Thomas O’Shaughnessy’s Diary Part 13 1881

 1881

1 Jan 1881      New Year’s Day. James went to Cowra. He came back after dark. E Markham came from Cowra. I got a fat sheep from Thomas Delaney.

2 Jan 1881      Sunday. Thomas Walsh from Kikiamah and Victor Burrett came. Burrett went on to Cowra.

3 Jan 1881      Pat and Tom Walsh started for Kikiamah. They led the old black mare as far as Bumbaldry. James and I forming.

4 Jan 1881      James and I forming all day. A man came from Cowra looking for work. He promised to be back in five days.

5 Jan 1881      Forming all day. A letter from Purss, Grenfell.

6 Jan 1881      James and I forming all day.

7 Jan 1881      James and I forming all day.

8 Jan 1881      James and I forming all day. James went to Cowra. He and E Markham came out sometime in the night.

9 Jan 1881      Sunday. At home all day.

10 Jan 1881    James and I forming. Jack Donnellan commenced work at 12 o’clock at 7/6 per day. The cows lost today.

11 Jan 1881    I found the cows near the Scalded Plain going to Cowra. James and Donnellan forming all day. Father McGrath came in his buggy an his servant with him, and stayed all night.

12 Jan 1881    Father McGrath said Mass. Not many attended. Father McGrath started after dinner for George Grant’s place. Sergeant McCarthy came with a summons for James. He and James when to Cowra. J. DonneIlan went to Cowra.

13 Jan 1881    James and I drew in some wood. James went to Cowra. J Donnellan came at 12 o’clock. Mrs T Walsh and Mrs Taylor came out from Cowra in a buggy and took Mrs O’Shaughnessy to Cowra to see the Doctor. Mr and Mrs Single called on their way to Grenfell. Hot day.

14 Jan 1881    James not well at night. James and Donnellan went to work on Broula Hill. I felt unwell and went to bed. Hot day. Wind blowing from the east.

15 Jan 1881    I rode up to Bumbaldry and met Mr Single at Mr Watt’s. We had some lunch and came on. Mr Single marked out the work to be done on Bumbaldry Hill. I came on home. James and Donnellan forming on Broula Hill.

16 Jan 1881    Sunday. James went to Cowra. I stayed home all day.

17 Jan 1881    Donnellan and I forming on Broula all day.

18 Jan 1881    Donnellan and I forming on Broula Hill. A man named Collins came to buy my place. I took him around the selections. He promised to give me an answer in a week. James came home.

19 Jan 1881    Donnellan, James and I forming on Broula Hill. Too hot to work.

20 Jan 1881    Forming on Brouls Hill. Thunder and lightning and strong wind.

21 Jan 1881    Forming on Broula all day. A cool day.

22 Jan 1881    Forming all day. Donnellan went to Cowra. Cool day.

23 Jan 1881    Sunday. Pat Fitzgibbon drove Mrs O’Shaughnessy out in Walsh’s buggy from Cowra. I made out a tender for road work on Hovell’s Creek Road.

24 Jan 1881    Forming on Broula all day. A Mr Smith came out from Cowra to inspect my place. I showed him the boundaries. I left it open to him for three days.

25 Jan 1881    Forming on Broula. Great thunder and lightning, but no rain.

26 Jan 1881    James and Donnellan went to Cowra to see the sports. I stayed at home all day.

27 Jan 1881    John McKew commenced work. Filling up sides of forming. Thunder and lightning all day. We had a few drops of rain. A man named Cartwright came to look at the selection. He went on to Grenfell. A letter from Mr Single.

28 Jan 1881    Commenced to rain at six o’clock this morning. Some heavy showers up to 12 o’clock. We did not go to work. I rode up to Broula and back.

29 Jan 1881    Forming on Broula all day.

30 Jan 1881    W Ryan and Mrs Challacombe came out in a buggy. E Murphy came to see about a bridge to be put up on the Grenfell road.

31 Jan 1881    Forming on Broula. Murphy came from Grenfell. Too late to put in a tender for the bridge.

1 Feb 1881      Forming on Broula. James. Egan brought some beef.

2 Feb 1881      Finished forming on Broula at 3 o’clock.

3 Feb 1881      James drove the horse and cart. Donnellan and McKew went with him. I rode up on horseback We pitched our camp on the Grenfell side of Wilson’s. I drove back the horse and cart. Rained all the way home.

4 Feb 1881      I drove up the horse and cart and took up the Bellows and put it up. The men forming all day. I drove the horse and cart home.

5 Feb 1881      I drove the horse and cart up to the work. We finished the two chains at the foot of the hill. We went further up the hill and started to form. About 3 o’clock a heavy storm of rain came and flooded all the creek in twenty minutes. James and Donnellan and I came home to Broula in the cart, raining all the way. Meldrum surveying the Reserve.

6 Feb 1881      Sunday. At home all day. James went up to the camp.

7 Feb 1881      Forming all day.

8 Feb 1881      Forming all day.

9 Feb 1881      Forming. Mr Single passed, going to Grenfell.

10 Feb 1881    Forming all day.

11 Feb 1881    Forming all day. Mr Single drove his buggy back from Grenfell. We moved our camp further up the hill.

12 Feb 1881    Forming. Shifted the Bellows up to the camp.

13 Feb 1881    Mrs Walsh and Mrs Middlemiss drove out from Cowra.

14 Feb 1881    I drove the cart up to the work and took my bed with me.

15 Feb 1881    I rode into Cowra. I bought 52 ½ bushels of wheat from T Walsh at 3/- per bushel. I had a look at 500 ewes of George Campbell’s. He asked 2/9 per head for them. They are too old for me. I paid Hanlan the saddler six shillings.

16 Feb 1881    I rode up to the work. E Markham drove up the horse and cart. I stayed all night at the camp.

17 Feb 1881    Forming all day.

18 Feb 1881    Forming. A show in Cowra today.

19 Feb 1881    Forming. Sarah O’Shaughnessy drove up the horse and cart. We went home.

20 Feb 1881    Sunday.  At home all day.

21 Feb 1881    Forming all day on Bumbaldry Hill.

22 Feb 1881    Forming all day on Bumbaldry Hill.

23 Feb 1881    Forming all day on Bumbaldry Hill.

24 Feb 1881    Forming all day. Stibbard came out. I came home in the cart. Tom Walsh and Mrs Challacombe came out in a buggy and took Mrs O’Shaughnessy to Cowra with them.

25 Feb 1881    I rode into Cowra and Stibbard and I rode out to West’s place. I had a look at 1000 ewes Stibbard had for sale. We came back to Cowra. I bought the ewes for 3/- per head. I came home.

26 Feb 1881    I rode up to the work. We finished about 12 o’clock. We packed up and came on home.  Paid all the men in full up to date.

27 Feb 1881    Sunday.  E Markham, Sarah, Kate and Grace went to Robinson’s for peaches in the cart. Fine, cool day.

28 Feb 1881.   James and I rode to Cowra. From there Stibbard went with us to A.R. West’ s place to take delivery of sheep. We could not agree about ages of the sheep. We all came in to Cowra together. Before leaving Cowra I agreed to take sheep. James and I came on home to Broula.

1 Mar 1881      James and I rodein to Cowra. James went on to take delivery of the sheep. Mr Single and I started on horseback for Frogmore. James Ryan, and Michael, his son, came with us. We went by Coocamingla?, crossed the Boorowa River at Cullen’s place and through the gap to Corcoran’s place and from there to Frost’s place on Hovell’s Creek, and from there to frogmore. We stayed at Mrs O’Neill’s Hotel. Ryan and son pulled up at cantrell’s.

2 Mar 1881      We rode back to frost’s. frost rode out with us and showed us where the work ought to be done. He invited us to dinner. We made a start after dinner and came back the same road that we came the day before, and got to Cowra at 10 o’clock. I stayed at walsh’s all night.

3 Mar 1881      I came on home to broula. James just arrived with the sheep.

4 Mar 1881      I got a horse and took out the sheep. James and Edmund cleaning out the well.

5 Mar 1881      James and Edmund Markham took out the sheep. I rode into Cowra to see about putting up a booth on the Mulyan Race Course for T.Walsh. He drove me down and we pegged out the place and came back to Cowra. I came home to broula.

6 Mar 1881      Sunday.  I took out the sheep until 3 o’clock. James took them then. I came home, had some dinner and started to Cowra. Stayed at Tom walsh’s all night.

7 Mar 1881      Bill Edments and I commenced to put up the booth. We came up to Cowra after dark.

8 Mar 1881      We worked hard all day, but could not finish it. We camped at the booth all night.

9 Mar 1881      We finished the booth at 9 o’clock. Mrs Walsh, Mrs Challacombe, Rose Collins and I served the bar. We took 35 pounds. Racing very good. Pat Fitzgibbon and I stayed up all night to watch the booth.

10 Mar 1881    We took over 30 pounds today. Racing good. We loaded the dray. We left some of the things. I rode up in Paul’s coach.

11 Mar 1881    I rode up to Middlemiss’ paddock for my horse.  I went down to Mulyan racecourse with Tom Walsh and loaded his dray. We came back to Cowra. I got by horse shod. I did some business with P. Murray. I then came on home.

12 Mar 1881.   James and I took out the sheep. Mary O’Shaughnessy came out in the coach from Cowra. A letter from Egan with a bill for 15/- for carting stone.

13 Mar 1881    Sunday.  James and I took out the sheep all day. Old Laws came and I hired him to shepherd at the rate of 30 pounds a year.

14 Mar 1881    Laws took charge of the sheep. James and Edmund went to Hood’s dam and got 14 sheep out of old Lankey’s flock. Edmund went to Watt’s, Bumbaldry for the old black mare. We started to sink holes for a fence along the road.

15 Mar 1881    Edmund took the horse and cart to Cowra for rock salt and barley. James and I sinking post holes all day.

16/19 Mar 81   Sinking holes and fencing.

20 Mar 1881    Sunday.  Maher came to buy this place. I asked him £525 for it.

21 Mar 1881    Fencing all day.

22 Mar 1881    The Mahers came to inspect the place. I showed them around the selection. I asked £650 for 525 acres and 1,000 ewes.

23 Mar 1881    Fencing all day.

24 Mar 1881    Fencing all day. Sent Dr Harrison £4.6.0. The Mahers bought Francis’ place, Sandy Creek.

25 Mar 1881    Fencing all day. Looks like rain.

26 Mar 1881    Fencing all day. Adavanced Laws two pounds. A shower today.

27 Mar 1881    Sunday.  Raining most all day.

28 Mar 1881    Raining all day.

29 Mar 1881    Raining all day. Laws lost the sheep. We got them before dark.

30 Mar 1881    We put up some small drafting yards for sheep. Sarah O’Shaughnessy went by coach to Cowra. A little rain today.

31 Mar 1881    Edmund Markham and I cutting timber for chock and log fence. He drew in all we had cut.

1 Apr 1881      James, Edmund and I putting up chock and log fence. I rode to Cowra after 4 o’clock, and stayed at Walsh’s all night.

2 Apr 1881      I got back from Cowra at 7 o’clock. Edmund drew in the second logs for the fence up to 12 o’clock. We put them up in the evening. I got a letter from Stibbard. Laws took the sheep home to his place.

3 Apr 1881      Sunday.  James and Edmund brought the cows from Challacombe’s paddock. Catholic Bishop in Cowra.

4 Apr 1881      Fencing all day.

5 Apr 1881      James and Edmund went to Cowra and caught a colt. He got away from them with the halter on. We got the tar and lamp black to brand the sheep. Mix 30 quarts of tar, 3 quarts of grease, 1 lb lamp black.

6 Apr 1881      We branded all the sheep in the morning with   …. (O with half circle above). Mrs Challacombe drove Mrs O’Shaughnessy out from Cowra. we started fencing in the evening.

7 Apr 1881      Fencing all day. I got  letter from Stibbard.

8 Apr 1881      Fencing all day.

9 Apr 1881      t Arthur Ingrey came to buy this place. I showed him around the selections. Paid Ryall for the Cowra Free Press.

10 Apr 1881    Sunday.  Tom Walsh and Mrs walsh came from Cowra.

11 Apr 1881    Putting up chock and log fence.

12 Apr 1881    Fencing. Edmund went to Cowra in the evening.

13 Apr 1881    E Markham took the horse and cart to laws for a plough, and to Elijah brien’s for a harrow and a bag of cape barley. Mr Challacombe drove his team out with a load of flour for me from the Mill. Tom Markham came out with him after dinner. Tom and Edmund Markham took Challacombe’s team out for a load of pine rafters. James and I putting up a sheepyard.

14 Apr 1881    Edmund ploughing all day. James and I putting up a log fence.

15 Apr 1881    No record.

16 Apr 1881    Laws sowed the barley. Edmund harrowed it in and took the plough home. James and I finished ringbarking.

17 Apr 1881    Sunday. I stayed at home all day. E Markham went to Cowra after the colt. Arthur and Wag Ingrey came after dark.

18 Apr 1881    The Ingreys inspected the sheep. They took an inventory of all the things that are going with the place and started back to Grenfell. We repaired the fence of the old cultivation paddock. After dinner, cutting rails for chock and log fence. Edmund carting them.

19 Apr 1881    Finished putting up the fence.

20 Apr 1881    Cleaning out the well. Grace Challacombe and Pat Markham came.

21 Apr 1881    I had to shepherd all day. James and Edmund cutting pines for the old house walls.

22 Apr 1881    Putting up wall to the end of the old house.

23 Apr 1881    Putting up wall to the end of the old house.

24 Apr 1881    Sunday.  At home all day

25 Apr 1881    I got a letter from Arthur Ingrey to say that he would give £600 for my place. I sent a telegram via Cowra to Grenfell accepting his offer. James and I plastering all day.

26 Apr 1881    Mr Stibbard came out to see see on what day we could deliver to Arthur Ingrey. We agreed to deliver on next Friday. James and I plastering all day.

27 Apr 1881    I got a letter from Arthur Ingrey to say that he could not take delivery until next Monday. James and I plastering all day. Mrs Hartigan died this morning at 2 o’clock at Cargo.^[1]

28 Apr 1881    James went to Cowra to see if he could get a house for us to live in. There were none in Cowra to let.

29 Apr 1881    I rode up to Kelly’s Creek to have a look at some forming to be done there. John Anderson, the maintenance man, showed me the place to be done. There are about 11 chains to be formed. I got back to Broula at 11 o’clock.

30 Apr 1881    Mrs Challacombe drove out and took Mrs O’Shaughnessy to Cowra. We killed a pig. Laws shepherding 7 weeks.

1 May 1881     Sunday.  I stayed at home all day. Arthur Ingrey came about 9 o’clock tonight.

2 May 1881     Mr Stibbard came out early this morning from Cowra. We counted the sheep and took a list of all the thingsthat Ingrey wanted to buy and then Ingrey, Stibbard and I rode into Cowra. We could not get the selections transferred, the Land Agent and the Solicitor being away. We stayed in Cowra all night.

3 May 1881     Mr Phillips made out the transfer to Arthur Ingrey. He paid £550 cash and a promissory Note for £76 to become due in six months from date. I went home.

4 May 1881     We drafted all the weak sheep and Ingrey started them to Alfred West’s paddock, Westville. We loaded a dray with flour and other things and started Edmund Markham to Cowra. He put them all in Peter Murray’s store.

5 May 1881     E Markham came out again. P Walsh, Mrs Walsh and Bridget Walsh came from Kikiamah and stayed all night.

6 May 1881     Edmund Markham started with another load. P Walsh, Mrs Walsh and Bridget Walsh started to Cowra. I rode into Cowra. Mrs O’Shaughnessy took a cottage from Mrs James Ousby. We put this load in it. Edmund started back again. I rode back to Broula again. Mr and Mrs Walsh came. They left Bridget Walsh in Cowra. A Ingrey came at 12 o’clock tonight.

7 May 1881     Tom Markham came with Challacombe’s team. We loaded the two drays. Pat Fitzgibbon came with Tom Walsh’s buggy to take the girls in to Cowra. Mr and Mrs Walsh started for Grenfell. About 12 o’clock. James and I drove in the loose horses and put them in Challacombe’s paddock. Mrs P Walsh got thrownout of the buggy within a mile of Grenfell and only live one or two hours afterwards. P Walsh was also thrown out and three of his ribs broken.

8 May 1881     Sunday. Raining all night.Pat Walsh came from Grenfell with word that his mother was dead.

9 May 1881     I drove Mrs Challacombe, Mrs Walsh amd Bridget Walsh to Grenfell. James, and Pat Walsh rode on horseback. We got there at sundown. We stayed up at the Albion most all night.

10 May 1881   The corpse was carried to the chapel about 10 o’clock. Father Gaffey attended, and from there to the burial and back to the Albion, and had some lunch and then started for Cowra. James came with us on horseback. We got to Cowra at 6 o’clock.

11 May 1881. E Markham brought in a load of wood and water. I paid him his wages up to the 14th of this month. He is to receive one pound per week when working on the road.

12 May 1881   James, Edmund and John Hogan started with two horses and cart to do some forming on the Grenfell side of Bransgrove’s – Kelly’s Creek. I put in two tenders for two pieces of roadwork on Burley Jackey on Cowra and Carcoar road.  Mrs George Francis died this morning.

13 May 1881   I drove Mrs Challacombe out with me to Mrs Francis’ funeral, to the burial ground. Edmund  Markham brought the horses and cart back from Bransgroves.

14 May 1881   I paid T. Walsh for wheat and other articles £8.11.6. Paid Town and Country Journal bill £3.7.6. James Hartigan came from Cargo. Edmund Markham went by coach to work at Bransgroves.

15 May 1881   Sunday. I stayed at home all day. The Protestant Bishop came. Fine warm weather.

16 May 1881   Great number of people came to Cowra on account of the Protestant Bishop being here.

17 May 1881   Paid Dennis Donnelly’s bill, six shillings; and corn store account eight shillings. McLeod wheelwright £3.8.9 and Peter Murray £11.8.6.

18 May 1881   Mrs O’Shaughnessy and I and Patrick Fitzgibbon took our passage in the Carcoar coach bound for Sydney. We reached Carcoar at 7 o’clock. We had some tea and went on the coach to Blayney. Got there at 9 o’clock. Stayed at Mulally’s.

19 May 1881   Stayed in Blayney all day. Damp weather.

20 May 1881   Stayed in Blayney. Cold damp weather.

21 May 1881   I got two return tickets £1.10.6. Available for 10 days second class. Pat Fitzgibbon came with us. We arrived in Sydney 7 o’ clock. We put up at Fahey’s Railway Hotel on the Corner of Regent and George Street.  Mrs O’Shaughnessy none the worse for the trip.

22 May  1881  Sunday.  We did not go out today.

23 May 1881   Went to Dr Sydney Jones, 16 College Street. He came to see Mrs O’Shaughnessy in the evening. I paid him two guineas.

24 May 1881   Queen’s  Birthday. Great  fireworks in the evening. All the societies walked after dark.

25 May 1881   I went to see Dr Sydney Jones. He came to see Mrs O’Shaughnessy. He says she has an enlargement of the liver. The lump in her left side is not a tumour as Dr Smith said. It was an ovarian cyst. He advised us to go home. I paid him one guinea and got a double quantity of medicine.

26 May 1881   I took Mrs O’Shaughnessy to St. Mary’s Cathedral in a hansom (cab). We walked from there down to the Exhibition buildings and from there down to the tram, and on the tram to the railway station. Got off and home to dinner. In the evening we walked down George Street and back.

27 May 1881   We took the 9 o’ clock train for Blayney. Arrived at Blayney at 8 o’clock. Pat Fitzgibbon came with us. Stayed at Mulally’s.

28 May 1881   After dinner young Mulally brought us to Carcoar in his buggy. We stayed at Callans.

29 May 1881   Sunday. We took the coach for Cowra. Commenced to rain at ‘Sheet o’ Bark’ and continued to Cowra. 2 o’ clock on arrival.

30 May 1881   I rode out to Mr Single and back to Cowra. A little rain.

31 May 1881   At home all day. Mr Single promised to go along the Grenfell road to peg out some work. He did not come.

1 Jun 1881      James and Edmund and I rode out to the rocky hill near Chivers. To have a look at the stone quarries. Got back to Cowra at 12 o’clock. Mr Single’s haystack burnt last night.

2 Jun 1881      Mr Single came in at 12 o’clock and told me that my tender for Contract Number 6, commencing at end of metal at Chivers eastwards towards Cowra.  John Hogan and Bill Edments agreed to go and quarry.

3 Jun 1881      Raining all night and all day. Working at my diary.

4 Jun 1881      Raining all day. Too wet to start out to the work.

5 Jun 1881      James and Edmund, John Hogan and a man named Sutherland, with the two horses and dray, with all the tools and tents, started and camped on the rocky ridge below Chivers. I drove the two horses back without the dray and put them in Challacombe’s paddock.

6 Jun 1881      I rode out early to the work. Commenced to rain. James and Edmund, and three Grogans, James Markham, and Pat Markham, John Hogan, old Sutherland, and Bill Edments commenced to quarry. I came on home. Raining all day.

7 Jun 1881      I rode out to the work. Cold day.

8 Jun 1881      Took a horse and cart with tools and brought them back.

9 Jun 1881      I took a horse and cart out to the work and sent E Markham back with them. I stayed at Chivers all night.

10 Jun 1881    Edmund brought out the two horses and cart and Pat Fitzgibbon  to do some forming. Edmund took up John Hogan and Bill Edments to where the forming is to be done. Pat Fitzgibbon went back.

11 Jun 1881    Quarrying all day. James Egan the Butcher came out. James and I walked to Cowra.

12 Jun 1881    At home all day.

13 Jun 1881    James and Edmund and I took the horse and cart out to the work. Edmund came back to Cowra with the two horses and dray. James and I quarrying. Three more men commenced to quarry. I rode out to Bill Gillets. He agreed to cart stone at 1/9 per cubic yard. I came on to Cowra. A great thunderstorm at dark.

15 Jun 1881    I rode out to the work.  I met Bill Gillet there. He promised to come on Saturday to cart stone.

16 Jun 1881    James and I quarrying all day. Edmund carting all day.

17 Jun 1881    Quarrying all day. Edmund carting. Cloudy day.

18 Jun 1881    Quarrying all day. Edmund carting. I rode to Cowra. James and Edmund walked. Cloudy day.

19 Jun 1881    James and Edmund went out to the camp. Raining all the evening.

20 Jun 1881    Edmund carting. James and I quarrying.

21 Jun 1881    Edmund carting. James and I quarrying. Bill Gillet came. Grogan commenced to cart stone.

22 Jun 1881    Edmund carting. James and I quarrying. Bill Gillet carting. Harry Brien came with two horses and dray to cart.

23 Jun 1881    . James and I quarrying. Four carts at work today.

24 Jun 1881    James and I not doing much work. The carts at work.

25 Jun 1881    I rode to Cowra. Paid Pat Markham one pound. I ordered eight napping hammers and got four of them. Got four bags of corn from Peter Robinson.

26 Jun 1881    Sunday.  I stayed at home all day. Edmund went to the camp.

27 Jun 1881    I rode out to the work, and rode back to Cowra again and took four napping hammers out to the work in the evening.

28 Jun 1881    I sent James into Cowra to get the tynes cut on his dray. Qwe got the black filly out of Challacombe’s paddock and caught her and put her in between the other two and drove out to the camp. James came with us.

29 Jun 1881    I rode in to Cowra and stayed all night. I promised Harry grant to inspect Peterson’s place at Goolagong on next Wednesday. Looked like rain all day.

30 Jun 1881    I rented Ryan’s cottage from Challacombe at thirty six pounds a year. Challacombe removed all our things to it.

1 Jul 1881       I rode out to the work at Chivers. I left my horse with James and came back to Cowra. Sent a napping hammer out to Walter Bryant. Cold windy day.

2 Jul 1881       Cleaning up around the cottage all day. James and Edmund came in from the work at Chivers.

3 Jul 1881       Sunday.  At home all day. I went to Mass. James and Edmund went to the camp.

4 Jul 1881       Digging in the garden. James came in the evening and went back to the camp again. I got three hammers from McLeod and took them to Lawrence  to temper them.

5 Jul 1881       I rode out to the camp and back again.

6 Jul 1881       I rode down to Goolagong. I put my horse in Galvin’s stable and had my tea at James McInerney’s. I stayed all night at Gallinan’s hotel.

7 Jul 1881       I had breakfast at Gallinan’s. I inspected Peterson’s place. I offered him £75 for it. He wants £90 for it. I got to Cowra after dark.

8 Jul 1881       Mr Single came to the house. I signed a voucher for work done at Kelly’s Creek, Grenfell road. Too late to go to the camp.

9 Jul 1881       Harry Brien and Bill Gillet finished carting stone. I gave harry a cheque for two pounds. Sent Harry Grant a letter that I could not give more that pp75 for Peterson’s place, Goolagong.

10 Jul 1881     Sunday.  I rode out to Mr Single’s. we agreed to go to Goolagong next Tuesday. I rode James’ piebald horse. Cloudy day.

11 Jul 1881     I rode out to the work and came back to Cowra for dinner. I got McLeod to make a spawling hammer.

12 Jul 1881     I rode out to the work after dinner. Measured Gillet’s work and paid him fifteen pounds, the full amount due to him. Advanced harry Brien eight pounds on his work. Advanced Grogan eight pounds on his work. Mr Single did not come according to promise. I came to Cowra.

13 Jul 1881     I stayed at home all day waiting for Mr Single.

14 Jul 1881     Mr Single came at 2 o’clock. We started for Goolagong. Arrived there at dark. We stayed At Gallinan’s. Cowra Stibbard came soon after us. Tom Paterson? on a spree. A great many people drinking and fighting most all night.

15 Jul 1881     We rode along the road towards Cowra. Mr Single pegged out 200 lineal yards of road construction in Hanley’s Lane, and one mile and a half towards Cowra. We came back and had some dinner. Mr Single and Stibbard started for Cowra. I stayed to see if I could get some person to do the clearing. John Jones promised to give me an answer in the morning. Stayed at Gallinan’s all night.

16 Jul 1881     John Jones agreed to clear one mile and a half at £22.10.0 per mile. After dinner I started for Cowra. I called at James’ camp and came on to Cowra. I sent the piebald horse to the camp by Edmund.

17 Jul 1881     Sunday.  I stayed at home. Light showers all day. James at the camp.

18 Jul 1881     I rode out to the camp and back to Cowra.

19 Jul 1881     I rode out to the camp and quarried all day. I got a letter from james McInerney. Slept at Chivers all night.

20 Jul 1881     Quarrying all day. Stayed at Chivers all night.

21 Jul 1881     Quarrying. Finished carting.

22 Jul 1881     Edmund took a load of wood to Cowra. James and I quarrying. Raining all night.

23 Jul 1881     I rode to Merriganowry . Met James McInerney there. We went to the head of Conimbla Creek to look for a quartz reef. We camped all night in a gully that runs into Conimbla Creek. Tied my horse to a tree.

24 Jul 1881     Sunday.  We searched for the reef until one o’clock and had some dinner near Murphy’s selection on Conimbla Creek. James McInerney started for Goolagong. I came on to the camp and from there in to Cowra. Fine day.

25 Jul 1881     I rode out to the camp and back to Cowra. White frost.

26 Jul 1881     I met Ingrey in Cowra. we went to Phillips’ office to get him to draw up a will (sic) in Ingrey’s favour for 125 acres of land at Broula. I rode out to the camp and back to Cowra.

27 Jul 1881     Stayed in Cowra all day. Edmund Markham came in from the camp with a load of wood. Paid him one pound.

28 Jul 1881     I rode out to the work and came back to Cowra. Edmund carting stone. Great frost.

29 Jul 1881     I rode out to the work and assisted James to quarry some stone. Harry Brien and Bill Gillet agreed to go to Goolagong to cart stone at two shillings per cubic yard. I came to Cowra.  White frost.

30 Jul 1881     I rode out to Mr Single’s place. He promised to measure the metal at Chivers next Tuesday. I signed the task book for 2 ½ miles of clearing, 200 yards of forming, meta, and blinding at Goolagong. E Markham brought in a load of wood and put the draught horses in Challacombe’s paddock and rode out to the camp.

31 Jul 1881     Home all day. White frost this morning.

1 Aug 1881      I rode out to the work. James and I measured. Harry brien carting. Paid him £1.18.10, final payment. Advance Grogan £2.7.9. Paid James O’Shaughnessy one pound. I came in to Cowra and attended a Hospital Meeting at Walsh’s Hotel. Edmund carted a load of wood to the Convent. I lent Harry Brien my big dray. Frost.

2 Aug 1881      James and I measured the breaking. Quarrying and carting. Mr Single came and measured and passed all the metal. All the men commenced to spread. I rode into Cowra with Mr Single and back to the camp.

3 Aug 1881      James and Edmund and I blinding. Edmund went to Cowra for forage. John Hogan filling the carts. Paid Clark, the stone breaker in full.

4 Aug 1881      James, E Markham, John Hogan, Bill edments and I blinding with two carts, worked hard all day.

5 Aug 1881      Blinding all day. All the metal spread this evening. I paid Bowman, McInerney, Austin, Sutherland and Stephenson  at Chivers Hotel, Back Creek.

6 Aug 1881      we finished blinding at four o’clock this evening. I came in to Cowra. White frost this morning.

7 Aug 1881      Sunday.  I rode out to the camp. We paid D.Grogan for his breaking. Quarrying, carting and spreading. I came in to Cowra.  Frost.

8 Aug 1881      I rode out to the camp. We took the two horses and cart up to the work. Edmund drew all the guard logs on. Hogan and Bill Edments cutting mitre drains until 12 o’clock. James and Edmund, John Hogan, and Bill Edments and I all the evening cleaning up the tables. We completed this contract of 1,000 yards of metal in two months.

9 Aug 1881      I rode out to the camp early. I paid John Hogan and Bill Edments, put some tools in Harry Brien’s cart and Edmund took them to Cowra.  I went to where H Brien was working and got our dray. James and Edmund and John Hogan went back to the camp in the big dray. I paid Reilly £3.12.8, paid old Joe 10/-, paid Simpson the wheelwright £2.9.0,E Markham £1.5.0.

10 Aug 1881    I rode out to the camp early in the morning. We loaded the dray. James, John Hogan and I started for Goolagong. I paid Rue Chivers £9.1.6 for forage. We got to Goolagong late in the evening and camped at the lagoon near Mrs hanley’s.

11 Aug 1881    We fixed up our camp and after dinner took the dray down to the township. Got a bag of corn and some rations from the store. Left some picks at James McInerney’s to be pointed. We pegged out 200 linear yards to be formed and metalled. James, Bill edments and I rode out to the quarry and back to the camp.

12 Aug 1881    James and I commenced to quarry on a hill that is reserved for quarrying purposes on the Goolagong township. Bill Edments and John Hogan commenced to form today. Edmund carted three loads of stone. Rained during the night and up to 12 o’clock today.

13 Aug 1881    James and I quarrying. Edmund carted four loads of stone.

14 Aug 1881    Sunday.  After dinner, I went to James McInerney’s. Fine day.

15 Aug 1881    James and I quarrying all day. Edmund carted four loads of stone. Bill Gillet and Harry Brien came to cart stone for me.

16 Aug 1881    James and I quarrying. Edmund carted four loads of stone. Gillet and harry brien carted two loads apiece.

17 Aug 1881    Rained a little during the night and commenced again after dinner. We had to come home from the quarry. Edmund carted four loads of stone. Gillet three loads. Harry Brien two loads and broke his cart.

18 Aug 1881    I went to show James McInerney how to repair H. Brien’s cart. He finished it at 4 o’clock and harry brien put on his load again. I went up to the quarry. Edmund carted four loads of stone.  John Hogan and Bill Edments finished the forming.

19 Aug 1881    James and I quarrying. I pegged out the line to be cleared by jack Jones and James Stack. Carts brought four loads each. John Hogan and Bill Edments started to stone break.

20 Aug 1881    James and I quarrying. Edmund carted three loads.

21 Aug 1881    Sunday.  At the camp all day.

22 Aug 1881    Rained all night and all day. No work.

23 Aug 1881    James and I quarrying. Edmund got bogged and broke a piece off one of his shafts.

24 Aug 1881    James and I quarrying.  Got the shaft repaired at McInerney’s.

25 Aug 1881    James and I quarrying. The carts working all day.

26 Aug 1881    James and I quarrying. Carts at work.

27 Aug 1881    James and I quarrying until 12 o’clock. James, Henry Brien, Bill Gillet, and Edmund Markham started for Cowra on horseback. I quarried until 4 o’clock.

28 Aug 1881    I stayed at the camp. Adam Potts came. James, Henry Brien, Bill Gillet, and Edmund Markham came at dark from Cowra.

29 Aug 1881    James and I quarrying. Finished carting stone on the forming. James and I measured up all the stone that Henry Brien and Bill Gillet carted, and paid them in full for the carting. John Cass opened a new public house in the new township, Goolagong.

30 Aug 1881    I was quarrying by myself. James commenced to break maintenance metal near the bridge at Goolagong. Edmund carting stone.

31 Aug 1881    I was quarrying. James breaking stone. Edmund carting stone.

1 Sep 1881      I finished quarrying. James breaking stone. Edmund carting stone.

2 Sep 1881      James and Edmund breaking maintenance metal. I rode up to Cowra. I paid P Murray 30 pounds.

3 Sep 1881      I rode back to the camp at Goolagong for dinner. James and Edmund finished breaking at the bridge. Edmund went to Cowra.

4 Sep 1881      Sunday.  James and I making hammer handles. Light showers of rain all day.

5 Sep 1881      James and I commenced to break 3 inch metal on the forming. Edmund breaking maintenance metal.

6/8 Sep 1881   Breaking metal all day.

9 Sep 1881      James and I started at 5 o’clock to attend on the jury at Grenfell. We got there at 9 o’clock. James was called on the first jury and I was called on the second jury. The criminal cases all finished early and we got piad.

10 Sep 1881    We did not leave Grenfell until half past 12 o’clock  and arrived at Goolagong at six o’clock. We had a light shower of rain as we passed Tin Pot Station.

11 Sep 1881    Raining most all day. Jubilee at Goolagong today. Great many Catholics attended.

12 Sep 1881    Raining all day. No work.

13 Sep 1881    The forming too wet to break on. We broke some maintenance metal down in the Lane.

14 Sep 1881    Breaking metal on the forming all day. Edmund carted some stone to be broken at the gaps.

15 Sep 1881    We finished breaking on the forming and commenced to break maintenance metal.

16 Sep 1881    I was breaking maintenance metal. James and Edmund did not do any work.

17 Sep 1881    John Hogan and Bill Edments finished breaking the 3 inch metal. I rode up to where Jack Jones and Jim Stack are clearing. James and Edmund breaking maintenance metal. Hot day.

18 Sep 1881    Sunday.  I walked down to the township and back to the camp. James and Edmund out riding.

19 Sep 1881    I rode down to the township to see on what day James McInerney would be ready to go and look for a quartz reef in the Conimbla ranges. James and Edmund finished breaking the maintenance metal.

20 Sep 1881    James and Edmund John Hogan and I took the two horses and dray to assist Jones and Stack at the clearing.

21 Sep 1881    James and Edmund  and I assisting Jones and Stack at the clearing. Adam Potts came.

22 Sep 1881    I sent Edmund Markham to Cowra with a letter for Mr Single to come and measure our work He led a mare of Challacombe’s up to Cowra. W.Ryan and Tom Markham came and stayed at our camp all night. They are on their way to the Bogan. James and I assisting Jones and Stack until 4 o’clock. They finished drawing off all the heavy timber.

23 Sep 1881    Edmund Markham came after dinner. No work today.

24 Sep 1881    James and Edmund and John Hogan and Bill Edments commenced to spread. James McInerney and I started to search for a quartz reef in the Conimbla Ranges. We camped  at Grant’s old station  on Sheep station Creek.

25 Sep 1881    Sunday. We rode all day but had no luck. We got to the camp at Goolagong at sundown.

26 Sep 1881    We commenced to blind the metal. Mr Single came in the evening. After tea, I walked to Gallinan’s Hotel and saw Mr Single. I signed a voucher.

27 Sep 1881    We finished the blinding. I paid Bill Edments, John Hogan, Gallinan and Flint’s and Costello’s bills. Adam Potts measured the clearing that Jones and Stack finished and measured 50 chains for Richard Payne to do opposite his place in a gum swamp.

28 Sep 1881    we loaded the carts and started for Cowra. James Stack signed an agreement to burn off all the timber and to make good all the fences broken by them. We got to Cowra early early in the evening. I paid Edmund Markham in full up to this date. Cloudy day.

29 Sep 1881    I paid Egan the Butcher, and Madam Nygant?.

30 Sep 1881    James and Edmund Markham took the two horses and dray up to George Campbell’s paddock to burn off some timber we left there about two years ago. They brought back a load of wood with them. Old English died last night.

1 Oct 1881      James and Edmund Markham took the two horses and dray up to George Campbell’s paddock to look after the fires. They brought back a load of wood. In the evening we rode down to the racecourse to see a trotting match between H.Dennis’ gray  horse and Phillips’ brown horse in buggies. Once round the course. Dennis’ horse won easily. After the match, they got up four races. Hot day.

2 Oct 1881      Sunday.  Mass at the chapel. We had a meeting about paying off the debt on the Catholic Church. English buried today.

3 Oct 1881      At home all day. Mr Single came to town. He promised to go to Hovell’s Creek next Thursday. Edmund brought a load of wood.

4 Oct 1881      I rode out to Mr Single’s and back. Edmund Markham brought a load of wood.

5 Oct 1881      Loading the dray ready for an early start in the morning for Hovell’s Creek.

6 Oct 1881      James, and Edmund Markham and Bill Edments started with two horses and cart for Hovell’s Creek. Mr Single came at 10 o’clock. I went with him in his buggy. Went up Morongla Creek to Breakfast creek, Panther? and Turner’s. From there we passed Narrallan? to Boorowa. Got there at 8 o’clock. We put up at the Royal Standard Hotel by M.O. Dwyer.

7 Oct 1881      We got to Frogmore at 12 o’clock, 16 miles and had dinner at Mrs O’Neill’s Hotel and walked up to the Frogmore copper mine and smelting works. We started on again and got to frost’s at Hovell’s Creek at 4 o’clock. I walked down the creek to where James was camped and came back to Frost’s and stayed there with Mr Single all night.

8 Oct 1881.     We pegged out a cutting across Hovell’s Creek in two places and one across Sandy Creek on the road to Reid’s Flat and pegged out some forming and clearing by O’Connor’s farm. We then started for Cowra. We came by Frank Harris’ place at Bennett Springs and across the Burrowa River by Cocomingla to Cowra.

9 Oct 1881      Sunday.  At home all day. I was speaking to Adam Potts. E Markham not arrived from Hovell’s Creek with the horses.

10 Oct 1881    Mr Single came in to Cowra in the evening. Edmund came with the draught horses and rode the piebald horse. I got a new saddle for him at P Murray’s Store.

11 Oct 1881    I wrote a letter to James and enclosed a cheque, signed only, and sent it by E Markham. I rode the piebald horse out to Mr Single’s and back to Cowra. A picnic in the old police paddock in aid of the Cowra Hospital. I got a letter from the Bank about A Ingrey’s Promissary Note being dishonoured. I got a bill from R.Daly. Raining all the evening.

12 Oct 1881    I rode to the Islands and from there past Tenandra? To where the Cowra road crosses Jack’s Creek. I followed jack’s Creek up to the old diggings. A heavy thunderstorm came. I came across the bush to Billy Butler’s on the road from Cowra to the Islands and came on to Cowra. Put my horse in Challacombe’s paddock. Great thunder and lightning.

13 Oct 1881    I went to Challacombe’s paddock and brought up the piebald horse and kept him in all night. A heavy shower of rain in the evening.

14 Oct 1881    Mr Murray and I started for Woods Flat on horseback and from there we went  to Green Gully smelting works. Had some dinner at Walter Bryant’s camp. Passed Milburn Creek Copper Mine and on to Mt McDonald. We put our horses in Tanner’s stable. We met Mr Single there. Alf Chambers took us to McDonald’s prospecting claim and to McKellar’s claim and on to some leases of his. We came back to the township and walked down to the selection that Oliver had sold to the Melbourne Company for 13,000 pound. We had tea at Tanner’s Public House and got a shakedown for the night.

15 Oct 1881.   Started at 7 o’clock. Followed the Vale flat nearly to its head and crossed over the range to Oliver’s house on the Milburn Creek and passed John Neville’s old place and by the old burial ground through a gap in the Pine Mount to Coota and on to Cowra. I rode down to Mulyan  race course to see the two matches. Alford’s bay horse beat  Middlemiss’s horse at his ease and beat  Arthur Hood’s horse.

16 Oct 1881    Sunday.  At home. I went to Mass.

17 Oct 1881    I went to the paddock and got my horse and rode up to the Kurrajong Hill and pegged out a five acre leas. Rained all day, there and back. I went to the bank and got Collins to sign some vouchers. John Muir and I went up to the Court House and got some forms for gold mining leases and filled one up and posted it up at the Court House. John Muir, P Murray and I are shareholders. I got a Promissary note from A Ingrey to come due in six months at bank interest.

18 Oct 1881    Rained all night and all day. John Muir and I went to the Court House and got an application form for a five acre lease at the Kurrajong camp or hill. I got three miner’s rights. One for John Muir, one for P Murray, and one for myself.

19 Oct 1881    I rode to the Kurrajong camp and re-pegged a five acre lease and posted up notices. Rained there and back.

20 Oct 1881    I gave the vouchers to Mr Single. I promised P Murray and John Toohey that I would go with them to Milburn Creek copper mine and Mt McDonald reefs on tomorrow morning.

21 Oct 1881    I went to the paddock and assisted Ryan to brand some calves and horses. We brought some horses to the pound yard. He castrated the old black mare’s foal. I paid £7.10.0 for the lease at Kurrajong.

22 Oct 1881    Mr John Toohey, P Murray and I started on horseback for Mt McDonald reefs. We went by Cudgelo and from there to the Kurrajong reef, and had a look around, and went on to Lowe’s Springs and up through the gap. Mr Murray turned back here. We passed John Whitty’s and crossed Milburn Creek, and over the range and crossed the Vale above Bennett’s Crushing Machine, and up the mountain to Mt McDonald township. We put up at tanner’s public house. We walked up to patterson’s claim and went down the shaft. We had tea at Tanner’s and went to Coombe’s camp and slept in his tent all night.

23 Oct 1881    Sunday.  Crichton, Mr Toohey, and I went to Mansfield’s claim, and along the line to Grant’s claim and up to Patterson’s claim. We came back and had dinner. We started and came by the Milburn Creek copper mine and past the smelting works, and by the Pine Mountain to Cowra.

24 Oct 1881    I stayed at home all day. I went to Parson Young’s sale. I bought a table and a lady’s armchair. Mr Toohey went to Canowindra  with T Slattery in his buggy. I paid Joseph Ousby £1.1.10 for Warm day. Grogan and £2.3.0 for Michael Murphy, Mt McDonald.

25 Oct 1881    I stayed at home all day. W.Ryan and Tom Markham started for Mt McDonald. Adam Potts came.

26 Oct 1881    Adam Potts with his horse and cart, and I, on horseback, started for Mt McDonald. We got there at sundown and camped at old Joe’s and Pat Fitzgibbon’s hut near the Company’s dam on Spencer’s Flat. W.Ryan and Tom Markham were there. Their camp was lower down the creek.

27 Oct 1881    W.Ryan, Tom Markham, Pat Fitzgibbon, Adam Potts, and I took our horses to the bald Hill. W.Ryan pegged out a ten acre lease, and Adam Potts and I pegged another ten acre lease adjoining.

28 Oct 1881    We all went out to bald Hill and prospected until 12 o’clock. Came to the camp and had dinner. In the evening we all prospected the north side of the range, up to Mansfield’s reef.

29 Oct 1881    Tom Markham took my horse and Adam’s horse to Patterson’s paddock at the Green Gully. Adam Potts and I prospecting on the north side of the range.

30 Oct 1881    Sunday.  James Markham brought my horse from Oliver’s place on Milburn Creek. Tom Markham and I took himback to patterson’s paddock and put a side line on him. He did not like it.

31 Oct 1881    W.Ryan pegged out a ten acre lease on the Bald Hill. Adam Potts and I prospecting.

1 Nov 1881     Adam Potts and I prospecting on the Bald Hill all day. W.Ryan went to Cowra. Tom Markham went to work for W. Bryant.

2 Nov 1881     Adam Potts and I prospecting on the Bald Hill until 12 o’clock. At the camp all the evening.

3 Nov 1881     Adam Potts and I went down the creek to Kirkman’s and Pascoe’s claim. They are putting up a Battery of their own. We followed along the side of the mountain. We passed a good few leases, some on gold, and some on prospecting and trenching. We followed ther mountain nearly to the Lachlan river. We followed up a gully on the north side of the mountain for about a mile. We crossed over the mountain again on to the south side and up to Hyde’s? claimclose under a mountain they call the ‘Boiler’. We came on to the camp. W.Ryan came to the camp at 12 o’clock right from Carcoar.

4 Nov 1881     Adam Potts and I went to see W.Ryan and De Courcey…peg two old leases into a twelve acre lease. A man named…nell and another man named Graham had been quarrying? them for some time. We came home to dinner. W.Ryan went to Cowra.

5 Nov 1881     Adam Potts and I pegged out a ten acre lease from the far? end of the bald Hill, across razorback adjoining Lawrence’s lease on the Red Hill.

6 Nov 1881     Sunday.  Adam Potts  and I walked to Patterson’s paddock at the Green Gully and brought our two horses to the camp.

7 Nov 1881     Adam Potts and I packed up and started for Cowra. We met Mr Single at the Pine Station spring. We had some dinner there. Mr Single turned back. He and I came by Coota. Adam Potts followed the main road. Mr Single turned in at his place. I came on to Cowra. E Markham came from the work on Hovell’s Creek.

8 Nov 1881     I stayed at home all day. E Markham put the old horse in Challacombe’s paddock, and brought the piebald.

9 Nov 1881     Mr P Murray, E Markham and I started for the battery. We went by Cudgelo and the Whistle Waa and crossed at the junction of the Boorowa River with the Lachlan River. E Markham went on for the camp at O’Connors at Hovell’s Creek. Mr Murray and I rode up to the old diggings on the Battery Point and along the top of the battery, and down to the Boorowa River, and down the river to the junction. We crossed the Lachlan and came back home, the same way we had gone. A picnic for the Public School children, being the Prince of Wales’ birthday.

10 Nov 1881   I went to Challacombe’s paddock and brought up the old chestnut horse. Rained a good shower after dark.

11 Nov 1881   I went to Challacombe’s paddock and tried the old black mare with the entire? She would not stand.

12 Nov 1881   I stayed at home all day.

13 Nov 1881   I started on horseback for Mt McDonald. I went by Cudgelo and the Whistle Waa and along the southern spur of the Kurrajong Hill and came out at Lowes Springs, and through the gap to John Whitty’s. Crossed Milburn Creek and over the range to Spring Vale. Passed bennett’s crushing machine and up to Mt McDonald reef. Camped at Old Joe’s hut, and put my horse in tanner’s stable.

14 Nov 1881   Alf Chambers and I rode to Jordan’s copper mine and across from there to Machattie’s? Camp, and then through Oliver’s fence and along the ridge and through another fence to the waterfall on Milburn Creek. We had some dinner there and came back the same way. We went as far as Machattie’s camp from there. We kept the south spur. On this spur there had been some leases pegged out. This morning we followed the spurs round to Mt McDonald. Fine warm day.

15 Nov 1881   Commenced to rain this morning and continued most all day. I waklked over to razorback and put up fresh notices in P Murray’s name on the ten acre lease.

16 Nov 1881   I rode down to where Chambers was working on the road. He and I went to where Murphy and Dwyer had reported they found gold below Shaw’s lease. We could not find a speck. I came back to the camp for dinner. In the evening I went on to Jordan’s copper mine lease and pegged out an eight acre lease. I found out afterwards that a portion of what I had pegged had been taken up before. I prospected from there to Oliver’s fence.

17 Nov 1881   I started for Cowra. When I came to Green Gully, Walter Bryant told me that he had heard that the dispute about Jordan’s copper lease would be decided in a few days. I rode back to where Chambers was working on the road. He and I pegged out a fifteen acre lease. I came back to green Gully. I met Mr Single there. I went back to Mt McDonald with Mr Single . We stayed about an hour. We then stsrted for Cowra. I got home at dark.

18 Nov 1881   At home all day. I got the old chestnut horse shod. Alf Chambers came in with word that Maurice Fitzgerald had pegged out a lease at Machattie’s camp near Milburn Creek copper mine.

19 Nov 1881   I started on the old chestnut horse and got to Carcoar at 10 o’clock. I put a notice on the Warden’s office for a five acre lease at Machattie’s camp near Milburn Creek copper mine. I started at 2 o’clock and got to Cowra at 7 o’clock. W.Ryan’s horse beat Hope’s mare in a trotting match. Middlemiss’ horse beat Alford’s horse in a flat race.

20 Nov 1881   Sunday.  At home all day. I went to Mass. A heavy shower of rain after dark.

21 Nov 1881   Rained all day. I rode down to the paddock with W.Ryan. I went and saw Mrs Challacombe. She seems to be failing fast.

22 Nov 1881   Mr Murray and I rode up to the Battery and pegged out a 25 acre lease. We crossed the river at Cudgelo and by Ormsby’s. we got back to Cowra at 3 o’clock. P Walsh started to Kikiamah.

23 Nov 1881   I stayed at home. Mrs Challacombe no better.

24 Nov 1881   At home all day.

25 Nov 1881   I rode up to the Mt McDonald reefs. I went up Waugools Creek. E A Baker addressed the electors here tonight.

26 Nov 1881   Alf Chambers and I came to Cowra. Mr Single called.

27 Nov 1881   I rode down to the paddock na tried the mares with the entire. They did not stand.

28 Nov 1881   P Murray took Jim Reid with him in the spring cart with him to the battery.

29 Nov 1881   At home. P Murray came from the battery.

30 Nov 1881   I was assisting to put up a string binder. W.Ryan sent Tom Markham to Hovell’s Creek for James O’Shaughnessy  to give his vote to George Campbell.

1 Dec 1881     Polling day for George Campbell and E A Baker. Campbell got in by a large majority. James and Edmund and Bill Edments came from Hovell’s Creek. Mrs Challacombe very ill. I served in Walsh’s bar all day.

2 Dec 188       Mrs Challacombe died at a quarter to five o’clock this evening.^[2] Patrick Walsh and Pat, his son came from Kikiamah.

3 Dec 1881     At home all day. We put Mrs Challacombe in the coffin. Hartigan came from cargo.

4 Dec 1881     Sunday.  Mr Murray and John Toohey went to Boorowa in Tim Slattery’s buggy. Buried Mrs Challacombe. Largest funeral ever seen in Cowra.

5 Dec 1881     I rode up to the Battery and posted a notice on a lease of P Murray’s. Murray and Toohey came from Boorowa. Hot day.

6 Dec 1881     P Walsh and his son Pat started for Kikiamah. They took Fly, the kangaroo slut, with them.

7 Dec 1881    P Murray, John Toohey and I rode up to the battery and up the Boorowa River eight miles and back to the battery again. Mr Murray and Mr Toohey started for Mt McDonald. I lent Mr Murray my horse and rode his mare home. Edmund came from Hovell’s Creek. A hot day.

8 Dec 1881     James and John Hogan came with cart from Hovell’s creek.

9 Dec 1881     James paid E Markham, John Hogan, and Bill Edments the full amount due. Old Mrs maher from Sandy Creek died at the Hospital today. I signed a voucher for maintenance at Goolagong for thirty two pounds.

10 Dec 1881   P Murray came home this morning. The horse fell with him last night coming from Carcoar. A son of Alick Middlemiss died this evening of inflamation of the lungs.

11 Dec 1881   Sunday.  Mrs Maher buried this evening and Alick Middlemiss’ son buried in the Jerula Burial Ground. Cool day.

12 Dec 1881   John Hogan, Bill Edments, and I getting ready to prospect the Battery for P Murray and Toohey.

13 Dec 1881   James, John Hogan, Bill Edments, and I started with the two horses and dray to prospect the Battery. We camped at the junction of the Boorowa River and the Lachlan River. James drove back the horses and left the dray.

14 Dec 1881   I made a windlass. Bill Edments and John Hogan put up a forge and commenced a shaft.

15 Dec 1881   We put up the windlass. Sinking all day.

16 Dec 1881   Sinking all day.

17 Dec 1881   Bottomed at 12 o’clock. No wash. Started Number 2 shaft and got bottom at seven feet. Only a few colours to a dish.

18 Dec 1881   Sunday.  I had a walk along the edge of the Battery. Hot day.

19 Dec 1881   Bottomed number 3 shaft at 10 feet Bottomed number 4 shaft on one end. Cool day.

20 Dec 1881   Bottomed number 4 at 13 feet. Dipping to the east. Commenced number 5 shaft.

21 Dec 1881   Bottomed number 5 shaft at 16 feet 6 inches. Poor prospects. Commenced number 6 shaft. 

22 Dec 1881   Bottomed 6,7,8 and 9 shafts. Hot day.

23 Dec 1881   Bottomed 10 and 11 shafts. Real hot day.

24 Dec 1881   Bottomed number 12 shaft and commenced No 13 shaft. James came with a saddle horse and we all rode to Cowra. Hot days.

25 Dec 1881   Sunday.  Christmas day. Frightful hot day.

26 Dec 1881   I gave James a cheque for two pounds. Races at Chivers. I was at home all day.

27 Dec 1881   I paid Egan the Butcher £10.2.11. James and I took tom the horse in P Murray’s spring cart to the Battery. James drove back again. Hogan and Edments came in the evening.

28 Dec 1881   Working all day at number 13 shaft. Hot day.

29 Dec 1881   Bottomed number 13 shaft at 10 o’clock. Commenced number 14 shaft on the south side of the hill at the head of a gully running into George Lane’s selection. Hot sultry day.

30 Dec 1881   Bottomed number 14 at 14 feet. Good prospects. Commenced number 15 shaft 30 yards west of number 14 shaft.

31 Dec 1881   Bottomed number 15 shaft. Prospects not good. Cool day.

To return to O’Shaughnessy Main Page, click here.

To go to Part Fourteen 1882, click here.

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