd there, but there was not much to be seen. Abigail, Minister for Mines, and our Member, Mr Garland, were present.

14 Sep 1888    Gray and I started for our camp at Broula. Gray borrowed a rifle from Harry Keys.

15 Sep 1888    We shot two kangaroos. Gray went to Cowra.

16 Sep 1888    Sunday.  Gray came from Cowra. He and I went over on Cotton’s side kangaroo shooting.

17 Sep 1888    Gray and I sinking shaft at back of D Hood’s. We got back to camp at 12 o’clock. Mr Biddulph brought out three Melbourne mining speculators in a trap. They took some marble and some magnetic iron from the north of the road.

18 Sep 1888    Gray and I  walked out to W R Watt’s paddock to shoot kangaroos. Gray shot one. We got back to the camp at three o’clock. D Perry stayed at the camp all night.

19 Sep 1888    Stayed at the camp all day, waiting for an expert to come and inspect South Broula silver and gold mine. The expert did not come.

20 Sep 1888    The expert did not come. A few light showers.

21 Sep 1888    Went out on west side kangarooing.

22 Sep 1888    Gray and I rode in to Cowra. We got there at 11 o’clock. The experts had just arrived. We started back to the camp and rode out to the camp in one hour and twenty minutes. D Donnelly drove out one expert and Mr Garland our Member, drove out another expert. A McNab drove out in a sulky. The experts had a look at the South Broula silver mine and started back to Cowra. A good shower after dark.

23 Sep 1888    Sunday.  Raining most all day.

24 Sep 1888    Raining up to 12 o’clock. After dinner went shooting kangaroos along W R Watt’s fence. No kangaroos there. Heavy shower after dark.

25 Sep 1888    Gray and I walked  out into Watt’s paddock. I shot one kangaroo. Gray shot one brush wallaby.

26 Sep 1888    Gray and I rode out along Watt’s fence to shoot kangaroos. We went on top of Norman’s Mount. We saw a native dog there. We came back through Mr Watt’s paddock. Gray shot two kangaroos.

27 Sep 1888    Gray and I sinking our shaft at back of D Hood’s.  We worked there all day. Every indication of a lode.

28 Sep 1888    Kangaroo shooting all day.

29 Sep 1888    Gray and I rode in to Cowra. I got a cheque from S Evans for £23.3.0  for 16 weeks work at Broula silver mine. I stayed in Cowra all night.

30 Sep 1888    Sunday.  Gray and I came to the camp at Broula. Garland could not sell South Broula silver and gold mine.

1 Oct 1888      Gray and I rode to Norman’s Mount. To shoot two billy goats. We found them but they were too wild to get a shot at them.

2 Oct 1888      We went again after the goats but could not find them.

3 Oct 1888      Out shooting kangaroos on the mountain near Dribbendrew.

4 Oct 1888      Gray and I sinking shaft at the back of David Hood’s. No bread or beef came in the coach for us today.

5 Oct 1888      Gray and I sinking shaft all day. No beef. I had to shoot a kangaroo for tea.

6 Oct 1888      Gray and I rode into Cowra. Our party was going to have a meeting but Mr Evans did not come home until 7 o’clock. Gray and I came back to the camp at 11 o’clock. I bought a map from D Donnelly showing the land that Swain had put in an application to select.

7 Oct 1888      Sunday.  I walked around the portion that we are disputing with E P Swain. I could not find where he had ever marked it out.

8 Oct 1888      Raining this morning. Gray and I made a wooden windlass and carried it to our claim at the back of D Hood’s and put it up over the shaft. We pegged out 40 acres. Coming to the camp in the evening, I shot one kangaroo. Gray shot two kangaroos.

9 Oct 1888      I rode to Cowra. Evans, Donnelly and I had a meeting. Agreed to get legal advice about our dispute with Swain at Broula. A letter from Under Secretary for Mines to peg out our copper lease at Cockatoo afresh. D Donnelly objected to pay me any longer at Broula.

10 Oct 1888    Gray and I working at the shaft at ther back of D Hood’s.

11 Oct 1888    Gray and I working at the shaft. The crops are only just over the ground. Very hot day.

12 Oct 1888    Gray and I working at the shaft. We have to use powder.

13 Oct 1888    Gray and I working at the shaft up to 12 o’clock. We rode in to Cowra. Gray’s party had a meeting. They are going to sink a shaft 50 feet at 15/- per foot. We got to camp at 12 o’clock.

14 Oct 1888    Sunday.  After 12 o’clock Gray and I went out to shoot kangaroos. Gray  wounded a large wallaroo. Gray had him by the tail once but he got away from the both of us. Hot day.

15 Oct 1888    Gray and I working at the shaft at the back of D Hood’s.

16 Oct 1888    Gray and I working at the shaft all day.

17 Oct 1888    McNab came out in his spring cart. Gray and he are going to commence their shafton their silver lode, South broula.

18 Oct 1888    McNab and Gray commenced to sink. I went out kangaroo shooting. No luck. Windy day.

19 Oct 1888    After dinner, went out. Shot one wallaroo. Windy day.

20 Oct 1888    James O’Shaughnessy sent by coach a new Winchester repeating rifle and 250 cartridges. In the evening, Gray and I went out shooting kangaroos. McNab gone to Cowra.  A man named Ryan and Dennis Cass taken in custody for stealing 100 sheep the property of Farrars.

21 Oct 1888    Gray and I out kangaroo shooting. Only got one. Byrne, Catholic Bishop of Bathurst, in Cowra. He blessed the Catholic Burial Ground.

22 Oct 1888    I rode in to Cowra. Mr Evans, Manager of the Bank of New South Wales, said that Mr Dudley, Assistant Surveyor to Mr Biddulph had gone out to Broula to measure our leases, and R Cotton’s C.P.S on the north side of the Grenfell road, on the east side of Broula Hill. I came back to the camp. I shot a kangaroo in the gorge. D Cass and Ryan committed for stealing 50 of Farrars sheep.

23 Oct 1888    waiting at the camp all day for the surveyor.

24 Oct 1888    I walked to Dudley’s camp in Cotton’s paddock. I agreed to meet him at our old copper shafts at BroulaNorth at 1 o’clock. He saw the south and west lines of our two mineral blocks, measured portions 1 and 2 of 20 acres each and oone line and a half of our 40 acre lease No 11 adjoining 1 and 2 and joining a selection of R Cotton’s on top of the hill.

25 Oct 1888    Dudley surveyed Gray’s and McNab’s 40 acre mineral lease where they are sinking on the silver lode, and part of a 20 acre lease of theirs joining on to their 40 acre block.

26 Oct 1888    Dudley finished their 40 acre lease, and a 20 acre lease alongside of theirs for our party. No 15. He measured a portion of 40 acres for Gray and McNab. Part of it crossed the Grenfell road, north side, and joins on to a 12 acre lease of our party’s, No 10, joining Nos 1 and 2. their numbers are – block they are sinking No 12, the 20 acre block No 13, and the block crossing the road No 14. Thunder this evening.

27 Oct 1888    Dudley finished my 40 acre Lease South Broula.

28 Oct 1888    Sunday.  Gray and I out in W R Watt’s Bumbaldry paddock. I shot a native dog. Got to camp at dark. D Hood put his name on the native dog list for two pounds.

29 Oct 1888    I rode up to Mr W R Watt’s, Bumbaldry. He had gone to grenfell. I showed the native dog skin to Willie Watt. I came back to the camp. I went from there to Mr Beasley’s Wattamondara woolshed. Mr Beasley put his name down for two pounds for the native dog. From there I went to Mr Houliston’s 1½   miles. He put his name down for two pounds. From there to Pat Cass 2 miles. He put his name down for two pounds. From there to Mr Suttor’s woolshed, Warrangong. He put his name down for two pounds. From there back to the camp.

30 Oct 1888    I rode down to Sam Brown’s on the Back Creek. He had gone to Cowra. I came back to Ingrey’s, turned off there down to Simpson’s. He was not at home. Came to the camp and had dinner. I went to Bumbaldry woolshed. I saw Mr W R Watt there. He put his name down for two pounds. From there I came to Huckles, top of Broula Hill. He promised to put his name down on my native dog list. He wanted to see his brothers first. I came on to the camp. Real hot day.

31 Oct 1888    I walked out into Mr Watt’s paddock. I shot a large kangaroo and a brush wallaby. Real hot day.

1 Nov 1888     At the camp all day.

2 Nov 1888     I rode to Cowra. Cass and Ryan tried for staeling Farrar’s sheep. Ryan 10 years. Cass acquitted. Got three drills made. Got powder and fuse.

3 Nov 1888     At the camp up to 12 o’clock. I shot a wallaroo in the evening. McNab gone to Cowra.

4 Nov 1888     Sunday.  Gray put his mare in his cart and we brought a cask of water from the spring. As we were coming back, we took notice of a bushfire, just started at the back of Dribbendrew. In the evening, we went up the gorge past the fire. At 11 o’clock tonight, the south side of Dribbendrew all on fire.

5 Nov 1888     I pegged out a 40 acre mineral lease on the south side of McNab’s and Gray’s gold and silver lease. I got a good trace of copper on it. At 12 o’clock the bush fire came up the road opposite our camp. Gray, McNab and I tried to stop the fire on Cotton’s side. We had to leave it. The wind had blown the fire across the road and Hood’s brush fence afire close to our camp. We made a gap and stopped the fire. We worked at the fire on Cotton’s side up to 11 o’clock tonight.

6 Nov 1888     I went early this morning and worked hard at the fire for about 3 hours. Prospecting on my 40 acres up to 3 o’clock. All Cotton’s side on fire, up to the top of Broula. I walked up to Huckles with my subscription lists for the native dog I shot. I left him the paper for him to sign.

7 Nov 1888     Working on my lease up to 11 o’clock. In the evening, I went to the claim at the back of D Hood’s.

8 Nov 1888     Working on my 40 acre lease joining Gray’s and McNab’s.

9 Nov 1888     Gray and I commenced to sink shaft deper on our lease at back of D Hood’s. Sports at Cowra.

10 Nov 1888   Gray and I working at the mine at back of D Hood’s. Great thunder and lightning but only a sprinkle of rain. Egan the Butcher sent no beef. Sports at Cowra today.

11 Nov 1888   Sunday.  Gray and I rode in to W R Watt’s Bumbaldry paddock to shoot kangaroos. We did not get a shot. Hot day.

12 Nov 1888   I rode in to Cowra. D Donnelly, S Evans, J. Connelly and I had a meeting at Mr Donnelly’s store about getting witnesses to meet the Land Board enquiry about our mineral lease at West Broula. We agreed to let Mr Donnelly get a transfer of the £100 granted to us from the prospecting vote to South Broula on condition that we get £100 from next year’s vote.

13 Nov 1888   I was working on the 40 acre lease, south of Gray’s and McNab’s silver lease, South Broula. Hot windy day.

14 Nov 1888   I rode to the quartz reef near Norman’s Mount and got some of the quartz. Shot a small kangaroo. Got to camp at 12 o’clock. I rode up to Huckle’s place at the top of Broula Hill. He put his name down on my native dog list for one pound. Windy day. No sign of rain.

15 Nov 1888   I rode to S Brown’s, Back Creek and got 10/- from him on my native dog list. Got to camp at 12 o’clock. In walked over to the claim at the back of D Hood’s and brought some specimens. Great fires on the Conimbla Mountain. Dudley surveying Cotton’s and E P Swain’s C.P.L.

16 Nov 1888   Working on 40 acre mineral protection area, south of Gray’s and McNab’s 40 acre silver lease.

17 Nov 1888   Gray and McNab went to Cowra. I walked up the gorge and got some ripple stone. Hot day. Great smoke. No sign of rain. By myself all night.

18 Nov 1888   Sunday.  At the camp. In the evening,Gray and I went to the claim at the back of D Hood’s. Gray shot a wallaroo.

19 Nov 1888   Gray and I working on the claim at the back of D Hood’s. Country covered with smoke. Hot day.

20 Nov 1888   Gray and I working all day. John Connelly came to the camp at 4 o’clock. I rode in to Cowra with him. I went and saw Mr S Evans, Manager of the Bank of New South Wales. I agreed to go with him and John Connelly to the limestone caves near Walli.

21 Nov 1888   I went with John Connelly and Mr Evans in a waggonette and pair of horses. We went along the Carcoar road to the Sheet of Bark. From there to old Burley Jackey . From there we kept the left hand road to Walli on the Canowindra  and Carcoar road. We called at Bishop’s, the Walli Post Office, and from there down to the caves, about three miles. We took out the horses at the caves and prospected down the cave creek and got some oyster fossil. Came back to the waggonette. Went in the cave. Came out and got some more oyster fossil limestone. Put the horse in (the waggonette) and made a start past Walli. Came along the cleared road to the Sheet of Bark. We had to break through two fences. We got to Cowra at 8 o’clock.

22 Nov 1888   I got to the camp at Broula at 12 o’clock. Gray and I went to the claim and worked all the evening. Real hot day. The country all smoke.

23 Nov 1888   Gray and I working on the claim at the back of D Hood’s. Great many of the farmers mowing their wheat crops for hay. Some of the crops not worth cutting.

24 Nov 1888   We worked at the claim up to 12 o’clock. Gray went to Cowra. real hot day. Hot smoke.

25 Nov 1888   Sunday.  Gray and I rode out to Norman’s Mount to shoot kangaroos. We got none. Got back to the camp at 12 o’clock. Gray’s draught mare gone. Great smoke.

26 Nov 1888   Gray and I working on the claim at the back of D Hood’s.

27 Nov 1888   Gray and I working at the claim.

28 Nov 1888   Gray and I worked at the claim up to 12 o’clock.   We then rode in to Cowra. I stayed at home all night. Great heat.

29 Nov 1888   The Land Board Court today. We thought that the land that we were disputing at Broula with Swain and Cotton would be heard today, but the Board did not bring it on. They confirmed two other lots for Swain and Cotton. Gray and I came out to the camp.

30 Nov 1888   A light shower this morning. Gray and I went kangaroo shooting. I walked to the spring on the south side of Norman’s Mount. No luck. A good shower after dark.

1 Dec 1888     Gray and I rode to Cowra. I rode out to Norman’s Mount, kangaroo shooting. No luck today. Gray not back to the camp tonight. I am all alone tonight.

2 Dec 1888     Sunday.  I rode out to Norman’s Mount. From there in to W R Watt’s paddock to see if I could get a shot at the native dogs. I could not see any.

3 Dec 1888     Gray and I working in the shaft at the back of D Hood’s.

4 Dec 1888     Gray working on the claim at the back of D Hood’s. Hood pegged out a 40 acre lease on our line south, leaving about 20 chains between him and me. Butcher sent no beef.

5 Dec 1888     Gray and I pegged out the spare ground between Hood and us. We were working ion the claim. Hot day.

6 Dec 1888     Gray and I working on the claim. No beef.

7 Dec 1888     Working on the claim. The bush fire nearly burnt George Grant of Merriganowry  out today.

8 Dec 1888     Gray and I working in the claim at the back of D Hood’s up to 12 o’clock. We got our horss and rode in to Cowra. O’Neill. The Cowra Trooper, and Black tracker rode in with us. I started back to camp at 8 o’clock by myself. Hot day.

9 Dec 1888     Sunday. . At the camp. In the evening, I walked up the gorge to get a shot at a kangaroo. Gray came to camp at 9 o’clock tonight. Hot day. No sign of rain.

10 Dec 1888   Gray and I working at the claim at the back of D Hood’s. We had to stop work at 10 o’clock for want of powder. We came to the camp. I started up to Cotton’s to borrow some blasting powder. I met him on Broula. He promised to call at the camp tonight. Gray and I went up to the gorge. I shot a kangaroo. Hot day.

11 Dec 1888   Mr Cotton did not call last night. I walked up at 10 o’clock this morning and borrowed 3 lbs of blasting powder. Gray and I had dinner and wentto the claim and worked all evening. John Connelly called tonight and said I was not to go in to Cowra for the meeting until Thursday.

12 Dec 1888   Gray and I worked at the claim up to 12 o’clock. After dinner, we went to Mr Cotton’s sale at his place top of Broula Hill. Most all the furniture was bought in. Cloudy day. Very hot. Adam McNab came to the camp.

13 Dec 1888   I rode in to Cowra to have a meeting, but D Donnelly had gone to Melbourne. Great wind storm with a light shower of rain. I came back to the camp at Broula.

14 Dec 1888   Gray, McNab and I walked over to the claim at the back of D Hood’s.  Got back to camp at 12 o’clock. McNab, gray and D Perry started to work on their claim after dinner. Cloudy morning.

15 Dec 1888   Gray, Perry, McNab and I rode in to Cowra. Gray and I came back to camp after dark.

16 Dec 1888   Sunday.  Great thunder and lightning all night. About 80 points of rain fell. Mr S Evans, bank of New South Wales, and Mr Hulle, Commercial bank, came in a buggy. Mr Evans got one assay from the mine at the back of D Hood’s. A trace of silver and gold.

17 Dec 1888   Gray failed to work any more in the mine at the back of D Hood’s. I shot two kangaroos. Gray, McNab and Perry sinking the second 50 feet in their shaft at 25/- per foot. Light showers.

18 Dec 1888   I shot two kangaroos. John Connelly called today, driving a buggy up to Grenfell. He is in favour of putting on a man to sink a shaft at the back of D Hood’s. 10 feet deper.

19 Dec 1888   I went to the claim at the back of D Hood’s. I shot one kangaroo. I rode over to Norman’s Mount. In the evening.

20 Dec 1888   I went to the claim at the back of D Hood’s. Cloud with light showers. Not enough to lay the dust.

21 Dec 1888   I went to the claim. Got to camp at 11 o’clock. High winds and cloudy

22 Dec 1888   I went to the claim. Came back and got McNab’s mare, and Gray brought two casks of water.

23 Dec 1888   Sunday.  Gray, Perry and I went to a paddock above George Wilson’s. I shot a very large kangaroo. We got back to camp at 10 o’clock. Hot day.

25 Dec 1888   Christmas day. At home all day. James O’Shaughnessy, Mary O’Shaughnessy, Grace O’Shaughnessy, and I. Real hot day.

26 Dec 1888   Ned Murphy agreed to come and work with me in the mine at the back of D Hood’s. I came out to the camp. Races at Chivers. There was great fighting there as I passed after dark. Real hot day. Rain very much wanted.

27/29 Dec 88  I went to the mine at the back of D Hood’s..

30 Dec 1888   Gray, Perry and I rode to Wilson’s paddock to shoot kangaroos. I never got a shot there. I shot a small kangaroo near the camp coming home to the camp. Hot day.

31 Dec 1888   I rode in to Cowra. Evans and party has to pay me from September 8 to date. Two months at £2.5.0 per week. The remainder at £1 per week.

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[1] Newspaper.