[Editor: These items are extracts from “The Barcoo” section (consisting of various news items regarding the Barcoo area of Queensland) published in The Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld.), 10 September 1889.]
The Barcoo.
[From our own correspondent.]
The town has been rather dull since the exodus of the Saltern Creek shearers to Evora and elsewhere, although the showers of last week were not heavy enough to temporarily cause a cessation in the wool traffic. 1393 bales arrived during the week from the following stations:—
Bowen Downs, 302 bales; Saltern Creek, 245 bales; Albilbah, 290 bales; Isis Downs, 212 bales; Greenhills, 148 bales; Ruthven, 78 bales; Wellshot, 51 bales; W H and Co., Muttaburra, 30 bales; Kensington Downs, 26 bales; Warbreccan (first of the clip), 16 bales.
Three grand lots of sheep were trucked down to Rockhampton, viz.: 2000 fat wethers from the Powella grazing farms to Lake’s Creek works, and 1200 fat wethers to J. Pattison and Co., from Saltern Creek. Several lots of sheepskins, tallow and hides were also forwarded by divers agents. The horse market is slack; Mr. J. Loyd-Jones offered several excellent roadsters since my former letter, but few good prices were realised. A quantity of wool, principally Alice Downs, has been despatched from Jericho during last week, but particulars are not to hand.
A considerable amount of unpleasantness was caused among the carriers in town on Thursday by a report which spread through “the camp” like wildfire that “Mick Roberts” had joined the Union, having registered and paid for eight teams.
The result was that a meeting was called by Mr. Parnell, Secretary, for that evening, in the Town Hall, and which was attended by thirty-two bona fide carriers and a few hon. members. Mr. Roberts was also present. Mr. H. Ellis, as usual, filled the chair. At the outset Mr. Claxton proposed, “That Mr. Roberts’ money be returned to him, and the matter of his admission be dealt with by the whole of the members at the annual meeting.” This was seconded by Mr. Walker. A discussion followed, lasting for nearly two hours.
To give a synopsis of the whole matter: Mr. Roberts came here with his teams some eight or ten months ago to carry in opposition to the Union; but although opposed to the Union, he received Union rates, and could prove by his waybills that the wool he had just unloaded had been carried at Union rates. Still, the fact of Mr. Roberts opposing the Union caused a certain amount of bitterness against him, and several spoke strongly upon it, contending that were it not for the agreement come to with the Employers’ Union, that none but Union teams should be employed, Mr. Roberts would still keep outside the Union, and endeavour to cut down the rates. Mr. Roberts said financial arrangements primarily prevented him from joining the Union in the first instance, but now he had joined them, they would have no reason to complain of him in the future.
The Chairman and Secretary appealed to the better feelings of the members, asking them to overlook the past, and to allow the name to remain on the roll to the end of the year, when, if the general meeting opposed Mr. Roberts, no ticket would be issued him for next year.
The Secretary said that under the role affecting the Secretary (No. 12), he had no power to refuse a ticket, if he considered the applicant was “a fit and proper person.” It was impossible for him to decide whether an applicant was a fit and proper person. In this instance Mr. Pent, a committee man, had introduced the candidate, and all the committee in town favoured Mr. Roberts’ admittance, thinking it was a very good thing for the Union, for all disagreements would cease. Mr. Claxton then withdrew his motion, and the chairman called for a show of hands, as to whether Mr. Roberts should be allowed to remain in the Union or not to the 31st December. The voting was: for, twelve; against, eight. Mr. Walker on behalf of the noncontents, demanded a ballot upon the grounds that all did not vote. The Press representative present (Mr. James) was asked to take charge of the ballot, he being a totally disinterested person. The ballot was conducted by papers, upon which was written the words “for” and “against.” Messrs. Ahern and Clarke were appointed scrutineers, and the voting was found to be even, thirteen each side. The Chairman said he would exercise his right and give a casting vote. He recorded it among the “for,” amid some applause. Mr. Roberts returned thanks, and promised to work harmoniously with all the members of the Union.
The Secretary exhibited a copy of the badge to be placed upon Union carriers waggons, and which was being registered. The design is extremely neat, and in the form of a disk. The words “Central Queensland Carriers Union” run round the outside, while the inside contains the motto in three lines, Labor omnia vincit — something for Mr. Bullocky to study over. The emblem will be in black on a white ground.
It was resolved to fix the rate to Powella Grazing Farm at £2 14s., the distance being fifty-four miles, or fourteen miles beyond Aramac. Mr. Gray, of Alice Downs, complained that he was paying for seventy-five miles to Jericho from the wool shed, while the station, upon measurement, found the road seventy and a half miles. It was resolved that no steps could be taken to alter rates until the end of the year.
After some formal business the meeting closed, with votes of thanks to the Chairman and Secretary.
The letter of Mr. J. Crombie, M.L.A., upon the employment of coloured labour for the sugar industry, has evoked responses from various quarters.
At Wellshot, where sixty-four shearers are employed, all are of one mind, viz., that according to the first principles of the Union, no coloured labour is to be allowed in any capacity; in short, Australia for the Australians, and a white Australia is their motto.
A document has been drawn up for the opinion of the members comprising the Shearers’ Union, but as they number about 3000, and are scattered all over the district, the work will necessarily take some time.
The debate on the report of the Sugar Commission has been adjourned to the 25th September; both Mr. Crombie and Mr. Murphy have telegraphed that they will not support the proposals of the northern members, admitting of the employment of black labour for the sugar plantations.
An old identity upon the railway line went to his rest on Tuesday morning, after a considerable period of suffering — Mr. John Lennon, of the Railway Hotel.
Mr. Lennon came out to Rockhampton about twenty-two years ago, and upon the extension of the railway to Westwood he engaged in carrying. He continued in this occupation until Barcaldine opened, when he relinquished carrying for hotel keeping.
About two years ago a cancer formed in the stomach, and to this fell disease poor Lennon succumbed early on Tuesday morning, leaving a wife and seven children (several of whom are grown up) to mourn his loss.
The funeral on Wednesday afternoon was perhaps the largest yet witnessed on the railway line, nearly everyone attending to show their respect for deceased. The length of the funeral may be imagined when I state that the last buggy had scarcely left the house when the head of the solemn cortege was passing over the lower crossing of the railway line.
Mr. Lennon was forty-three years of age at the time of death, but looked much older owing to the rough nature of his occupation in years gone by.
It is my pleasing duty to notice further improvements in this district. Messrs. Meacham and Leyland, who built the handsome woolshed on the Collier selections, have recently been engaged in erecting a like building for Mr. J. J. Robinson, of Bangall Creek, near Muttaburra. The shed, which is now completed, is sixty feet long and forty wide, and is intended for twelve shearers. The building contains the latest improvements, including a new wool press. The comfort of the shearers has also been studied, a cottage, thirty-six feet by fifteen feet, having been erected for them. The buildings were all completed within seven weeks, and cost about £600, inclusive of the cartage for that long distance.
Mr. J. W. Raven is starting a few thousand fats from his Albilbah Station, near Isisford, for the southern markets, and the Lansdowne Pastoral Company are despatching 80,000 sheep from Evesham, for Cobb and Co., Cunnamulla. These will travel in four mobs. Stock are travelling freely all over the district, the present being an opportune time for pastoralists to get rid of their surplus sheep and cattle. The stock routes are in capital order, and drovers can get their stock to market without deterioration of condition.
Messrs. Mullaly, Rees, and Co. report from Arrilalah) under date August 31st, that 88 points of rain fell there on the 30th, 50 points at Maneroo, and 30 points at Westland.
Stock passings for the week — 982 bullocks, from Richmond Downs to Wodonga, Victoria, F. W. Prell owner, H. T. Hall in charge. These are a nice lot, and show signs of careful droving. Mr. Perry passed with 49 bulls, from Tamworth, N.S.W., to Fort Constantine, Messrs. Morphett Bros. owners. Mr. J. B. Richardson passed with a mob of horses from Westland to Ayrshire Downs, the property of the Darling Downs and Western Land Co.
Mr. Richardson returned at once to Westland to superintend the shearing operations, which are announced there on the 16th of September.
Barcaldine, September 8, 1889.
Source:
The Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld.), 10 September 1889, p. 6
Editor’s notes:
bona fide = (Latin) “in good faith”, often used regarding offers that are made sincerely and in good faith (without fraud or deceit), or in relation to items that are genuine (i.e. not counterfeit or specious)
capital = excellent, first-rate, top-notch, very good
Cobb and Co. = an Australian transportation company, well-known in the late 19th century and early 20th century, which operated various lines of stagecoaches, especially to outlying areas (including to the goldfields); it was established in 1853 by four Americans, including Freeman Cobb
divers = a number of items (all of which are not necessarily different, they may all be identical, i.e. distinct from “diverse”), several, sundry, various; “divers” is also an archaic spelling variant of “diverse” (a number of items which are different to each other, a wide range of various types)
fat = an animal which is suitable for slaughter
See: “Glossary”, Meat & Livestock Australia (see term: Fat)
fell = bad, cruel, deadly, destructive, terrible (as used in the phrase “one fell swoop”); fierce, savage; sinister
fourty = an archaic form of “forty”’ the spelling “fourty” is said to have lasted until approximately the 17th century to the early 19th century, and is now regarded as a misspelling
See: 1) “Is it ‘Forty’? Or ‘Fourty’?”, Merriam-Webster [“fourty … lasted until the 18th century”]
2) Pavitjot, “Forty or Fourty: What’s the Difference?”, Capitalize My Title, 7 September 2020 [“fourty … not in use since the beginning of the 19th century”]
3) “40 (number)”, Wikipedia [“”forty” replaced “fourty” in the course of the 17th century”] (accessed 14 April 2023)
hon. = an abbreviation of “honorary” (in a parliamentary or political context, it is used as an abbreviation of the term “honourable” which is used as a style to refer to government ministers, or as a courtesy to members of parliament)
labor omnia vincit = (Latin) “labor [work] overcomes everything”, or “labor overcomes all difficulties”, or “labor conquers all”; from “Georgics”, book 1 (line 145) by Virgil (Publius Vergilius Maro, 70 BC – 19 BC); the extended quotation is “labor omnia vincit improbus”, translated as “persistent work conquers all” or “hard work conquers all”
Messrs. = an abbreviation of “messieurs” (French), being the plural of “monsieur”; used in English as the plural of “Mister” (which is abbreviated as “Mr.”); the title is used in English prior to the names of two or more men (often used regarding a company, e.g. “the firm of Messrs. Bagot, Shakes, & Lewis”, “the firm of Messrs. Hogue, Davidson, & Co.”)
M.L.A. = (abbreviation) Member of the Legislative Assembly
mob = generally “mob” refers to a large group of animals, commonly used when referring to cattle, horses, kangaroos, or sheep; also used to refer to a group of people, sometimes – although definitely not always – used in a negative or derogatory sense (possibly as an allusion to a group of dumb or wild animals), but also used in a positive sense (e.g. “they’re my mob”), especially amongst Australian Aborigines
Mr. Bullocky = a reference to bullocks (such as those used in bullock teams)
noncontent = a member of the House of Lords (UK) who casts a negative vote (used in a general sense, it refers to someone who casts a negative vote)
Press = the print-based media, especially newspapers (can be spelt with or without a capital letter: Press, press)
realised = an amount of money obtained, or a price reached, when selling something; to make a certain amount of money; to convert goods, property, assets, or items into cash or money (e.g. the sale of his property realised one million dollars)
roadster = a horse used for riding or driving on the road; a car with no roof (a convertible), which has two seats (or a bench seat which can sit two or three people)
s. = a reference to a shilling, or shillings; the “s” was an abbreviation of “solidi”, e.g. as used in “L.S.D.” or “£sd” (pounds, shillings, and pence), which refers to coins used by the Romans, as per the Latin words “librae” (or “libra”), “solidi” (singular “solidus”), and “denarii” (singular “denarius”)
selection = an area of land obtained by free-selection; land owned by a “selector”
station = a large rural holding for raising sheep or cattle; the term “property” is used for smaller holdings
viz. = (Latin) an abbreviation of “videlicet” (a contraction of the Latin phrase “videre licet”), meaning “it is permitted to see” (the “z” derives from the z-shaped Latin shorthand symbol for “et”, as used in the Tironian shorthand style); in actual practice, “viz.” is used as a synonym for “in other words”, “namely”, “that is to say”, “to wit”, or “which is” (used when giving further details about something, or giving a list of specific examples or items)
waggon = an archaic spelling of “wagon”
wether = a castrated ram
[Editor: Changed “sixty feet long and fourty wide” to “sixty feet long and forty wide” (although “fourty” is an archaic spelling of “forty”, it is regarded as a misspelling here because 1) the archaic spelling had generally disappeared from usage by 1889, and 2) the same article uses the spelling “forty” in the previous paragraph, i.e. “Lennon was forty-three years of age”). The separate items or extracts have been divided from each other by placing a row of asterisks between each one (* * * * * * *).]
[Editor: The original text has been separated into paragraphs.]
Updated 14 April 2023
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