Thomas O’Shaughnessy’s Diary Part 9 1875 – 1877

 1875 – 1877

Jan 1875         We finished at Grenfell. I believe we came to the eleven mile tree. Ned Murphy and I had put in tenders for a small piece of road work. The Commissioner for Roads divided between Murphy and me. He got three chains and a culvert and I got four chains. We camped at a spring near Green’s culvert.

10 Mar 1875    We found a copper lode on the east side of Broula Hill. Tom Peters, Alick Clearihne, John Hope, Ned Murphy and I took a mineral lease of 20 acres. We finished our contract in March 1875 and came home to Cowra.

Apr 1875         At home all this month.

May 1875.       There were races at Mulyan. A Catholic Bazaar in Cowra during the race nights. The first day of the races James O’Shaughnessy got a fall from his horse coming home from the races. The horse went into a stump hole and fell. James’ underlip was split. Dr Flockton put three stitches in it. He did not come to his senses for four days. At this time my tenders were accepted for roadwork at the 11 mile tree, 15 mile tree, 16 mile tree and 17 mile tree. I started to Bathurst to buy two draught horses and two carts. First night at Bathurst I stayed at  Harry Hughes’ Hotel. The next day I went and stayed at old Martin’s hotel on the Kelso side of the Bathurst Bridge. It took me three or four days to buy the horses and carts. I got young Martin to drive one horse and cart to Cowra. First night we stayed at Whittakers Half Way House. Raining all night. We started next day at daylight. Rained all the way to Blayney. Very cold. We put our horses in Jacob Russart’s stables. Had breakfast. Made another start and reached Carcoar at 3 o’clock. Rained all the way. We stayed at Fagan’s Royal Hotel all night. We started before daylight next morning and came to Flood’s ‘The Rising Sun’ for breakfast. We fed our horses. From there we came on to The Sheet o’ Bark’^[1] James Lynch’s Public House. Put our horses in the stable and fed them and had some lunch. Started at 4 pm and got to Cowra at 10 o’clock.

23 Jun 1875    I started with two carts to the work at the 17 mile tree on the Grenfell Road,.Tom Peters drove one of the carts. Alick Clearihne came with us. First night we camped at george Wilson’s public house, Bumbaldry. It rained all night and all the next dayWe could not start. In the morning we made a start and got to the 17 mile tree and put up our tents. The ground was that boggy that we had some trouble to find enough sound ground to feed the horses on. I have 17 chains of forming metal and drains here. I let Tom Peters and Alick Clearihne the forming, and let the quarrying to some Grenfell men. I hired James Carpenter to drive one of the horses and cart. He and I quarried a week. We then commenced to cart. I got the stone close to the work. Tom Walsh sent a man with two horses and a cart to cart stone at 1/6 per cubic yard. When we had half the stone carted, I sent a man named Fitch and his two sons to form at the 16 mile tree.

1 Sep 1875      James O’Shaughnessy came out from Cowra. He set in to quarry stone. I started Adam Potts to quarry at the 16 mile tree. Fitch finished forming, started to quarry at the 16 mile tree. It did not take us long to cart the stone at the 16 mile. It was broken as fast as it came in.

1 Oct 1875      We had all the stone carted and broken and spread at the 16 mile tree. We shifted our camp to the 11 mile tree. I had 20 chains to do here and 10 chains on the east side of Broula Hill. I let five chains of it to two brothers named McCourt. They had to form, quarry, break, and cart, spread and blind. We got on very fast at the 11 mile tree and with the five chains on Broula.

15 Dec 1875   We finished at the 11 mile tree and Broula Hill. I paid up all the men. James O’Shaughnessy, Tom Peters, Adam Potts, Cowra. Miller and I started back to the 15 mile tree, Bumbaldry, to put up a culvert and six chains of metal. I set Cowra. Miller to quarry while we put up the culvert and formed the six chains.

25 Dec 1875   I had my Christmas dinner at George Wilson’s public house, Bumbaldry. We had some trouble to get some timber for the culvert. Frightful hot weather. Great bush fires.

9 Jan 1876      Finished the culvert at the 15 mile tree and came home to Cowra.

19 Feb 1876    A meeting of the shareholders of the Broula Hill Copper Mining Company at Cowra.

1 Mar 1876      B Monaghan and I went to Mandurama to see some road work along the road that tenders were called for. We stayed all night at Con Flynn’s?? public house, Mandurama.

2 Mar 1876      We came back to Cowra.

16 Mar 1876    All the shareholders met at the copper mine. We agreed to sink one shaft 20 feet. Started to work right away.

10 Apr 1876    We finished work at the mine and came to Cowra.

15 Apr 1876    My tender for work on the Canowindra road near  Liscombe Pools was accepted.

4 May 1876     James, Tom Peters, Adam Potts and I took two horses and a cart Liscombe Pools. When we got there, there was no water near the work. We had to camp at Palmer’s creek two miles from the work. The next day I took the horses and dray back to Cowra. The next day or the day after, I rode back to the camp. While I was away there was rain. They made a dam near the work and caught enough water to last for some time. I sent James back to Cowra for a horse and cart to shift our camp. We made a comfortable camp. We quarried most all the stone before we commenced to form the road. The stone was hard to be got. James, Tom Peters, Adam Potts and I discovered some fine caves about two miles north of the Canowindra road. About this time the Commissioner for Roads accepted my tenders for work on the Canowindra and Eugowra road. A culvert and two chains of metal in Glaziers Lane, a culvert and two chains of metal at Gum Flat, a culvert and one chain at the Gilgio, and a culvert and seven chains of metal at Chesire’s selection near Eugowra. I let all the culverts to Ned Murphy, and he agreed to put up a culvert at Liscombe Pools. I had all the timber ready on the ground.

Aug  1876        C.S. Wilkinson, the Government Geologist, came to inspect the caves.^[2] He stayed five days at our camp and surveyed the caves. He got some fine stalagtites and fossils. A gentleman from the Lands Office came to inspect the caves ,and if they were on Government land, to secure them for the Crown. I bought two draught horses and cart to draw stone. The first day they made tracks. Next day I tracked them along the road towards Carcoar. They turned off the road near Rothery’s and went across onto the Cowra road at Limestone Creek. I borrowed a horse from B Monaghan and followed the tracks up Limestone Creek. Stayed all night at the sheep station. Next morning, got on the tracks again, and followed them past Grubbengong and up to B Stimpson’s sawmill going towards the Abercrombie. Stayed at the sawmill all night. Next day, I left the tracks and went on to the Abercrombie at Butchers Flat, Ridley’s. Could not hear anything of the horses. Stayed at a sheep station of Ridley’s all night. The next day I offered five pounds reward for the horses. I then started for cowra and and came to Cassidy’s at Grabine. The next day I came by Milburn Creek copper mine and on to Cowra. I got a fresh horse and went to work at Liscombe Pools the next day. The next morning I started and went to the ‘Rising Sun’ on the Carcoar road. The next day I went to the Milburn Creek copper mine. The next day to Ridley’s at Butchers flat. Ridley’s shepherd and gave them to Ridley to keep. Stayed at Ridley’s all night. The next day to Cowra. When I had most all the stone on the forming at Liscombe Pools, James and I took two horses and a dray, with tools and rations, to Cheshire’s selection on the Eugowra road where Ned Murphy and Jack Hope were putting up a culvert for me. We put up our camp there. The next day, James started back with the two horses and dray and went all the way to Liscombe Pools. I hired two men to assist me to form. Another man agreed to quarry and break two chains of metal.

23 Oct 1876    Tom Peters, Jim Carpenter and Adam Potts came and brought Tom the horse, and cart. When I finished forming, the two men I had, commenced to quarry. Tom peters and I carting stone. Adam Potts and Jim Carpenter breaking stone. When I had enough stone quarried, I took the two men to the Gilgio to quarry and form. Murphy putting up a culvert there. When Murphy had the culvert finished, the two men went on with him to Gum Flat to form six chains and quarry there. When we finished carting stone at Cheshire’s, Tom Peters and I came on to the Gilgio.We carted all the stone in two days. Tom Peters commenced to break stone. I hired JohnBoyd to drive one of the horses and cart.

10 Nov 1876. I removed my camp to Gum Flat. I camped at a dam of Robert King’s. James came from Liscombe Pools. He finished there. I got the contract for the filling up at the Narrang Creek bridge, and two chains of metal. I rode down to Forbes. I stayed at Billy Robinson’s public house. The next day I came to Eugowra, stayed at the Bridge Hotel. I met Bill Walsh at Boon’s Hotel. The next day I came to the camp at Gum Flat. We had a heavy shower of rain. It made the ground soft. I got all the men on the work to fill the carts to make up the embankment to the Narrang Creek bridge. We finished in a week. Adam Potts and Jim Carpenter breaking at Gum Flat. When all the stone was carted at Gum Flat, I sent James and Boyd to Glaziers Lane at Canowindra to cart stone and form two chains at a culvert. I commenced to quarry stone at Kings for the bridge approaches. Adam Potts and Grundy forming on each side of the bridge. We camped near the bridge. About this time Mr Bell, Road Superintendent came and gave me about three chains extra on each side of the bridge. I carted two chains on top of the bank to be broken and then carted on to the approaches, and carted some on to the forming. James brought his two carts and gave me two days carting stone. James went back to Glaziers Lane again.

18 Dec 1876   All the work finished at Gum Flat and Narrang Creek. We came on to Glaziers Lane. It took all hands about four days to finish. We then packed up and came to Cowra.

1 Jan 1877      Mr Single, Road Superintendent, gave me 20 chains of clearing from Narrang Creek bridge towards Canowindra. James, Adam Potts and I took old Prince, the horse, and cart and started for Narrang Creek. The first night we camped at Canowindra. The next day we got to Narrang Creek bridge. We boarded at Mrs Kink’s. It took us about a week to finish. We travelled back again to Cowra.

19 Feb 1877    A meeting of the shareholders of the Broula Hill copper Mining Company at Cowra.

5 Mar 1877      Commenced work at the Broula Hill copper mine.

30 Mar 1877    Finished work at the Broula Hill copper mine.

5 Apr 1877.     I selected 200 acres at Broula Hill and took a ‘primitive/preventative right’. James, Adam Potts and I took two horses and dray to Belubula Caves for a week and got some splendid stalagtites. Hot days when we were at the caves. When we got back to Cowra, James, Adam Potts and I went out to my selection at Broula to sink a well. We sunk three wells before we got water.

15 Apr  1877. James Lynch won 26 pound with Reckless and called for a dozen champagne. Sergeant McCarthy and Chapman from Cowra.

Jun 1877         I got a road contract in Glaziers Lane, and one at Gum Flat, Canowindra and Eugowra road. I hired an old man to grub at the selection.

22 Jun 1877    I started with the carts for Gum Flat. Camped at Canowindra.

23 Jun 1877    Gum Flat.

24 Jun 1877    We put up our tents in Joe Jones’s paddock. I measured out 20 and  ½ chains of forming. Tom Peters, Adam Potts and Alick Clarihanetook all the forming and clearing at one pound seven shillings per chain. I engaged two men to quarry.

25 Jun 1877    Making a crossing at Narrang creek to the quarry near Joe Jones’s house. The men commenced to form today. I got a bale of chaff from Ginty.

26 Jun 1877    The men commenced to quarry. One cart going. Carted 7 loads. A man with two horses and dray and family came from cowra to cart stone.

27 Jun 1877    I carted 8 loads of stone. James sick today.

28 Jun 1877    Carted 8 loads of stone.

29 Jun 1877    I carted 7 loads. Sanderson  carted 7 loads.

30 Jun 1877    Sunday. James and I removed into Bob King’s hut.

1 Jul 1877       I was making a road across Narrang Creek. Another man commenced to quarry.

2 Jul 1877       Jones commenced to cart. I carted 7 loads.

3 Jul 1877       Carted 7 loads.

4 Jul 1877       I carted 4 loads. Repaired round barley paddock to keep draught horses out.

5 Jul 1877       Carted 6 loads. Got a bale of chaff from Ginty. Brought a cask of water.

6 Jul 1877       Carted 6 loads. Returned a voucher to Mr Single.

7 Jul 1877       Sunday. I went to King’s in the evening.

8 Jul 1877       A little rain during the night. Carted 6 loads. Wrote a letter to Cowra for Jones to get a cart of mine.

9 Jul 1877       Carted 7 loads. I lent the men forming, a horse and cart to fill up. A man with a woman agreed to break stone.

10 Jul 1877     Carted 7 loads. Found a piece of fossil in the quarry. The forming finished. Young Boyd started to Cowra for the cart.

11 Jul 1877     I got ten chains to add on to the forming. The men started to form it. I carted 6 loads. Rained in the evening. Great frosts.

12 Jul 1877     I carted 7 loads. Jones using one of my carts. Opened a new quarry further up Narrang Creek. A letter from Cowra. James up to a dance at King’s.

13 Jul 1877     I carted 6 loads. James came from King’s. Light showers.

14 Jul 1877     Sunday. I went to the new quarry. Any amount of stone there. Found some more fossils in the stone. Carted on the forming. A bale of chaff from Ginty.

15 Jul 1877     Carted 7 loads from the new quarry. Cloudy day.

16 Jul 1877     I went up to King’s sawmill to have a look at the engine. They could not get it to work. I found that the piston had bent. James carted until dinner. Carted 7 loads. Jones not at work.  Ousby’s sheep passed. Harry Grant in charge. Bought 20 bushels of corn from Powre? at 7 shillings per bushel.

17 Jul 1877     Carted 6 loads. The second piece of forming, six chains and 53 feet, finished. I marked out 4 more chains to be done.

18 Jul 1877     Carted 6 loads. Rained in the evening.

19 Jul 1877     Carted 6 loads. Jones carting. Sanderson not carting. Lotton? Bolted. Wrote a letter to Mr Single.

20 Jul 1877     Carted 6 loads. Got two bales of chaff from Ginty. I started to Cowra.

21 Jul 1877     James brought a cask of water.

22 Jul 1877     James carted two loads of stone and went to King’s after dinner for rations. The men borrowed a horse and cart to finish the forming.

23 Jul 1877     James carted 7 loads of stone. Tom Peters, Adam Potts and Alick Clearihne started to break. James gave Ginty a cheque for nine pounds ten shillings.

24 Jul 1877     James carted 6 loads. Donohue, a fresh breaker, set in.

25 Jul 1877     James carted 6 loads. The butcher came.

26 Jul 1877     Showers all day. No work.

27 Jul 1877     James carted six loads and then went to King’s to put their ledger right.

28 Jul 1877     Sunday. James went to King’s and gave the horses a feed of green barley. A fresh breaker, Quinlan, came.

29 Jul 1877     James carted 8 loads of stone. I came from Cowra with Mr Single. I went on to Eugowra with him and stayed there all night.

30 Jul 1877     James carted 9 loads of stone. I came back from Eugowra. Mr Single went on to Forbes.

31 Jul 1877     James carted 6 loads of stone. I started to Cowra.

1 Aug 1877      James carted 11 loads. Great racing with the stone carters.

2 Aug 1877      James carted 7 loads.  Bought two bags of potatoes from a team.

3 Aug 1877      James carted 5 loads. And salted beef after dinner.

4 Aug 1877      Sunday. James brought a cask of water.

5 Aug 1877      James went down to the culvert at the Gilgio to do some filling up.

6 Aug 1877      James started to maintain seven chains of metal at the corner of Jones’s fence. I came from Cowra and went and went back to Canowindra for some spawling? hammers. I went up to the Belmore Collis store. I bought some old hammers and brought them to Canowindra to have them faced. Stayed at Clyburn’s all night.

7 Aug 1877      James shifted some stone for the breakers. I came from Canowindra with the hammers. Paid Weeks one pound two shillings for corn.

8 Aug 1877      James started to Glaziers Lane with some men to form and quarry. He came back to Gum Flat again.

9 Aug 1877      James came with the two horses and cart to Glaziers Lane with the rest of the tools. I came on horseback.

10 Aug 1877    James cut two hollow logs to act instead of drainpipe and cut some bushes to put in a mud hole. I started to Cowra.

11 Aug 1877    Sunday. James fixed up the tents.

12 Aug 1877    James and Adam Potts forming. Dan Ryan came.

13 Aug 1877    James took a horse and cart to Gum Flat with rations for the men and came back to the camp.

14 Aug 1877    James forming and drawing bushes.

15 Aug 1877    James forming and carting bushes. I was at the selection.

16 Aug 1877    James finished the forming and carted 4 loads of stone.

17 Aug 1877    James carted 4 loads of stone and got a horse shod.

18 Aug 1877    Sunday. James making out the men’s accounts.

19 Aug 1877    James carted 8 loads of stone.

20 Aug 1877    James took the horses and cart to Gum Flat with rations and carted 3 loads of stone to the breakers and came back to camp.

21 Aug 1877    James carted 4 loads of stone.

22 Aug 1877    James carted 5 loads of stone. I came from Cowra.

23 Aug 1877    James carted 7 loads of stone. I went to Narrang Creek to see how the work was getting on. Came back to James’ camp at 12 o’clock and started for Cowra.

24 Aug 1877    James carted 3 loads of stone.

25 Aug 1877    James went to Gum Flat in the evening and stayed there all night. The men getting on well with the work.

26 Aug 1877    James broke over Cotton’s heap of metal and filled in a part of Quinn’s metal. Paid Ginty £2.7.8 for chaff and came back to Glaziers Lane.

27 Aug 1877    James carted 4 loads of stone and 5 loads of earth for the forming.

28 Aug 1877    James carted 9 loads of stone.

29 Aug 1877    James carted 8 loads of stone.

30 Aug 1877    James carted 8 loads of stone.The Kings sent Tom the horse back after his trip to Forbes and back.

31 Aug 1877    James carted 4 loads. A heavy shower of rain in the evening.

1 Sep 1877      Sunday. James went to Gum Flat and stayed all night.

2 Sep 1877      James came back to his camp and carted 2 loads of stone.

3/6 Sep 77       James carted 7,8,8,7 loads of stone. That finished the stone carting for Glaziers Lane.

7 Sep 1877      James went to Canowindra for rations.

8 Sep 1877      Sunday. James started with the horses and cart to Gum Flat to finish there and brought a cask of water to the hut.

9 Sep 1877      James carting stone for stump holes on some clearings.

10 Sep 1877    James carted one load of stone for stump holes. That finished the clearing. I was waiting in Cowra all day for Mr Single the Road Superintendent but he did  not come according to promise.

11 Sep 1877    James finished maintaining the seven chain corner of Jones’ fence.

12 Sep 1877    James doing nothing.

13 Sep 1877    James spawling stone on the stump holes.

14 Sep 1877    James came to Cowra on Tom Peters’ horse.

15 Sep 1877    James started back to Gum Flat. Mr Single and I went to Canowindra in the evening. Mr Single measured the stone in Glaziers Lane. We stayed all night at Tom Clyburn’s.

16 Sep 1877    Mr Single and I went to Gum Flat. He measured all the metal.

17 Sep 1877    I paid Jones £29.16.7 for stone carting.

18 Sep 1877    Paid John Eastman £5.0.0.

19 Sep 1877    Paid Adam Potts £32.11.5 for breaking and forming.

20 Sep 1877    Paid John Whitford £14.8.6 stonebreaking. I went to Goolagong to see some work that tenders were called for in the lane on Cowra side of Goolagong. I went up to Cowra and put in two tenders. One for Goolagong, and one for Glaziers Lane. When James finished, he came home to Cowra.

Nov 1877        My tenders for the work at Goolagong and Glaziers Lane were accepted. James and I started down with two horses and two carts to Goolagong. We started forming and clearing in the lane, Cowra side of the bridge. We quarried the stone at the back of Broander’s public house. We all boarded at the public house. A rough shop. We came to Cowra for our Christmas.

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