Thomas O’Shaughnessy’s Diary Part 29 1897

 1897

1 Jan 1897      I had dinner with Minnie and Grace O’Shaughnessy and then came out to Yarra . Hugh Watt called.

2 Jan 1897      I brought a cask of water from the Lower dam. Mr Squire came out.

3 Jan 1897      Sunday I put the bullocks in the upper paddock. A son of Andrew Mackie 11 years of age was struck dead by lightening to day in Cowra. A light shower with thunder and lightning.

4 Jan 1897      I saw the bullocks. Not much water in the Top dam. Painting inside of house. A light shower after 12 o’clock. David Davis, Mrs Rheubens father, died at Waverly in Sydney aged 76 years.

5 Jan 1897      I rode into Cowra. Dr. Bartlett examined my ear and gave me some lotion. I saw Mr Squire. I bought 2 ½ oz of iodide of potassium. Had dinner with Minnie and Grace. Came to Lawrences and got the shoes on my horse removed and came on to Yarra. Kate O’Shaughnessy came from Mount Costigan. Cool day.

6 Jan 1897      Painting inside of house all day. Very hot.

7 Jan 1897      Closing boards in wall of house. Counted the bullocks 109. Hot sultry day.

8 Jan 1897      Painting inside of house. Hot winds all day.

9 Jan 1897      Raining all day. Making up my Diary.

10 Jan 1897    Sunday raining all night and light showers all day but no water in the dams.

11 Jan 1897    I filled up the verandah and sides of house with clay. I saw the cattle and sheep – light showers.

12 Jan 1897    Digging around the fruit trees all day.

13 Jan 1897    Finished digging around fruit trees. Grass growing.

14 Jan 1897    I counted the Queensland bullocks 109. The local lot 20 head. Cloudy all day.

15 Jan 1897    Putting up palings – put out 35 of J. Anderson’s sheep. I killed a sheep. Cloudy day.

16 Jan 1897    I rode into Cowra had tea with Minnie and Grace and came back to Yarra.

17 Jan 1897    Sunday. At home. Cloudy

18 Jan 1897    Putting up paling on end of garden. A Mr Starr came to put up a fence. Cold last night.

19 Jan 1897    Putting up palings. Starr and Son came with a horse and cart. Cool day.

20 Jan 1897    Counted Cattle in top paddock 129. I saw the sheep and horses. Putting up palings. Starr splitting in the top paddock. Hot Day.

21 Jan 1897    Putting up palings. Very hot day.

22 Jan 1897    I finished paling north end of the garden. Dry wind.

23 Jan 1897    I put all the bullocks into Yarra paddock. I drove in to Cowra and stayed all night. I went to Dr. Bartlett’s. He dressed my ear. I paid him 12/6.

24 Jan 1897    Sunday. I got to Yarra at 6 o”clock this morning. Dry windy day.

25 Jan 1897    I put some horses out of the paddock. Young Ormsby brought back cart and harness.

26 Jan 1897    Anniversary of the Colony. Mr Squire and a man named Edwards drove out.

27 Jan 1897    I drove in to Cowra and got tyres of the waggonette, the front wheels, cut at Poignards. Paid 12/-. Windy.

28 Jan 1897    Putting up palings. Mr Ormsby came. Dry winds.

29 Jan 1897    I drove in to Cowra and stayed all night.

30 Jan 1897    I drove Kate and Grace O’Shaughnessy out to Yarra, and drove them back to Cowra in the evening.

31 Jan 1897    Sunday. I started at daylight from Cowra and got to Yarra at Sunrise. Mr Squire rode out in the evening.

1 Feb 1897      I repaired gate on the Reserve. Killed a sheep. James Smith, Murray’s Partner, going to get married to Miss Beveridge near Gundagai.

2 Feb 1897      I got young Starr to cart some old split rails. Great heat. Could not work. Lightening all around at dark and hot winds.

3 Feb 1897      Cutting old Nails to make palings for back of the garden. Hot winds. Could not work.

4 Feb 1897      Cutting old nails for palings. Kate O’Shaughnessy went by train to New Bridge and then by Coach to Tuena. Going to Mount Costigan to teach. A few drops of rain.

5 Feb 1897      I got young Starr to bring me a load of old nails.

6 Feb 1897      I drove in to Cowra. Mr Squire paid me 12/- for cutting tyres of Waggonette. Stayed in Cowra.

7 Feb 1897      Sunday. I got out to Yarra at 7 o’clock. Mr Squire drove John Peisley out to have a look at the bullocks.

8 Feb 1897      Put up a fowl roost. Measured 28 chains for Starr’s fence.

9 Feb 1897      Putting up palings. Killed a sheep. Dry weather.

10 Feb 1897    Putting up palings. Mr Squire sent bay springcart horse

11 Feb 1897    I drove into Cowra and brought 6 Hens. I left black smut in Cowra and had to go back for her. I had Tea with Minnie and Grace O’Shaughnessy.

12 Feb 1897    I put the Bullocks in the Cultivation paddock. Hot.

13 Feb 1897    Painting gates. Starr finished putting up posts.

14 Feb 1897    Sunday. Mr Squire drove out.

15 Feb 1897    Stopping holes under the paling. Cloudy. A few drops.

16 Feb 1897    Banking earth against the palings. Cloudy.

17 Feb 1897    Putting up a W.C. Hot dry day

18 Feb 1897    Working at the W.C. Starr finished the paddock.

19 Feb 1897    Building. Starr and Sons left. Very hot day.

20 Feb 1897    I rode into Cowra, got back to Yarra at 1 o’clock.

21 Feb 1897    Sunday. At home cold wind. John Bryant came.

22 Feb 1897    Working at the Closet. Counted the Bullocks 110.

23 Feb 1897    I was sick all day. No sign or rain.

24 Feb 1897    Working. Windy from the south west all day.

25 Feb 1897    I made a book shelf. Strong wind from south west.

26 Feb 1897    I killed a sheep. Top dam nearly dry. No sign of rain.

27 Feb 1897    I drove into Cowra. Mr Squire paid me £2-10.0 Robert Chivers’ youngest son died, his spine affected.

28 Feb 1897    Sunday. I drove out to Yarra. Chivers son buried. John Morrison died this morning.

1 Mar 1897      I painted gate on the Grenfell Road. Michael Duggan brought out some timber to make a gate.

2 Mar 1897      I rode to Jack Hood for our wire strainer. Cloudy.

3 Mar 1897      Mr Squire drove out in the Buggy. Arthur Middlemiss and Maggie Walsh rode and drove out some cattle and left the horses they rode, and went back in the Buggy.

4 Mar 1897      I put Tom the horse in top paddock and kept bay pony mare to ride. Dry hot day.

5 Mar 1897      Two men came to look at the grubbing in the top paddock. Great dust storm from the west.

6 Mar 1897      Showed McKeown all the blocks to be grubbed. I drove into Cowra and stayed all night.

7 Mar 1897      I got out to Yarra at 7 o’clock. Sam Daly drew a horse in a Sweep he will draw about £200.

8 Mar 1897      W. Hope came to have a look at the grubbings and J. Gleeson came. Dry winds.

9 Mar 1897      Strong wind from the south. Federation Members E. Barton 104.521. G.H. Reid 89.919. J.H. Carruthers 87.525. W. McMillan 84.285. W.J. Lyne 78.229. J.K. Brunker 76.586. R.E. O’Connor 73.287. J.P. Abbot 64.117. J.T. Walker 57.082. B.R. Wise 56.793. Cardinal Moran 42.491.

10 Mar 1897    I took the cattle and horses out of the top (paddock) and drove them to the dam in Yarra. The dam in the top paddock dry. George Hurst came to look at the blocks to be grubbed. Frost last night. Strong wind from the south west.

11 Mar 1897    Some more men came to look at the ground to be grubbed. Very dry day.

12 Mar 1897    Some more men came to look at the grubbing.

13 Mar 1897    I showed some more men the blocks to be grubbed. I killed a sheep. real hot.

14 Mar 1897    Sunday. I rode to Jack Hood’s slaughter yard. Hot winds blowing all day.

15 Mar 1897    I repaired fence at the lower dam. Mr Squire drove out Jack Peisley. Elija Johnstone Brian got all the clearing at Yarra, about 750 acres, at about 12/6 per acre. Hot dry day.

16 Mar 1897    Elija Brien camped in the top paddock. He is going to sink a well. I lent him a windlass and a bucket hook. A red dust storm in the evening and lasted all night.

17 Mar 1897    St. Patrick Day. Real hot day.

18 Mar 1897    James Anderson set the grass afire in the paddock near the Grenfell road. Hot windy day.

19 Mar 1897    I have to water the cattle every day at the lower dam. Heavy clouds coming from the west all day.

20 Mar 1897    I rode the brown mare to Cowra. Mr Squire paid me £2-10-0. Very hot day. Home at 11 o’clock.

21 Mar 1897    Sunday. At home. Dry winds.

22 Mar 1897    Eliza and W. Schofield brought two loads of bricks for the well. Cloudy – A few drops of rain.

23 Mar 1897    Hugh Watt and his family came from Cowra to his farm adjoining Yarra top paddock. Hot day.

24 Mar 1897    Mr Squire rode out. I am making a gate. Dry winds.

25 Mar 1897    I took all the cattle to water. Hot day.

26 Mar 1897    I took all the cattle to water. Jim Gleeson called.

27 Mar 1897    I rode into Cowra and got back at 11 o’clock.

28 Mar 1897    Sunday. I killed a sheep. Real hot day.

29 Mar 1897    Making a gate. Very hot day

30 Mar 1897    Watered all the cattle. Making a gate.

31 Mar 1897    Mr Squire drove out. We marked a lot of green trees in the paddock – not to be grubbed.

1 Apr 1897      I finished marking all the trees. Hot day.

2 Apr 1897      I caught a snake in an iron opossum trap. Making a gate

3 Apr 1897      I drove in to Cowra and took Michael Duggan and Arnold in. I stayed in Cowra all night.

4 Apr 1897      Sunday. I drove out to Yarra by 7 o’clock.

5 Apr 1897      I gave the keys of our house in Cowra to Mrs H. Watt to give to Minnie O’Shaughnessy.

6 Apr 1897      I put up the gate going into the new paddock.

7 Apr 1897      Mr And Mrs Squire drove out. Hot dry day.

8 Apr 1897      I put a latch on the new gate. Hot winds.

9 Apr 1897      I painted the new gate with coal tar. Corneilas? O’Donnell of Goolagong died.

10 Apr 1897    I rode into Cowra and got the mare shod at Austins. Minnie and Grace have left Murrays Cottage and are at James O’Shaughnessy’s place.

11 Apr 1897    At home Sunday. Hot winds.

12 Apr 1897    I drove into Cowra and brought old Joey the Galah and the Tom Cat. High strong winds.

13 Apr 1897    I killed a sheep. Great wind last night. Cold today.

14 Apr 1897        Grace O’Shaugnessy went to Sydney. Hot.

15 Apr 1897    Repairing Joey’s Cage. Elija Brien finished the well 125 feet. No water.

16 Apr 1897    Good Friday. Mr And Mrs Squire and family drove out. Hot dry no sign of rain.

17 Apr 1897    I rode into Cowra and got back at 9 o’clock.

18 Apr 1897    Easter Sunday. Mrs H. Watt and children came down. Sultry day. A few drops of rain.

19 Apr 1897    Easter Monday. Making Joey’s Cage. Races at Cowra. Windy day.

20 Apr 1897    Working at Joey’s Cage. Second day of the Cowra Races. Dry windy day.

21 Apr 1897    I finished Joey’s Cage. Windy day.

22 Apr 1897    I shot a calf. Brought all the cattle down from the top paddock. Cold wind all day.

23 Apr 1897    Great wind all night and all day from the south east..

24 Apr 1897        Michael Duggan rode into Cowra. We got back to Yarra at 9 o’clock. The underground tank gone dry. Wind and dust.

25 Apr 1897    Sunday. Mr And Mrs Squire drove out.

26 Apr 1897    Elija commenced another well. I killed a sheep. Great wind from the south.

27 Apr 1897    I commenced to make a gate. A light shower.

28 Apr 1897        Making a gate. Very much like rain.                                                            

29 Apr 1897    Making a gate. Cold last night. Cold today.

30 Apr 1897    Making the gate. Cold night. Hot day.

1 May 1897     Michael Duggan and I took the waggonette and brought a cask of water from D.Donnelly’s Spring. Arthur Mackie brought Mr Squire’s brown mare and cart with lot of things in it.

2 May 1897     Sunday. Mr Squire drove out. We rode around the top paddock. I showed Michael Duggan where to get a load of pines in Samuel Brown’s paddock. Hot day.

3 May 1897     I unloaded the Cart and stacked the boards and battans

4 May 1897     I finished the gate. Frosts most every night and hot days.

5 May 1897     I got all the bullocks down from the top paddock and put up the gate at the stockyard. Michael Duggan finished work at Yarra and gone home. Very hot day.

6 May 1897     Fixing gate at the yard, great wind.

7 May 1897     John Bryant came. He wanted a fat bullock. I showed him some of the local bullocks. Great frost last night. Ice one inch thick.

8 May 1897     Great frost. Brought the bullocks from the top paddock.

9 May 1897     Sunday. Mr And Mrs Squire and children drove out. Frost last night.

10 May 1897   I rode to Pipers selection near Scrubby Camp. 320 acres fenced in and a cottage on it. Mr Squire has bought it – no water there. I killed a sheep.

11 May 1897   John Bryant came and took a fat bullock he bought from Mr Squire. I was putting Coal Tar on the Stockyard gate.

12 May 1897   Mr Squire drove Mr Dunlop out. He measured a piece of land frontage to the Grenfell Road that Elija Brien grubbed. Cloudy day.

13 May 1897   A few drops of rain. A Ball at Slessers??. He has sold his place to a man named Twigg??.

14 May 1897   Drove to Pipers and repaired the fence and put all stock out.

15 May 1897   I rode to Pipers selection and put out some cattle and repaired the fence. Hot day.

16 May 1897   Sunday. At home. A red dust storm.

17 May 1897   I inspected some grubbed ground for Cummins and Fred Watt. Mr Squire out – two of his children.

18 May 1897   Young Stibbard came and we took all the cattle on Yarra, 136 head, to a farm of old Benhams near the Tavern adjoining a farm of Stibbards. The cattle are to get water in Stibbard’s paddock and Stibbard’s sheep are to be brought to Yarra. A letter from Minnie O’Shaughnessy.

19 Apr 1897    Young Stibbard brought 102 cross bred sheep to be left in Yarra paddock until the bullocks are returned from Benhams. Mr Squire drove out and gave a cheque for five pounds. wages.

20 Apr 1897    I brought a cask of water from Donnelly’s paddock. I inspected a piece of ground for curing.

21 Apr 1897    I inspected most of Walker’s grubbing. Cold day.

22 Apr 1897    I rode into Cowra and got back at ½ past 9 o’clock. No sign of rain.

23 Apr 1897    I drove into Cowra and brought Minnie O’Shaughnessy back to Yarra.

24 Apr 1897    Queens Birthday. Minnie went by Coach to Cowra. Mr Squire drove out in springcart a load of chaff and corn.

25 May 1897   I took Paddy the horse and put him in Benham’s paddock with the bullocks. A light shower.

26 May 1897   We had a few light showers. Not enough to lay the dust.

27 May 1897   I killed a sheep. Cold wind from the west.

28 May 1897   I finished inspecting Walker’s grubbing.

29 May 1897   I gave the final pass for Walker. Hot day.

30 May 1897   Sunday. Mr Squire drove out in the Sulky.

31 May 1897   Raining from 2 o’clock up to 11 tonight.

1 Jun 1897          I passed a piece of grubbing for Cummins . Patrick Neville of Hovells Creek. A horse kicked him over the heart and killed him.

2 Jun 1897      Mr And Mrs Squire drove out. Mrs Provo died at Warrengong. Michael came out to fence.

3 Jun 1897      I rode over to scrubby paddock. Mrs Provo buried.

4 Jun 1897      I rode into Cowra and saw Mr Squire and then rode up to the Railway Bridge and met Mr Nicholas Challacombe with 454 of Mr Squire’s sheep. Mr Challacombe came as far as John Hoods and turned back to Cowra. I put the sheep in Yarra paddock.

5 Jun 1897      I got the sheep in and took 4 rams out and put them in the Horse paddock. Frost this morning.

6 Jun 1897      Sunday at home. White frost.

7 Jun 1897      I took four horses of Mr Squire’s to Scrubby paddock.

8 Jun 1897      I rode to Benham’s paddock to see the bullocks and brought my horse Paddy back. A light frost.

9 Jun 1897      I took Paddy the horse to Scrubby paddock. Mr And Mrs Squire drove out.

10 Jun 1897    I inspected a piece of grubbing for Denny McGill and party. Cloudy A few drops of rain.

11 Jun 1897    I rode around the paddock. Cold wind from south.

12 Jun 1897    James Gleeson came to plough. Cold day.

13 Jun 1897    Sunday. Mr Squire drove his two sons out – he drove me around the top paddock. Cold wind.

14 Jun 1897    I inspected Daltons grubbing.

15 Jun 1897    I put John Bryant’s sheep out of the paddock. I inspected a piece of grubbing for John McCarthy,

16 Jun 1897    Mr Squire drove out and another gentleman came with him. They had been at Pipers, the Scrubby paddock.

17 Jun 1897    I put out John Bryant’s sheep.

18 Jun 1897    I killed a sheep. Raining after dark.

19 Jun 1897    I rode to Cowra and back. Rained all night.

20 Jun 1897    Sunday. I rode up to Mrs H. Watt’s and got the Iodide of potassium she brought from Cowra.

21 Jun 1897    I inspected a piece of Grubbing for the Swede, H. Hart. A young Grogan and a son of Dunlop came to build a fowl house.

22 Jun 1897    Queen Victoria Jubilee. Mr Squire drove out. Harry Hart finished the fowl house. Great fog.

23 Jun 1897    Making a clod crusher. Cloudy.

24 Jun 1897    Painting the fowl house with tar. Cloudy. A few drops.

25 Jun 1897    I passed some grubbed ground for Dalton. Commenced to rain this morning and continued all day.

26 Jun 1897    John Bryant and I inspected Duggan’s fence. Raining most all night.

27 Jun 1897    Sunday. Mr Squire rode out and we went round paddock.

28 Jun 1897    Went over a piece of ground for Lovett. Rain last night.

29 Jun 1897    Elija finishing Jack Reid’s portion. J. Gleeson commenced to sow wheat. Great fog.

30 Jun 1897    I went over some grubbing. Mr Squire drove out. We measured line for a new fence on boundary of lower Reserve. Fine warm day.

1 Jul 1897       Some person brought two bags of lucerne seed.

2 Jul 1897       I passed a piece of grubbing for W. Thompson. John Hood and I drafted his fat wethers out of the Yarra sheep. Cloudy. Much like rain.

3 Jul 1897       I passed some stump hole to be filled for Elija Brien. I rode to Piper’s selection, James Gleeson finished sowing the wheat.

4 Jul 1897       Sunday. Mr Squire drove out with his two boys. Mr Ormsby came. Cloudy day.

5 Jul 1897       I passed some more grubbing for Elija on Reid’s portion. Very white frost this morning.

6 Jul 1897       J. Gleeson ploughed the garden and commenced to sow lucerne with machine in a cart – 6 lb of lucerne to the acre.

7 Jul 1897       Mr And Mrs Squire drove out. Gleeson finished sowing the lucerne in the wheat paddock.

8 Jul 1897       Gleeson finished ploughing the garden. Frost.

9 Jul 1897       Patrick Maher died at his son’s place near Koorawatha aged 86. White frost.

10 Jul 1897     Gleeson shifted his camp to John Hood’s.

11 Jul 1897     Sunday. Mr Squire rode out. I killed a sheep.

12 Jul 1897     I passed a piece for Cast iron Jack and a piece for Lovett and went over a piece for Rogers. Cold day. Rain last night.

13 Jul 1897     I condemned 37 post on Newcombe and Joe Davis. Mr Squire sent Young Gillet out to dig the garden. Cold day.

14 Jul 1897     Passed piece for Rogers. Very cold day.

15 Jul 1897     I passed a piece for W. Thompson.

16 Jul 1897     Mr Squire drove Mr Wolsenholme out. Cold day.

17 Jul 1897     I showed Newcombe and Davis where to put up gate posts.

18 Jul 1897     Sunday. Mr And Mrs Squire and children drove out. A frost this morning.

19 Jul 1897     Went over 30 acres for Joe and frenchman and 9 pieces for Jack McCarthy. I harrowed the Garden.

20 Jul 1897     Raining most all night. Old Mrs David Robertson died tonight aged 70 years. Cancer on the head.

21 Jul 1897     Gleeson took some of his fowls away. Mr Squire drove out and brought a lot of fruit trees. He got Lovett to assist to put the trees in. We finished at 4 o’clock.

22 Jul 1897     Passed for Jack McCarthy. I harrowed half the garden. I gave Gillet his time and sent him to Mr Squire’s Cowra. Mrs Robertson buried.

23 Jul 1897     Hart’s men Grogan and Herbert to board up under the. back skillion. Raining.

24 Jul 1897     Passed some ground for the frenchman and Elija Brien. Hart’s men finished. Raining all the evening.

25 Jul 1897     Sunday. Mr Squire drove out and a garden expert pruned the trees. Rained all night and all day.

26 Jul 1897     The top dam full. A few showers. A good shower at dark.

27 Jul 1897     I passed four pieces of grubbing today.

28 Jul 1897     Mr Squire rode out. He sold 100 bullocks to W. Boxall at £3.10.0 and bought 800 sheep from Boxall at 5/6.

29 Jul 1897     I killed a sheep.  I got a letter from W.C.Davies Strathdoon Kennels Blacktown. He wants £4-4-0 for a deerhound pup two months old. Frost this morning.

30 Jul 1897     I passed two pieces of grubbing. Very hot day.

31 Jul 1897     Thunder from the west. We had heavy rain from daylight to 9 o’clock. Young Stibbard brought 35 head of cattle from Benhams paddock. A letter from Mr Squire.

1 Aug 1897      Sunday. Mr Squire rode out. We took 33 head of mixed cattle to

scrubby paddock. Mr Squire paid me £5.0.0 wages. Fine warm day.

2 Aug 1897      I passed two lots of grubbing. Jack McCarthy left. He gave some specimens from the Wee Jasper.

3 Aug 1897      McClymont brought some forage and rock salt and sundries from Mr Squire’s store. White frost.

4 Aug 1897      Mr And Mrs Squire drove out. White frost.

5 Aug 1897      I harrowed the garden. I put the Yarra sheep into the top paddock. White frost. Cloudy day.

6 Aug 1897      Commenced to rain at daylight and continued up to 10 o’clock. Young Newcombe came. Ground too wet to measure fence.

7 Aug 1897      I passed some grubbing for Jones and party.

8 Aug 1897      Sunday. Mr Squire rode out. We rode round the top paddock and the Yarra paddock. Light frost.

9 Aug 1897      Planting seeds in the garden. Cloudy and very cold.

10 Aug 1897    I put wire netting around the Bunna Bunna trees. I mustered Stibbard’s sheep. No frost. Fine warm day.

11 Aug 1897    I inspected some grubbing. I killed a sheep. Sowed some seeds – cabbage and turnips. A light shower at 5 o’clock.

12 Aug 1897    Mr Squire drove out – a light frost. Warm day.

13 Aug 1897    Rain during the night – a little rain during the day and a heavy shower at dark. Peisley’s sons brought 786 mixed sheep.

14 Aug 1897    Good rain last night and today. I sent a parcel to Minnie by Duggan.

15 Aug 1897    Sunday. Mr And Mrs Squire drove out.

16 Aug 1897    I inspected some grubbing. Working in the garden. Fine

17 Aug 1897    I inspected some grubbing. Elija Brien paid A. Arnold off.

18 Aug 1897    Great wind last night and some light showers. At work in the garden. Mr And Mrs Squire drove out. Cold wind all day.

19 Aug 1897    I inspected some grubbing for Bill Thompson.

20 Aug 1897    I rode down to Piper’s selection. I counted 33 head of cattle. John Wilson has come there to live. I brought away old Paddy the horse. I met Jack Peisley and Male going to see the cattle.

21 Aug 1897    I passed some grubbing. A letter from Minnie that Mr Costigan of Mount Costigan near Tuena had shot himself. Also Dick Cummins, Baker in Cowra, took his child about 18 months old and jumped down a well at his place. He broke his neck. The child was saved – not hurt. Fine day.

22 Aug 1894    Sunday. Arthur Middlemiss and Maggie Walsh drove out. Mrs H. Watt and Miss Deighton, schoolteacher at Broula, drove past. A few light showers.

23 Aug 1897    I wired up gate in new fence on the reserve. Dick Cummins buried today. I passed some more grubbing.

24 Aug 1897    I passed some more grubbing. Frost. Much like rain.

25 Aug 1897    Stibbard took his sheep away. Mr And Mrs Squire drove out. Joseph Ousby called. A few light showers.

26 Aug 1897    I brought 4 horses of Mr Squire’s from Piper’s selection. Mick Fallon took 3 of the horses to Cowra. A light shower last night.

27 Aug 1897    I inspected some grubbing. Working in the garden.

28 Aug 1897    I passed the last of 750 acres at 12/6 per acre, for Elija. Cattle at Piper’s sold 32/6 head.

29 Aug 1897    Sunday. Raining from 6 o’clock last night to 12 o’clock today. Water running all over the Plain. The top and lower dams full. Mr Squire rode out in the evening. Fine day.

30 Aug 1897    Working in the garden. Mrs Joseph Smith, Burrowa River, died. Sergeant McCartie formerly of Cowra died at Forbes.

31 Aug 1897    I drove all the horses and old Paddy into Cowra. Met Mr Squire at Avis’s. We put them in his cultivation paddock at the Cemetery. Mr Squire paid me £10 for inspecting Elija Brien’s grubbing at Yarra and £2-10-0 wages. I gave Minnie £16-10-0.

1 Sep 1897      Great wind and a good shower last night. Cold wind and sleet blowing all day. Starr and Sons came to put up a sheep yard.

2 Sep 1897      Working in the garden. I killed a sheep. Great wind all night.

3 Sep 1897      I inspected Mick Duggan’s grubbing. Great fog this morning.

4 Sep 1897      Working in the garden. Mr And Mrs T. Walsh drove out. Frost.

5 Sep 1897      Sunday. Mr Squire drove out. Fine warm day.

6 Sep 1897      Mick Duggan finished. Shower last night and another this morning.

7 Sep 1897      Richard Austin’s wife died – related to Mrs Guinan.

8 Sep 1897      Working in the garden. Fine day.

9 Sep 1897      I got H. Watt to mark 153 lambs. Starr and son assisted.

10 Sep 1897    I sent a letter to Elija Brien by Miss Sayers. Fine day.

11 Sep 1897    Working in the garden. A light frost this morning.

12 Sep 1897    Sunday. Mr And Mrs Squire and family drove out and had a picnic in top paddock. A light frost.

13 Sep 1897    Working in the garden. A frost this morning.

14 Sep 1897    In the garden. Frost – hot day.

15 Sep 1897    Working in the garden. Mr Squire drove out. A. Middlemiss and Taylor grocers and young Boxall. Very hot day.

16 Sep 1897    Working in the garden. Jim Anderson carting post for the woolshed.

17 Sep 1897    Working in the garden. I put some rock salt in top paddock.

18 Sep 1897    Tarring posts for the woolshed. Hot day.

19 Sep 1897    Sunday. I rode around both paddocks.

20 Sep 1897    Working in garden. Gleeson came. I killed a sheep. Hot day.

21 Sep 1897    McDonald from Francis came with two men to build a woolshed. Raining all the evening.

22 Sep 1897    Work in garden. Rain during the night and showers all day.

23 Sep 1897    Second day of the Cowra Show. I rode into Cowra and went to Mr Squire’s paddock and got black Paddy the horse. At the Show. I got to Yarra at 11 o’clock.

24 Sep 1897    Working in the Garden. McDonald’s men working.

25 Sep 1897    McDonald brought out a spring cart and took his men to Cowra. Fine day.

26 Sep 1897    Sunday. At home. I rode around the two paddocks.

27 Sep 1897    McDonald came out with 4 men to finish the woolshed. We had some nice showers in the evening.

28 Sep 1897    Working in the garden. Showers all the evening.

29 Sep 1897    Working in the garden. Light showers all day. Grass growing fast.

30 Sep 1897    Very cold in the morning and fine in the evening.

1 Oct 1897      Working in the garden. Fine cool day.

2 Oct 1897      Working all day. Starr and McDonald’s men gone to Cowra

3 Oct 1897      Sunday. I rode up to Broula Hill and got some iron stone. A lot of men working on south Broula for silver ore and iron.

4 Oct 1897      I rode to Sam Brown’s to see when he was going to shear. McDonald’s men came to finish the woolshed. White frost.

5 Oct 1897      At work. A letter from Mr Squire to put the sheep in the yard tomorrow morning. Cloudy evening.

6 Oct 1897      Mr Squire and Jack Peisley came. I sent a letter to the Revr. Father Curran. I killed a sheep. Some good rain last night.

7 Oct 1897      Working in the garden. A frost this morning.

8 Oct 1897      Mr Squire sent for the plough. Willie Watt called. Hot day.

9 Oct 1897      McDonald finished the woolshed. Maintenance man lost 2 children.

10 Oct 1897    Sunday. The lost children found at 2 o’clock this morning near Sam Brown’s. The Cowra Railway engine shed burnt down at 4 o’clock this morning.

11 Oct 1897    John Peisley and two sons came and took 270 fat sheep and 10 lambs. A good shower at 12 o’clock. Robert Unsworth died after an operation.

12 Oct 1897    I showed T. Starr where to get some pines in Sam Brown’s paddock. Fog this morning. Cloudy all day.

13 Oct 1897    Working in the garden. We had rain at 12 and 2 o’clock. Robert Chivers of the Back Creek died this evening.

14 Oct 1897    I rode to Sam Brown’s. He is shearing rams. Cloudy.

15 Oct 1897    I rode to Robert Chivers’ funeral. Great number at it. I got my boots at Lennons. Got back to Yarra at 7 o’clock.

16 Oct 1897    Painting the stockyard gates with tar. Fine day.

17 Oct 1897    Sunday. Mr And Mrs Squire and family drove out. James Gleeson and wife called. Gave Anderson some cabbage plants.

18 Oct 1897    Making guards for young trees. Thunder storm at 2 o’clock and continued all night. Starr and son came.

19 Oct 1897    Walter Starr and I with draught horse went over the garden with a cultivator and harrowed it. Afterwards we went to James Cass’s paddock and got some pines.

20 Oct 1897    Mr Squire registered black Smut. I gave S. Brown notice that we would muster this evening to shear. I put the sheep in the yard and some in the shed to shear in the morning.

21 Oct 1897    Starr and sons commenced to shear. I gave Jim Anderson notice that the Yarra sheep were mustered. A letter from Minnie.

22 Oct 1897    I put fastenings on the small gates. Light showers with thunder.

23 Oct 1897    I boarded up sides of old shed. A frost this morning.

24 Oct 1897    Sunday. Mr Squire drove Arthur Middlemiss out.

25 Oct 1897    I got the sheep in. Strong winds a little rain at dark.

26 Oct 1897    Working in the garden. Dry windy day

27 Oct 1897    I was painting end of house. Mr Squire drove Mr Challecombe out. They had some dinner. Dry day – rain much wanted.

28 Oct 1897    I did some painting. A light shower at dark.

29 Oct 1897    I put wire netting on the tree guards. Windy day.

30 Oct 1897    Painting. Wheat coming out in ear and no rain.

31 Oct 1897    Sunday. Hot day. Wind blowing from the west

1 Nov 1897     The men shearing. A light shower with thunder. 88 sheep shorn.

2 Nov 1897     A few light showers. I killed a sheep. 99 sheep shorn.

3 Nov 1897     Starr finished shearing. 983 sheep shorn. Great fog this morning.

4 Nov 1897     I was painting sheep yard gates with coal tar. Starr took 7 bales of wool to Cowra. Great wind all day.

5 Nov 1897     I was painting the gates. Starr took 7 bales to Cowra.

6 Nov 1897     I was not well all night. High winds. The wheat crop not looking well.

7 Nov 1897     Sunday at home. Real hot day.

8 Nov 1897     I drove into Cowra and brought Minnie O’Shaughnessy out to Yarra. We got there after dark

9 Nov 1897     Price of Wales Birthday. I drove Minnie to Cowra. Railway Sports on the Show Ground.

10 Nov 1897   Painting back house. Real hot day. The flies a terror.

11 Nov 1897   I was painting. Great heat. Starr and Peters removed their camp.

12 Nov 1897   Great heat this morning. The flies would not let you work. A light shower at 12 o’clock with thunder and at 3 o’clock another shower.

13 Nov 1897   Digging around the fruit trees. The flies are very troublesome.

14 Nov 1897   Sunday. Mr And Mrs Squire and family drove out. Hot day.

15 Nov 1897   Painting gates. Inspector of Selections called and inspected.

16 Nov 1897   Painting gates. I screwed up bolts in the Reserve gate. The crops are all drying up as the wheat is coming out in ears. Gleeson called.

17 Nov 1897   Painted two gates. Arthur Middlemiss brought 6 horses of Mr Squire’s. Gleeson commenced to mow wheat for hay.

18 Nov 1897   I painted the Grenfell road gate. Hot day. Light rain at dark.

19 Nov 1897   I painted two gates. Gleeson finished the hay stacking. 95 today.

20 Nov 1897   Painting gates up to 10 o’clock. It then commenced to blow a gale from the south west with dust until 3 o’clock. 90 in shade.

21 Nov 1897   Sunday. Not so hot. All the crops drying up.

22 Nov 1897   I made a stool. Great heat. The flies are here still.

23 Nov 1897   I walked up to Hugh Watt’s. He came to Yarra in the evening and marked 5 lambs. Jack Hood came and took 10 of his sheep.

24 Nov 1897   Cutting weeds in the garden. A cheque from Mr Squire for £5-0-0 wages. I am very sick all day.

25 Nov 1897   I painted two gates at the woolshed. I had a look at the sheep in the top paddock. Great heat. Hot winds blowing all day.

26 Nov 1897   I painted gate on the Reserve. Hot winds all day.

27 Nov 1897   Working in the garden. A letter from Minnie and a ticket for the Sandhurst Cup but no luck. A cold evening.

28 Nov 1897   Sunday. Mr and Mrs Squire and family drove out. Gleeson cutting wheat with the reaper and binder all day.

29 Nov 1897   I painted two gates. The Davis’ brought out 35 bags of seed wheat for Mr Squire. We put it in the woolshed. Hot day.

30 Nov 1897   Fixing wire netting around ornamental trees. 90 in shade.

1 Dec 1897     Making Hasps for Sheep Yard gates. 90 in shade all day.

2 Dec 1897     Gleeson gone to the White house. I was putting hasps on gates. I killed a sheep. Thunder storm at 4 o’clock. A little rain. 90 in shade.

3 Dec 1897     Mr and Mrs Squire drove out after dinner. Took the horse out of the Buggy and we ploughed the garden with the cultivator. Heavy rain this morning. Cool evening.

4 Dec 1897     I rode around Yarra paddock. The Davis’s brought 34 bags of seed wheat. Nice cool day.

5 Dec 1897     Louis Ormsby brought 1000 crossbred sheep for Mr P. Squire. They are in good condition. Very cold day.

6 Dec 1897     Repairing boundary fence along the back creek. Fixing gates. Cold day.

7 Dec 1897     I fixed up two gates at the sheep yards. I put the crossbred sheep in the yard tonight. Wind blowing from the east. Very cold.

8 Dec 1897     Louis Ormsby came and we branded all the sheep. Mr and Mrs Squire drove out. Great fire at Mulyan.

9 Dec 1897     I put a latch on a gate at the sheep yard. Mrs Patterson died at Blayney aged 80. Mrs Daly’s mother. Wind blowing from the east.

10 Dec 1897   Gleeson started to cut and stack wheat this morning. I was making a new gate. Wind blowing from the east.

11 Dec 1897   Making a gate. Robert Grant of lower Back Creek died.

12 Dec 1897   Sunday. Mr and Mrs Squire drove out. Hot day.

13 Dec 1897   I fixed up a rain gauge and rode around the paddock. Very hot day. The flies are very numerous today.

14 Dec 1897   96 in the shade all day.

15 Dec 1897   I painted the new gate and fixed it up at the stockyard. The Davis’s brought 33 bags of seed wheat. 96 in the shade.

16 Dec 1897   Fixed up rails front of wool shed. 96 in the shade.

17 Dec 1897   I painted gate at the stockyard. Gleeson left today.

18 Dec 1897   I drove into Cowra. I gave Minnie 10 pounds to put in the Savings Bank. Paid Oll to end of month. Started at 9 o’clock.

19 Dec 1897   Sunday. 99 points of rain last night.

20 Dec 1897   Making a gate. Cloudy all day.

21 Dec 1897   Making a gate. Rev Father O’Kennedy and Dr Foley came.

22 Dec 1897   I ploughed the garden. Mr and Mrs Squire drove out.

23 Dec 1897   Finished gate. 2 wheat stacks of Harry Whittaker’s burnt.

24 Dec 1897   I rode into Cowra. Very hot day.

25 Dec 1897   Christmas Day. I drove to Cowra. Brought Minnie out. Killed sheep.

26 Dec 1897   Sunday. Minnie and I at Yarra. Very hot.

27 Dec 1897   Minnie and I at Yarra. Very hot day.

28 Dec 1897   I drove Minnie to Cowra. Back to Yarra at 9 o’clock.

29 Dec 1897   Mrs. Squire and Mag Walsh drove out. John O’Connor came.

30 Dec 1897   Not well today. Scotch Parson called.

31 Dec 1897   Painting. Cloudy all day.

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