1896
1 Jan 1896 I split 104 palings. Great heat today. Alick out kangaroo shooting.
2 Jan 1896 I split 49 palings and cut off some logs ready to split. Great heat all day. The scrub here is dying for want of rain.
3 Jan 1896 I split 126 palings. Another real hot day. Wind blowing from the east.
4 Jan 1896 I split 86 palings. Mr Ovens came to where I was splitting. Going round the boundary fence. Real hot windy day. No sign of rain.
5 Jan 1896 Sunday. At the camp all day. I took the horses down the creek to water. I met young Cooper and a young fellow who is looking after ernest Bowler’s cattle.
6 Jan 1896 I split 116 palings. Great heat and a great storm at night. No rain. Water in the dams drying up very fast.
7 Jan 1896 Alick assisted me to split 124 palings. Hot winds all night and all day. Grass burnt up. Cloudy.
8 Jan 1896 I split 108 palings. Very hot and windy.
9 Jan 1896 I split 116 palings. Hot winds all night and real hot today. No sign of rain.
10 Jan 1896 A little rain. Too hot and sultry to work. I had to come to camp. Did not count the palings I split.
11 Jan 1896 199 palings for the two days. Cloudy and very hot.
12 Jan 1896 Sunday. Cloudy and great heat. Young Cooper came to the camp. Alick lent him his shot gun.
13 Jan 1896 Alick assisted me to cut 12 logs in the morning. In the evening, I split 89 palings. Great heat this evening.
14 Jan 1896 I split 123 palings. Great heat.
15 Jan 1896 I split 136 palings. Great smoke from the west. Real hot.
16 Jan 1896 I split 81 palings. Chapman and son, and Charley Nichols camped at Cherry’s Creek dam to get honey and palings. Hot cloudy day.
17 Jan 1896 I rode old Paddy the horse in to Cowra. Minnie O’Shaughnessy came in the coach from Grenfell after her holidays at Margaret McGrath’s, “The Pines”, near Bimbi. Harry Henderson promised to bring in the palings next Tuesday. Little Billy Robinson died at Canowindra – old Major Robinson’s son.
18 Jan 1896 I started early and got to camp at 12 o’clock. Real hot.
19 Jan 1896 Sunday. I carted with the wagonette all the palings out of Kangarooby paddock in to Ovens’ paddock. Cloudy. 119 in the shade at Bourke.
20 Jan 1896 I split 58 palings. A nice shower this morning. Young Cooper came with Alick’s shotgun. Good shower at dark.
21 Jan 1896 I finished carting the palings to one place. Cloudy and hot.
22 Jan 1896 I stacked all the palings. One of the Ovens came to where I was working. Harry Henderson not come yet to cart the palings. Hot cloudy day.
23 Jan 1896 Waiting for Harry Henderson all day. Very hot.
24 Jan 1896 We loaded up the wagonette and started for Cowra and left the piebald down in Kangarooby Creek above the swamp. We met Henderson in three miles. We went back to the palings and loaded him. We came back with him to the dam near where Willie Hood sank a shaft on an ironstone hill. Great dust storm and rained most all night.
25 Jan 1896 We started early and came with Henderson to the foot of Broula Hill. Alick and I drove on to Cowra. Henderson got to Cowra at 2 o’clock. We took half the palings off at my place and half at henderson’s place. Cool day.
26 Jan 1896 Sunday. Anniversary of New South Wales. I was at home all day.
27 Jan 1896 Fixing up Henderson’s fence. I ran a brace bit into my thigh. Could not work. Very hot.
28 Jan 1896 No work. My leg too sore. Tom Daly asked if I would go out to the farm in the milk (wagon)to inspect a boundary fence between his father’s and George Lockyer. We got back from Daly’s farm at 3 o’clock. Mrs Donald. McInnes died this morning from blood poison.
29 Jan 1896 Up at the Court House. I was not called in Daly and Lockyer case until 4 o’clock. The case adjourned until tomorrow. Mrs Donald McInnes buried this evening.
30 Jan 1896 Putting up palings around Harry Henderson’s place Daly and Lockyer settled their case. A telegram from James Ryan that he had got a place for Grace O’Shaughnessy near Cooma – Bredbo.
31 Jan 1896 Putting up palings for H Henderson. In Lockyer and Daly case, each paid his own expenses. Daly got damages and further proceedings until March 8th.
1 Feb 1896 Putting up palings. Hot day Jim ( O’Shaughnessy) came in from Specimen Hill, Binni Creek.
2 Feb 1896 Sunday. At home. Not very hot.
3 Feb 1896 Putting up palings for H Henderson. Mrs James O’Shaughnessy confined. A daughter[1] at 1 o’clock this morning.
4 Feb 1896 Finished palings for Harry Henderson. Used 1050 palings. Dr Smith’s sale commenced today. Mr John O’Connor from Hovell’s Creek came. Hot day.
5 Feb 1896 John O’Connor drove me out to Binni Creek diggings. We had dinner with James O’Shaughnessy and Thomas Beasley at Specimen Hill This is where William McInnes, the owner of this land, got some very fine specimens. James Smith and Phillip Squire drove out. They brought some fine specimens theyhad got here, to be crushed in the mortar. We had a good shower coming in to Cowra. I got a letter from George Wilcox and Company, 11 Pitt Street, Circular Quay, Sydney, Wool and Skin Merchants with cheque for £1.19.9 for 36 kangaroo skins and 10 lb bees wax.
6 Feb 1896 Harry Henderson paid me £2.12.6 for paling. John O’Connor gone home. J.Poignard, the wheelwright, sold off today by his creditors.
7 Feb 1896 I put up some palings on my own allotment. Very sultry day. Thunder and lightning. A light shower of rain.
8 Feb 1896 Putting up palings at my own place. Johnston, the paling splitter, took away his things. He gave me a trow? For splitting palings. Mary Costello of Koorawatha married this evening. I got two packets of nails from Murray’s. James O’Shaughnessy came from Specimen Hill. A light shower in the evening.
9 Feb 1896 Sunday. At home. Cloudy.
10 Feb 1896 No work. I got two bags of chaff from P Murray. 7/6. Light showers all day.
11 Feb 1896 Sold 3 tins of honey. £1.2.6. Paid Murray’s bill, less 13/2. Working up my diary. Light showers.
12 Feb 1896 Light rain all night and all day, from the west.
13 Feb 1896 I repaired Daly’s paddock near Gillet’s and locked the gate. Raining up to 3 o’clock.
14 Feb 1896 Heavy rain all last night and today.
15 Feb 1896 I finished paling one end of the allotment. Mr and Mrs Daly came from Sydney. Great flood in Coota Creek. James O’Shaughnessy came in from Binni Creek. Grass growing fast.
16 Feb 1896 At home. Had dinner with Mr and Mrs Daly.
17 Feb 1896 I pulled down 3 panels of fence in front of the house. And sunk 3 post holes for 2 gates. Great heat in the evening.
18 Feb 1896 George Hurst assisted me to put up the 3 gate posts and 3 panels of fence.
19 Feb 1896 I was putting up palings. Great heat.
20 Feb 1896 I drove Hurst out to Egan’s slaughter yard and took up the floor of sawn timber and put down bricks instead. Tot Dalywent by coach to Grenfell on her way to John Nowlan’s[2], Weddin Mountains as a teacher. I got a return from the Mines Department of two samples of stone. One from Mobbs’ claim at Frogmore, gold 8 dwt 17 gr, silver 15 dwt 2 gr per ton. The second lot from an ironstone leader running above Specimen Hill reef Gold 12 dwt 22 gr , silver 19 dwt 11 gr per ton.
21 Feb 1896 Hurst and I finished the slaughter yard. Warm.
22 Feb 1896 Fixing up a gate at her place opposite the Australian Hotel. Donald McInnes Jr’s furniture sold today. James O’Shaughnessy came from Binni.
23 Feb 1896 Sunday. At home. Old Paddy the horse went out to Egan’s paddock. Great east winds all day.
24 Feb 1896 Putting up palings on the fence around the allotment. Sent a letter to John O’Connor, Hovell’s Creek. Cloudy and sultry all day.
25 Feb 1896 Raining most all day. Grass growing fast.
26 Feb 1896 Putting up palings. Fine day.
27 Feb 1896 Putting up palings. Fine weather.
28 Feb 1896 I drove George Hurst out to Wattamondara and saw Mr dawson, manager for the Australian Joint Stock Bank. He has called for tenders for ringbarking, suckering, and cutting seedlings. George Hurst arranged with Mr Dawson to meet him at his place at 8 o’clock tomorrow morning to go over the ground to be done. I gave Jack Peisley instructions to sell piping, hose, tubs, gold retort, picks and shovels and dishes. Miss Keogh left D Clifton’s last night with the band master for Albury.
29 Feb 1896 I was putting up palings. I put in a tender for the old pound yard.
1 Mar 1896 Sunday. At home all day.
2 Mar 1896 I finished paling my allotment. Getting the Anthony’s Hill mining plant ready to be sold at Mrs Schofield’s sale.
3 Mar 1896 I was fixing a top in a 400 gallon iron tank. Old jack Muir, the bailiff, and old McLeod the Wheelwright, had a fight.
4 Mar 1896. Grace Fox died at Mt McDonald.[3] Old Mrs Costello died at Goolagong. Mrs Daly went to Sydney.
5 Mar 1896 No work. Grace Fox buried this evening in the Cowra Cemetery.
6 Mar 1896 I got Jack Scott to take the Anthony’s Hill mining plant to Mrs Schofield’s place. Paid him 2/-. Very hot day.
7 Mar 1896 I drove out to Binni and brought James O’Shaughnessy in. His baby is sick. John Muir sold the pipes at 1/7 per foot to Thoms. The tank to Jack Peisley £2.0.0. Picks and shovels and 3 of the tubs sold. I got one tub. Hose and retort not sold.
8 Mar 1896 Sunday. At home all day.
9 Mar 1896 I cut two blocks to put Peisley’s tank on. In the evening, I assisted George Hurst at Davis’ place. Hot day.
10 Mar 1896 Working at Davis’ place. We fixed up Peisley’s tank. Hot day.
11 Mar 1896. Hurst and I working at Davis’. Great shock of earthquake at 11 o’clock tonight.
12 Mar 1896 Working at Davis’. Sultry day.
13 Mar 1896 Working at Davis’. A son of William Robertson – a horse bolted with him. He was thrown and only lived until evening. A shower after 12 o’clock and one after dark.
14 Mar 1896 Hurst and I finished the building for Davis. John Peisley paid me £16.4.0 for pipes and tank. He made a mistake of one pound. Should be £17.4.0. Dennis Cornelius Joseph Donnelly , our Member, died in Sydney tonight of cancer inwardly.
15 Mar 1896 Sunday. At home. A good shower after dinner. W Robertson’s son buried this evening. The Cowra Band playing out to Cemetery.
16 Mar 1896 George Hurst and I commenced to build a stable for J.K.Rose, Stock and Station Agent, at his place at the south side of the river. Cool day.
17 Mar 1896 Working at Rose’s stable. Riddle got his leg broke wrestling. Races at R Chivers, Back Creek. All witnesses in Mr and Mrs Poole’s divorce case gone to Sydney. John Peisley paid the one pound balance for sale of pipes.
18 Mar 1896 Hurst and I working at Rose’s. M T Phillips, Cowra Solicitor, going to stand for this electorate.
19 Mar 1896 Working at Rose’s. Cloudy. A few drops of rain.
20 Mar 1896 Not working for Rose. I paid H Hart £2.6.6. Paid P Murray 10/5. Paid Poignard 5/-.
21 Mar 1896 Hurst and I at Rose’s. Morongla Creek races. John Connelly has a booth there.
22 Mar 1896 Sunday. At home. Fine day.
23 Mar 1896 Working at Rose’s stable. Cloudy day.
24 Mar 1896 Hurst and I finished the stable. Mrs Hurst gave Hurst a cheque for £6.2.6. Cowra races on today. A young man named 0′ Leary was killed last Sunday. A horse ran him against a tree. Buried Cowra Cemetery today.
25 Mar 1896 Raining during the night. Second day of the Cowra races. A child buried today from Back Creek. The hearing of the suit for divorce brought by Caroline Poole against her husband, Joseph Preston Poole, of Cowra on the grounds of his alleged adultery with a girl named Margaret Stinson was dismissed in Sydney today.
26 Mar 1896 Assisting Hurst to put up a kitchen for Davis. Great rain after 12 o’clock. Took my horse out of Daly’s paddock.
27 Mar 1896 Assisting Hurst at Davis’. I put my house in the Common paddock. Cloudy day.
28 Mar 1896 Working with Hurst. I got an empty case at P Murray’s to make Minnie O’Shaughnessy a box. James O’Shaughnessy came in from Specimen Hill, Binni Creek. M T Phillips addressed the Cowra electors at P Murray’s Hall tonight.
29 Mar 1896. H. Fulton died in hospital after undergoing operation in hospital for hydatids on the liver.[4]
30 Mar 1896 making a box for Minnie. Fulton buried this evening. Poignard undertaker. Fine day.
31 Mar 1896 Arranged with J.Poignard to get me a pair of hind wheels for the buggy, Patent Savern for £4.0.0. No work. Cloudy day.
1 Apr 1896 Ash Wednesday. Assisting Hurst at davis’ kitchen. M T Phillips is to speak tonight.
2 Apr 1896 Hurst and I worked up to 12 o’clock. I gave my vote to M T Phillips. 295, ahead of Lamont, Carcoar. James O’Shaughnessy came in from Binni to give his vote.
3 Apr 1896 No work. I got a sample of quartz and slate from John O’Connor, Hovell’s Creek. Leo Arnold died this evening. Strained himself wheeling a barrow.
4 Apr 1896 Hurst and I working at Davis’. Leo Arnold buried this evening. Light frost.
5 Apr 1896 Sunday. I went and saw Paddy the horse in the Common. James O’Shaughnessy went to Binni.
6 Apr 1896 Assisting Hurst. All the stores closed. No sports.
7 Apr 1896 Finished for Davis. Paid Poignard £2.0.0 on account of wheels. Sent a parcel of quartz to Mines Department.
8 Apr 1896 Putting up palings on fence around my allotment. John O’Connor came. Paid young McClymont the balance 2/6 for my horse in the Common. Rain at 6 o’clock.
9 Apr 1896 Putting up palings. Thomas Rrowe, F.G.S and another gentleman called upon me about chrome iron. He lives in Rye Park, via Burrowa. O’Connor here all day. He bought Dower’s selection adjoining his own place.
10 Apr 1896 I finished the palings. George Hurst came to assist me to make two gates. Great wind and dust.
11 Apr 1896 Hurst and I made the two gates and put them up.
12 Apr 1896 Sunday. At home. Light frost last night.
13 Apr 1896 I painted the gates. Hurst and I put in a tender for a paling fence around the police barracks. 11/- per rood. Farmers want rain for ploughing.
14 Apr 1896 I took the buggy down to J. Poignard to get the new hind wheels on. A child of McLachlan’s buried this evening.
15 Apr 1896 I put locks on the gates. First day of the Bathurst Show. A white frost this morning.
16 Apr 1896 Put another coat of paint on the gates. Assisted Joe Daly to take the iron off Tommy Gong’s place.
17 Apr 1896 I made a trough to warm oil in for the wheels. Boxall refused his ticket for 18 months. White frost.
18 Apr 1896 Poignard finished the buggy. £4.0.0 for the new wheels. 15/- for laying axle and new boxes. 8/6 for cutting tyres and repairing front wheel. I got Paddy from the Common and took the buggy home. James came from Binni. A Mrs Bell died at Horn’s place near the railway gate going to Mrs G.Campbell’s Jerula. White frost and hot day.
19 Apr 1896 Sunday. At home. Old Jimmie Lee died in the hospital this evening. Mrs Bell buried this evening.
20 Apr 1896 I commenced to oil my new wheels. I paid Poignard the full amount due to him. £5.3.6.
21 Apr 1896 I finished oiling the new wheels. James Lee buried today. Aged 96. Cloudy all day.
22 Apr 1896 Commenced to rain last night and kept up until 3 o’clock today. Not very heavy.
23 Apr 1896 I promised James Ousby to go to Woods Flat on next Monday. A child of Riddles buried today. A few light showers.
24 Apr 1896 I posted an assay form to John O’Connor, Hovell’s Creek. I brought Paddy the horse from the Common and kept him in. Fine day.
25 Apr 1896 I drove out to Specimen Hill, Binni Creek and brought in James O’Shaughnessy. Alick came. Mr Single Gillet finished his contract.
26 Apr 1896 Sunday. At home.
27 Apr 1896. James Ousby drove me out to Woods Flat to show him where P. Fitzgibbons, Alf Chambers, Pat O’Brien and I sunk a shaft on Kirkman’s Reef. In this reef was the first gold found on Woods Flat. We sunk the shaft in 1872. We had dinner with Jack and Jim McDonald-the Mount McDonald prospectors. We had a walk up the old lead and got back to Cowra early in the evening. All Mr Robert Daly’s property sold today. They bought their farm back for £700. Jack Hood’s Yarra was put up and passed in to the Bank. So was David Hood’s old ‘Broula’, and passed in to the Bank. Sir Henry Parkes died at 4 o’clock this morning.
28 Apr 1896 Mrs Badam, the Police magistrate’s wife died this morning. Mrs Campbell of Jerula was advancing the £700 to Mrs Daly to buy the farm but the Manager of Australian Joint Stock Bank would not take Mrs Campbell’s bank deposit receipt. Mrs Daly gone to Sydney tonight.
29 Apr 1896 Getting my wagonette ready to put on a tilt. Mrs badam buried. Rain much wanted.
30 Apr 1896 Mrs Daly came back from Sydney. A son of John Maher’s, 28 years of age, Thomas Maher, died from typhoid fever. I got some hoops from Poignard for the wagonette. Paid him 12/6.
1 May 1896 I got the tilt on the trap. Thomas Maher buried. The Australian Joint Stock Bank sold Jack Hood’s and D Hood’s sheep. Hot sultry day.
2 May 1896 I finished frame of tilt. A shower at dark.
3 May 1896 Sunday. Mr and Mrs Daly drove Minnie and me out to the farm. We marked out a site for a two room cottage. Sultry day.
4 May 1896 Fixing up the tilt. Hurst and I repaired a sewing machine cover for James Egan, Butcher.
5 May 1896 Hurst assisted me to put a cover on the tilt. Phillip Squire bought Yarra from the Bank. John Hood’s place. 28/- per acre.
6 May 1896 Fixing the tilt. George Davis died at half past . tonight. Cancer in the ear. White frost.
7 May 1896 Working at the buggy. White frost.
8 May 1896 George Hurst and I putting up a verandah for Deneif. We worked up to 1 o’clock. George Davis buried. Large funeral. White frost.
9 May 1896 We finished the verandah for Deneif. Frost. Jim from Binni.
10 May 1896 Sunday. At home. Cloudy.
11 May 1896 Hurst and I made a stand for a tank for Deneif. He paid us for the work done. 15/- per man. Cloudy and cold. Commenced to rain after dark.
12 May 1896 Cloudy and cold. Raining after dark.
13 May 1896 Raining all day.
14 May 1896 I finished the buggy. Fine day.
15 May 1896 I went to Dr Bartlett. He examined a sore on my ear. He gave me some lotion to put on 3 or 4 times a day. Paid him 7/6. I got my horse out of the Common and put him in Daly’s paddock in the hollow. I made a pick handle.
16 May 1896 I drove out to old Binni Station, Dan Horan’s old place. Prospected all day. Gold can be got in every dish. Got back at 4 o’clock.
17 May 1896 Sunday. At home. I promised Harold Hurst to assist to bottom a shaft at old Binni on Monday. Cloudy day.
18 May 1896 I could not find my horse until 9 o’clock. We then arranged to start early tomorrow morning to old Binni Station. Cloudy day.
19 May 1896 Michael Reardon came with me in the wagonette to old Binni. We bottomed a shaft, a little below Dan Horan’s old place where Sergeant Sutherland was shot on 1 May, 1872. We got no prospect in the shaft. In the evening we prospected up a small creek and got some gold. We got back to Cowra late. Victor Watt came to live in Cowra.
20 May 1896 At home all day. Raining after 12 o’clock.
21 May 1896 Raining all night and all day. Left my rifle at P Murray’s to be sold. McLaren from Koorawatha buried.
22 May 1896 I went up to Dr Bartlett. He dressed my ear and gave me some ointment. I bought a suit of clothes at P Murray’s. Made two malls.
23 May 1896 At home all day. James O’Shaughnessy came from Specimen Hill, Binni Creek.
24 May 1896 Sunday. Queen’s Birthday. At home. Fine.
25 May 1896 At home. Sports on the Showground. Very little fireworks tonight. Fine day.
26 May 1896 Dr Flockton died very suddenly at Eugowra. George Hurst and I getting ready to go splitting palings.
27 May 1896 At home. Getting ready. White frost.
28 May 1896 We got everything ready to start. Went to Dr Bartlett. He said my ear is getting well. Frost this morning.
29 May 1896 We started. George Hurst rode and I drove. We camped two miles from the top of Broula hill on the Cherry’s road on the head of the Tyagong Creek, near where Willie Hood sunk a shaft on a large blow of ironstone.
30 May 1896 Sunday. George Hurst and I walked out to the mount between Dribbendrew and Farrar’s Gorge. We found some good stringybark. Came to camp.
31 May 1896 We drove out to Farrar’s Gorge and made our camp. Not much grass. We had to tie up our horses.
1 Jun 1896 We split 49 palings. One of the young Mr Ovens came to us. He and his brother and Mr Dwyer, their uncle, leases this place from the Bank. He let our horse in his paddock at 1/- per week.
2 Jun 1896 We split 195 palings. White frost.
3 Jun 1896 We split 181 palings. Cloudy.
4 Jun 1896 Split 168 palings. Cloudy. A little rain in the night.
5 Jun 1896 We split 87 palings. Cloudy all day.
6 Jun 1896 Split 219 palings One of the Ovens and young Ormsby came to where we were splitting.
7 Jun 1896 George Hurst and I walked over to Ovens’ place. And got 18 lb of beef, 3/-, from old Dwyer. Got to camp for dinner. Flora, my kangaroo slut, got a poison bait this evening. Died at 12 o’clock.
8 Jun 1896 Split 110 palings. Cloudy. A few drops of rain.
9 Jun 1896 Raining most all night and up to 11 o’clock. Split 157 palings.
10 Jun 1896 Split 226 palings. Cloudy all day.
11 Jun 1896 We split 217 palings. Fine day.
12 Jun 1896 Splitting up to 3 o’clock. It started to rain. We came home to camp.
13 Jun 1896 Raining most all night. George Hurst rode to Cowra. I walked to where Billy Gray and I found a nest of emu eggs one time. One of D Hood’s sons and one of the Ovens came. Hood brought me two letters from Minnie O’Shaughnessy. Phillip Squire of Cowra, storekeeper wants me to take charge of his place at Yarra at £30 yearly with rations. James O’Shaughnessy has left Specimen Hill, Binni Creek. The Company has closed down.
14 Jun 1896 Sunday. At the camp. George Hurst came from Cowra. Light showers all night.
15 Jun 1896 We packed up and got to Cowra at 2 o’clock. I agreed with Phillip Squire to take charge of Yarra at £30.0.0 per year and rations. It has been very cold all day.
16 Jun 1896 Mr Squire drove me out to Yarra. He marked out a place for a small house to be built on. Got back at 10 o’clock. Very cold. My time commences today.
17 Jun 1896. James O’Shaughnessy arranged with Mr Squire to go to Yarra to build a house. Mr Squire sent out some galvanised iron and some rations. I went to Dr Bartlett. He looked at my ear and said it was almost healed. James and I drive out to Yarra.
18 Jun 1896 James O’Shaughnessy and I drove out to Yarra.
19 Jun 1896. James and I repaired a fence between Yarra and James Anderson’s. Putting a roof on the old hut.
20 Jun 1896. We got all the iron on the hut. James removed into it. I am sleeping in the wagonette.
21 Jun 1896 Sunday. I put a team of bullocks in the yard. I rode up to the top of Broula to Harry Henderson’s camp. George Hurst came from Cowra. Harry started with his waggon and 14 horses to the back of Dribbendrew to bring in 1720 palings. When he got on about 1,000 he got bogged. It commenced to snow. We had to throw off 300 palings. We came with Henderson to the top of Broula and left him. I turned off at Slessors. George Hurst followed the main road to Cowra. I got to yarra at 8 o’clock. Very cold. Mr Squire out.
22 Jun 1896 Commenced to snow at 6 o’clock this morning and continued up to 12 o’clock. About 3 inches deep all over the ground.Very cold.
23 Jun 1896 James O’Shaughnessy digging holes for kurrajong trees. A fog.
24 Jun 1896. James digging holes. Mr Squire’s boy came with a note not to dig any more holes.
25 Jun 1896. I put a door on our house. James pruned and digging around the trees. Judge Dockerr and Dr Cortis shooting on Yarra. A fog.
26 Jun 1896 I put up my bunk in the house and rode around the lower boundary. A fog.
27 Jun 1896 James O’Shaughnessy and I fencing all day. Jim went to Cowra in the buggy.
28 Jun 1896. Sunday. Mr Squire and Arthur Middlemiss drove out 12 bullocks and put them in the upper paddock. James came from Cowra. Fine day.
29 Jun 1896 James digging holes in the garden for fruit trees.
30 Jun 1896 George Wilson, Publican at Bumbaldry, died today at 12 o’clock.
1 Jul 1896 George Wilson buried in the Cowra Cemetery today. I made a table. Cold bleak day.
2 Jul 1896 I repaired boundary fence between James Anderson and Yarra. James digging holes. A white frost this morning.
3 Jul 1896 Fixing up stockyard. Assisted James to finish sinking holes for fruit trees. Mrs Tasker died.
4 Jul 1896 Assisted James to cut down trees and square them for posts for a house.
5 Jul 1896 Sunday. At home. Mr Squire came. Mrs Tasker buried. White frost. A few drops of rain.
6 Jul 1896 James and I squaring posts. White frost.
7 Jul 1896 Squaring posts. A little rain last night. Very cold.
8 Jul 1896 James and I squaring all day. Mrv Squire sent out 2 horses and dray, with galvanised iron fencing wire, table, and sundries. Mr Squire drove out in the sulky and took John McClymont (McClimate?)
9 Jul 1896 Jim and I putting up skillion to corn crib. Cold.
10 Jul 1896 We put the iron on the skillion. Peisley’s sons brought 634 mixed sheep for Me Squire. Cold winds.
11 Jul 1896 Mr Ormsby and son castrated two rams. Real white frost this morning. Jim drove to Cowra.
12 Jul 1896 Sunday. At home. Mr Squire drove jack Peisley out. They brought three dozen ornamental trees. George Hurst came.
13 Jul 1896 James and I planted the ornamental trees. I put the sheep in the upper paddock. We cut some pines in young Cass’ paddock.
14 Jul 1896 Jim drew in the pines with the mare and cart.
15 Jul 1896 James squaring posts. I drew in some posts and plates on a slide. Killed a sheep. White frost.
16 Jul 1896 James and I squaring posts. Cloudy.
17 Jul 1896 Maling a wall with boards from old cases. In the evening, James squaring. I drew in five logs.
18 Jul 1896 I drove to Cowra. Dr Bartlett says my ear is well. Mr Squires paid me £2.10.0. Kate O’Shaughnessy came from Wells’ place, Crookwell. Paid Poignard his bill.
19 Jul 1896 Sunday. At home. Mr Squire came. Great fog. James Anderson came.
20 Jul 1896 James squaring. I drew in five logs. John Hood and his daughter Florrie came. White frost and a fog.
21 Jul 1896 I put some horses out of the paddock. James squaring. After 12 o’clock it commenced to rain and continued until dark.
22 Jul 1896 James and I squaring posts all day.
23 Jul 1896 I drew in five posts. James squaring. Killed a sheep. Cloudy.
24 Jul 1896 I drew in three posts and assisted James to square. Cloudy.
25 Jul 1896 Assisting James to square posts. I got my Town and Country Journal from James Anderson’s. W Boxall put 120 head of store bullocks in the paddock for Mr Squire. James O’Shaughnessy drove to Cowra. White frost this morning.
26 Jul 1896 Sunday. James came from Cowra. Frost.
27 Jul 1896 We put up two corner posts for the house. I counted the cattle. 120. I repaired the old gate near the creek on the Reserve side. White frost.
28 Jul 1896 James and I putting up house posts. I put the bullocks to the lower dam.
29 Jul 1896 Mr and Mrs Squire drove out and looked at the bullocks.
30 Jul 1896 Mr Squire sent Jack McClimate (McClymont?) out with rock salt, window sashes and 3 dozen fruit trees. William took 21 bullocks. David Hood came. Killed a sheep. Light rain up to 12 o’clock.
31 Jul 1896 Assisting James to plant the fruit trees. Frost.
1 Aug 1896 I put rock salt in the two paddocks. I carted in some wood. I got my paper. White frost.
2 Aug 1896 Sunday. Mr Squire rode out after 12 o’clock. We put some horses out of the lower gate. He kept on the Reserve side and I kept inside. We followed the boundary fence down to the Back Creek. We tied up our horses and walked up the creek, along Elija Brien’s and John Hood’s boundaries. Mr Squire then went to Cowra.
3 Aug 1896 James squared two plates and we put them up on the posts. I made a trussel.? White frost.
4 Aug 1896 Elija Brien came for a copy of an agreement between him and Mr Squire to put up a new fence on the Reserve boundary. I made a ladder. We got all the wall plates on. Old McDonald died at Thomas Walsh’s Court House Hotel aged 96 years.[5] Jim and Jack McDonald’s father.
5 Aug 1896 James and I put up all the rafters. McDonald buried. A light frost. Cloudy day.
6 Aug 1896 James adzed battens. Mr Squire came. Sawyers came. Mr Squire had dinner. Killed a sheep. White frost.
7 Aug 1896 James and I putting on battens. Mr Squire’s yard boy brought out his chestnut horse, Tom, for me to cure his greasy heels. White frost.
8 Aug 1896 We put on half the iron on the roof. James drove in to Cowra. Thomas James Dewell? died from cancer in the face. 53 years old. No frost.
9 Aug 1896 Sunday. At home. Old Paddy Dwyer called. Mr Squire and another gentleman came. No frost. Few drops of rain.
10 Aug 1896 James and I put all the iron on the house and cleaned out the underground tank, and put on the spouting.
11 Aug 1896 I took a coil of wire in the buggy and put it on Sam Brown’s fence. He is to repair the fence. I made one half gate for the Reserve at young Cass’ corner. James finished the downpiping into the tank. Great frost this morning.
12 Aug 1896 James and I put up a sheepyard. Harry Hart sent out some tongued and grooved board for the house. Elija Brien came for me to inspect the split posts. Arthur McLeod married Miss Hannah Moore, second daughter Mrs James E Taylor. Frost.
13 Aug 1896 I inspected new post on Elija’s line. I threw out a lot, not up to measurement. Looked at the fence along Grenfell road. Would take about thirty posts to repair it. Hart sent balance of the boards. Rained from 12 o’clock to dark. James putting down ground plates. I put some of the wall up.
14 Aug 1896 Counted the bullocks. 99 head. I put some of the wall to the new house.
15 Aug 1896 I put up end wall of the house. James O’Shaughnessy getting posts ready. He went to Cowra. I killed a sheep.
16 Aug 1896 Sunday. Mr Squire came from Cowra at 9 o’clock and he and I went and had a look at the fence Elija is putting up across the plain on the Reserve side. Mr Squire wemnt home.
17 Aug 1896 James and I squaring posts. I put some of the wall up. Cloudy. Very much like rain.
18 Aug 1896 James bricking up front of chimney. I put up some of the wall. Boxall and Dick Fletcher came.
19 Aug 1896 James and I working at the house all day. I have a bad cold. White frost.
20 Aug 1896 I was putting up wall of house. White frost.
21 Aug 1896 James and I cut 8 round pines for joists in John Bryant’s paddock. And brought them in. White frost.
22 Aug 1896 I killed a sheep. I drove in to Cowra. Mr Squire paid me £2.10.0. Stayed all night.
23 Aug 1896 Sunday. I got out to Yarra at 6 o’clock. Commenced to rain and continued up to 9 o’clock. Mr Squire drove out two garden experts. Moon eclipsed.
24 Aug 1896 James and I putting down joists. Cloudy day.
25 Aug 1896 James and I boarding the house. I drew in some wood. Counted 99 bullocks and one of R Chivers’ that they had lost.
26 Aug 1896 James and I finished boarding. A few light showers.
27 Aug 1896 Light showers most all day. Four of the Yarra bullocks got into the Moriarty’s paddock. I got them out. Very cold and windy.
28 Aug 1896 James and I working at the house. Bob Chivers came and got his bullock. Cold winds and light mists.
29 Aug 1896 James rode Paddy the horse in to Cowra. I killed a sheep. Cloudy, like rain.
30 Aug 1896 Sam and I Mr Squire drove his two sons out and brought 4 hens. Cold day. Good shower in the night. Windy.
31 Aug 1896 James and I finished the house. James went into the bush to get some posts and plates. I was fixing the sheepyard. Mr Squire sent out some railway sleepers to put over the underground tank, a pump, and some battens to make gates. A few light showers.
1 Sep 1896 James and I squaring posts. I could not put the sheep in the yard. I had to make the yard larger. A few light showers.
2 Sep 1896 I drew in some squared posts. Mr Squire came. We rode round the top paddock and back into the Yarra paddock to where Elija Brien was fencing. Fine.
3 Sep 1896 James digging post holes. I got the sheep into the yard. Culled out some posts on Elija’s line, not up to specifications. I put the 12 local bullocks into the Yarra paddock. White frost this morning.
4 Sep 1896 I drew in some posts and sleepers. Very cold and windy all night and all day.
5 Sep 1896 James and I putting up some fence and two gateposts at the house. Killed sheep. White frost.
6 Sep 1896 Sunday. James and I at home. Mr Squire drove the Mrs and children out. They did not stay long. James and I went to brown’s paddock to see if we could shoot some kangaroos, but we had no luck. Cloudy all day.
7 Sep 1896 I rode around the paddock. James putting up 4 gateposts at the stockyard. Cloudy all day.
8 Sep 1896 James and I put up the 4 gateposts at the stockyard. We took the mare and slide to the lower gate on Yarra. We took it down and wired up the opening and brought up the gate to the stockyard. James rode paddy the horse in to Cowra. John McClymont brought out from Mr Squire some barbed wire and some boards from cases.
9 Sep 1896 I put up the gate at the stockyard and commenced to make a pair of gates for the Grenfell road.
10 Sep 1896 James putting top on tank and a pump. I counted 110 bullocks.
11 Sep 1896 I finished the double gate. Mr Squire sent McClymont with some tattoo oil and a sheep brand PS over U?. James finished the tank. John Braithwait Fitzgerald died at 4 o’clock this morning. Inward cancer. Miss McKenny died. Consumption. Thunder from the west. North wind.
12 Sep 1896 I put the sheep in the yard. James and I put the ceiling in the house. Jim drove to Cowra. I killed a snake. Sergeant McKenny came. Cloudy. Like rain.
13 Sep 1896 Sunday. Mr and Mrs Squire and family drove out. A great wind storm. A little rain. John Braithwaite Fitzgerald buried.
14 Sep 1896 I got the sheep in the yard. Mr Ormsby and his son Arthur came in a sulky and marked 153 lambs. Carted some water on a slide to put around the fruit trees. I went to where Moriarty is fencing on Reserve and condemned some posts.
15 Sep 1896 Finished watering fruit trees. James and I went into casss’ paddock and cut some pines to make a place to train some vines on.
16 Sep 1896 I finished the gates for the opening on the Grenfell road. Arthur Middlemiss and a young man out of the store, brought bay spring horse and two yearlings and put them in the top paddock and took Tom the horse. Assisting James to put up place for vines. Cloudy.
17 Sep 1896 Fixing place for vines. Cloudy. Light showers.
18 Sep 1896 James and I made a pair of gates for the shed.
19 Sep 1896 James and I put up two gateposts at the corner of James Anderson’s and Yarra paddock on the Grenfell road. Fixing up double gates at the back of the house. James drove to Cowra. Fog this morning. Good shower in the evening.
20 Sep 1896 Sunday. At home. Mr Squire came about 10 o’clock.
21 Sep 1896 James and I put up the double gates at the shed and put up the double gate on the Grenfell road. Frost.
22 Sep 1896 James finished frame for grape vines. We drove in to Cowra.
23 Sep 1896 I rode out to Yarra and counted the bullocks. 111 head. Got back to Cowra at 10 o’clock. I went to Dr Bartlett’s. He was not at home. I went to the Showground. Not many people there. A shower in the evening.
24 Sep 1896 I went to Dr Bartlett’s. He looked at my ear and gave me a bottle of lotion. 6/6. I went to the Showground. There were about 4,000 people there, the most that ever was on it before. Kennedy’s son of Neila Creek died. Inflammation of the lungs. I paid harry Hart £2.3.11. Mr Squire paid me £2.10.0. James O’Shaughnessy and young Davis taking money at the gate.
25 Sep 1896 I drove out to Yarra and counted the cattle and came back to Cowra. Paid Murray 15/3.
20 Oct 1896, Young Tom Walsh, son of Bill Walsh of Forbes, has delivered in Cowra a mob of Queensland cattle.
25 Nov 1896. Mrs Margaret Taylor, a daughter of David Middlemiss of Taragala, formerly Mrs Charles Moore, of Cowra, three daughters by Moore and three daughters and one son by Taylor died this morning. Inward cancer.
26 Sep 1896 I drove James out to Yarra. Counted the cattle and saw the sheep and horses.
27 Sep 1896 Mr Squire drove jack Peisley out. Sayers (Sawyers?)came.
28 Sep 1896 I got the sheep in the yard. James and sayers trenching in the garden. Killed a sheep. White frost.
29 Sep 1896 Arthur Mackie came. He has arranged about shearing the sheep. Alick, a Cowra Butcher, came to have a look at some fat bullocks. Frost this morning.
30 Sep 1896 Mr and Mrs Squire drove out. Joe davis drove out in a spring cart. Going to shear in the morning.
1 Oct 1896 James and Sayers took the horse and dray to Jack Hood’s for a wool press. I went to Sam Brown, Cass, John Bryant, and Jim Anderson to give them notice that the Yarra sheep would be mustered today. Put the sheep in the yard. Joe Davis and Mackie shore 39 sheep. White frost.
2 Oct 1896 James and sayers trenching in the garden. Mackie and Davis did shear 81 sheep. I planted early rose potatoes. Little frost.
3 Oct 1896 64 sheep shorn. James drove to Cowra and the shearers went also. A frost.
4 Oct 1896 Mr Squire drove McDonald, the carpenter, out. Frost.
5 Oct 1896 Mr Squire stopped James and sayers from trenching. Ground too hard. James is to chip all the weeds down. Jack Hood came and we marked 42 lambs. 79 sheep shorn.
6 Oct 1896 I showed Elija Brien where to put the fence on his side of the Back Creek. Cloudy and windy.
7 Oct 1896 James and I drafted all the shorn from the wool ewes. Young West and a young fellow from Mr Squire’s shop came on bicycles.
8 Oct 1896 I got Diamond from John Bryant’s paddock. David Hood came with a letter from Minnie and one from Mr Squire.
9 Oct 1896 Finished shearing sheep today. Sam Brown came to take Boxall’s wool press away. 612 sheep shorn. Great wind.
10 Oct 1896 7 ½ bales of wool. I finished gates on Grenfell road. Counted bullocks. 111. James O’Shaughnessy rode Paddy the horse to Cowra. High wind all day.
11 Oct 1896 Sunday. Mr Squire came out. James came from Cowra. Dry wind all day.
12 Oct 1896 I brought old gate that we took on road going to Cowra. James finished the garden. Arthur and Joe Mackay took the wool away. Sam Brown took the wool press.
13 Oct 1896 James and I made a 12 feet gate. Started to rain at 10 o’clock and continued all the evening. Wind shifted from north to south.
14 Oct 1896 James and I put wire through the frame to train grape vines on. Thunder storm at 4 o’clock. Rained ½ hour. Sayers splitting in top paddock. We killed a sheep.
15 Oct 1896 James and I took the new gate and put it up on the Reserve adjoining Sam brown’s. Joe Poole came looking for Sayers. Mr Squire and another gentleman came in a sulky and brought pumpkin and melon seeds.
16 Oct 1896 James and I put in the pumpkin and melon seeds and fixed up a shed for my buggy. Bill Sayers and Joseph Preston Poole carting posts and rails for the garden fence. Counted bullocks. 111 head. Hot day. Old Mrs Potts died.
17 Oct 1896 James and I finished buggy shed. Joe Poole carting posts and rails. Sayers very sick. James drove him home and then drove in to Cowra. Minnie and Grace left Daly’s and taken a cottage of P Murray’s next door to old Mrs Robertson. Dalys have left Cowra and gone to live at their farm Binni Creek.
18 Oct 1896 Mr Squire and Arthur Middlemiss brought out 20 head of mixed cattle.
19 Oct 1896 Elija Brien and I measured up what fencing he had done. Joe Poole and sayers fencing garden. Rained all night and up to 7 o’clock this morning.
20 Oct 1896 James took a load of wood to Cowra for himself and brought out a plough and sundries. We killed a snake. I rode around the top paddock.
21 Oct 1896 I made a gate for the front. James took a load of wood to Cowra and brought back 225 palings from my place in Cowra. Mr Squire drove out in the sulky and brought another gentleman. We went down to where Elija Brien is fencing on his own side of back creek. I put up the new gate in the evening.
22 Oct 1896 James took a load of wood to Cowra and brought palings back. I am putting up palings to the garden fence.
23 Oct 1896 James took a load of wood to Cowra and brought back the last of the palings. 568 at 9/- per 100. £2.11.0. I was putting up palings in the front. Sayers and Joe Poole finished the garden fence. Hot and cloudy.
24 Oct 1896 I drove in to Cowra. I got my horse shod at Lawrence’s. Mr Squire paid me £2.10.0 wages and £2.11.0 for palings. I paid Mrs Oll for papers up to date. I paid Mr Squire for a pair of boots. Stayed all night.
25 Oct 1896 Sunday. I started at daylight and drove to yarra.
26 Oct 1896 I rode to jack Hood’s. He promised to come over in the evening to mark the lambs. I counted the bullocks. 111 head. Elija Brien carted all the old posts and rails from the Grenfell road. We marked 20 lambs. Mrs Hugh Watt called on her way to her farm, let to Mr Moriarty. Real hot.
27 Oct 1896 Sick all night and all day. No work. Very hot.
28 Oct 1896 Putting up palings. James came with the mare and cart from Cowra. I put bullocks in cultivation paddock.
29 Oct 1896 I drove James in to Cowra. He is finished working at Yarra. Young Tom Walsh, Bill Walsh’s son of Forbes, has delivered in Cowra a mob of Queensland cattle. Paid Murray and smith 3/6 for nails.
30 Oct 1896 I drove out to Yarra this morning. Great thunder. A few drops of rain. Putting up palings.
31 Oct 1896 I drew in three loads of wood. Drove down to Elija brien’s boundary and got some spare fencing wire, and up to Mrs Hugh watt’s boundary and got some more wire.
1 Nov 1896 Sunday. I put the bullocks in the cultivation paddock. Jack Wilson’s son brought me a sheep pup. I gave him 5/- for it. Young Ormsby put a black horse in the upper paddock.
2 Nov 1896 Putting up palings all day. Strong wind blowing from the south east all night. Cloudy today.
3 Nov 1896 Putting palings. I rode into top paddock. Great wind.
4 Nov 1896 Putting up palings. Mr and Mrs Squire and family drove out. Grass turned brown. No sign of rain.
5 Nov 1896 I put all the bullocks into the upper paddocks and put the cows into Yarra paddock. A letter from Minnie.
6 Nov 1896 I took the bullocks up to the upperdam. I finished the palings up to the old bin.
7 Nov 1896 I rode in to Cowra. James making up harry Hart’s books. I got back to Yarra at 11 o’clock.
8 Nov 1896 Sunday. I drove in to Cowra. Stayed all night. The small flies a terror. Hot day.
9 Nov 1896 Prince of Wales Birthday. I drove Minnie and grace out to Yarra. Stayed until 4 o’clock and drove in to Cowra again. Stayed all night. Very hot and dusty.
10 Nov 1896 I drove out to Yarra. Putting up palings. Three of my game hens dead this morning. I killed a sheep. Hot day. No sign of rain.
11 Nov 1896 Putting up palings and getting battens ready for a gate. Great heat today.
12 Nov 1896 I put up some palings and put the battens on a gate. Rode into the top paddock. I saw the mixed cattle, 20 head, and the horses. Francis’ man came out with some timber to put up a verandah. This has been a real hot day. 90 in the shade all day.
13 Nov 1896 I put all the bullocks in the top paddock and took them out again in the evening. McDonald, Francis’ foreman, and Hubert West came out and nearly finished the verandah. I have a bad cold. Real hot day.
14 Nov 1896 I have a bad cold. No work. Hot windy day.
15 Nov 1896 Sunday. Mr and Mrs Squire and family drove out. Hot day.
16 Nov 1896 Drawing water on a slide from the dam to water the fruit trees. Great heat. Much like rain.
17 Nov 1896 I made a small gate and put it up. Very hot.
18 Nov 1896 I carted three loads of sand from the top paddock. I put a mob of the bullocks in the upper paddock. A shower in the night. A good thunderstorm today with a few light showers afterwards.
19 Nov 1896 I made a letter box. Light showers all night and at 6 o’clock this morning it rained heavily. I put 18 more bullocks in the upper paddock. Fine this evening.
20 Nov 1896 I rode up to the paddock and saw all the cattle. I have a bad cold. Hugh Watt came.
21 Nov 1896 I put up the letter box on a tree at the Grenfell road gate. My cold no better. Warm day.
22 Nov 1896 Sunday. I put all the bullocks into Yarra paddock. Mr Squire and one of his grocers drove out in the evening. Old Jim Draper, an American, a very old resident of Carcoar, died there last Sunday.
23 Nov 1896 Closing up board in wall of the house. Finished the gate at the stockyard. James O’Shaughnessy taking stock for H Francis, Cowra. A few drops of rain.
24 Nov 1896 I rode around the top paddock, and painting front of house. A good shower of rain at 6 o’clock. I rode up to the letter box. Very close and sultry all day.
25 Nov 1896 I was painting inside of house. I put all the bullocks in the upper paddock. Mr Squire came out, and we put all the sheep into the cultivation paddock. Mrs Margaret Taylor, a daughter of David Middlemiss of Taragala, and formerly Mrs Charles Moore of Cowra, 3 daughters by Moore and one son by Taylor, died this morning. Inward cancer.
26 Nov 1896 I drove in to Cowra. Mr Squire paid me £2.10.0. I drove James O’Shaughnessy out with Mrs Taylor’s funeral. Alick Middlemiss came by the midnight train from Cootamundra. Stayed in Cowra.
27 Nov 1896 I started at 4 o’clock and got to Yarra at 6 o’clock. I rode into the top paddock and brought down a few sheep and put them in with the flock and gave them water at the dam near the house.
28 Nov 1896 I painted verandah and end of the house. Put the bullocks into Yarra paddock. I took the top off the tank. The water stinks. Full of dead frogs.
29 Nov 1896 Sunday. I gave the sheep a drink. James Anderson came in the evening. Not very hot today. Working at my diary a short time.
30 Nov 1896 Closing board in the wall of the house. I went down the paddock and had a look at the bullocks. I commenced to pump all the water out of the tank and put it around the fruit trees. 80 kerosene tins. Young Ormsby came with an order from Mr Squire for dray and harness.
1 Dec 1896 I got all the water out of the tank at 3 o’clock. A dead snake in the bottom, five feet long. Dead mice, frogs and beetles. Mrs Hugh Watt passed on horseback going to her farm. Put the sheep out of the top paddock into the cultivation paddock. I killed a sheep. Much like rain.
2 Dec 1896 Painting front of house. A good shower at 5 o’clock, and another at 6 o’clock from the south.
3 Dec 1896 I put all the bullocks into the top paddock. Mr Squire rode out at 10 o’clock. Did not stay long. I rode up to Moriarty’s. he was not at home. Counted cows and steers. 20 head.
4 Dec 1896 I took all the sleepers off the top of the tank and bedded them down again in mortar. Left a trap door in the top. Great heat.
5 Dec 1896 I painted the letter box on the Grenfell and Cowra road. I rode in to Cowra by Jack Hood’s. I got back to Yarra at 12 o’clock.
6 Dec 1896 Sunday. Great wind this morning. A shower in the evening. At home all day.
7 Dec 1896 Counted bullocks in upper paddock. 110, and one in Yarra paddock. 111. I found Diamond, the draught mare, in Cass’ paddock. Painting house.
8 Dec 1896 John McDonald came and finished the verandah. Robert William Hood of Conimbla Creek died this morning.
9 Dec 1896. I tarred the sleepers on the tank and made a trapdoor and commenced to cover the top with tongued and grooved boards. R W Hood buried. Thomas Henry West died aged 66. For some time Member for Carcoar and Cowra and formerly owner of Cudgelo station, eldest son of Joseph West of Macquarie Plains, Bathurst.
10 Dec 1896 I finished boarding the tank and tarred the top. I rode down Yarra paddock and got Diamond the mare fast with ring of hobble chain, fast behind shoe. Great heat in middle of the day.
11 Dec 1896 Working at the tank. Mr Squire’s yard boy came and took Diamond, the draught mare. Hot day.
12 Dec 1896 I drove in to Cowra. Stayed all night. Great dust storm.
13 Dec 1896 Sunday. I got to Yarra at 6 o’clock. Real hot day.
14 Dec 1896 I rode up the top paddock and shot two calves. I saw a 7EW bullock dead at the Gilgis. Painting.
15 Dec 1896 I was putting mortar around the tank. Hot.
16 Dec 1896 Made a trap door for the tank and put tar on the top. Jack Hood came. Hot day.
17 Dec 1896 I put the bullocks into the top paddock. Put tar on gateposts on the Grenfell road and some gateposts at the house and the verandah plates. Cloudy. Great heat.
18 Dec 1896 Putting up palings. Mr Squire’s boy came with a note to muster the sheep and keep them in the yard all night. I took out 15 sheep for rations. Mrs Hugh Watt passed going up to her farm and called coming back. Very hot day.
19 Dec 1896 I drove the sheep to Chivers and met the young Peisleys. They took them on. I came back, had breakfast, and rode in to Cowra by jack Hood’s. Minnie O’Shaughnessy not been well since Wednesday. Started after dark and came to Yarra. Hot day.
20 Dec 1896 Sunday. Mr and Mrs Squire and family drove out and took some fruit in. A Mrs Griffiths, a daughter of Mrs Potts, buried today.
21 Dec 1896 Rode into top paddock and saw the bullocks. Mr Lawler and another gentleman called on their way to John Hood’s. Hot dry day.
22 Dec 1896 Painting house. Great heat. Water in dams getting low.
23 Dec 1896 I pulled all the fruit. I killed a sheep.
24 Dec 1896 I drove in to Cowra. Stayed all night. Patrick Currie (Curry?) died this evening. Great heat.
25 Dec 1896 Christmas day. Stayed with Minnie and grace O’Shaughnessy all day. P Currie (Curry?) buried.
26 Dec 1896 I got to Yarra at sunrise. I put the bullocks in Yarra paddock. 116 in the shade in Cowra. races at Chivers, Back Creek. Birmingham buried.
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